This Week's Sales:Sco Custom, Shu Uemura, DDF...and more!

Starting early in the week this time, Beyond the Rack hosts Shu Uemura starting on Sunday July 25th, Menscience on Monday, with a Men's Designer Fragrance Event on Tuesday, July 27th.

Beauty Story hosts a special Sco Custom for Beauty Story event on Monday (keep reading for a special offer!) You can also still catch Mer Soleil on Monday, followed by Scarlett Cosmetics on Tuesday, Booty Parlor on Wednesday, Giella on Thursday and Davi on Friday. As a special treat, use the code SCOCUSTOM for $10 off of your Sco order!

Rue La La presents The Lodge at Woodloch: A Destination Spa on Monday and Vincent Longo on Wednesday, July 28th. If you're not a member at Rue La La yet, now's the time to sign up for a free account- until August 8th new members get a $10 credit to the site, just for signing up. If you sign up with the link above & end up buying anything, I get $10 too, so thanks!

Billion Dollar Babes' Monday night Celebrity Happy Hour has tons of cute fashion choices, but amongst all of it you'll also find some Sara Happ lip care.

Over at HauteLook, check out DDF on Tuesday, MOR Skincare on Wednesday, and Biothermand Skin by Alison Raffaele on Thursday, July 29th.

Ideeli's quiet this week, but Baudelaire Soap pops up on Tuesday, and Gilt Groupe has Completely Bare Spa & Skincare on Wednesday.

Editors' Closet has a Fragrance Boutique on Wednesday and on Thursday, a Going, Going, Gone! sale where anything could be up for grabs. If you're not a member, click here for a personal invite from moi!

Across the pond this week (which means UK only) at Brand Alley, in addition the the Beauty Boutique that starts on Tuesday, the site also hosts Margaret Dabbs Beauty for Feet, OPI,EcoTan on Wednesday, and Clarins and Clinique on Thursday. We both earn a £10 voucher! when you click here to join!

If you don't see what you're looking for at any of the member's only sales this week, check outTimeToSpa.com's Skindependence sale. The site carries brands like Bliss Spa, LaTherapie andCND (among others) is offering 20% off site wide this week with code SAVE20. There's no minimum order, but the sale ends July 31st, so don't waste any time!

Oh, and in case you somehow missed it, don't forget to jump over to my Heys V-Case contest and enter to win a super-cute hard shell zebra print travel case (MSRP $140) for all of your precious beauty goodies! Contest ends noon EST on Sunday, August 1st- GOOD LUCK!

Contest Time!!! ::EDIT:: Contest is Over, Thanks for Entering!

It's go time readers! As promised (OK, teased a bit!) I now present OutInAPout's very first giveaway- an awesome Zebra Print V-Case by Heys USA!

I lusted after the plaid version of this handy hard-shell beauty case forever (a little too long, in fact, since the company doesn't make the plaid one anymore!) The case is super-cute, it's organized and it's squish-proof! Perfect for us beauty junkies who care more about our makeup making it safely to our destination than we do our wardrobe (or maybe even some fellow travelers!)

I'm gonna make it as easy on everyone as I can, so here's the details:

• I love you all, but unfortunately, I can only offer this contest to US and Canadian residents. I promise I'll do another giveaway soon that will be open to everyone!
• To enter, leave me a comment on this post sharing your favorite summer beauty must-have! Make sure you leave an email address where I can reach you!
• You can earn an extra entry by tweeting this: Enter to win a Heys Beauty Case from @OutInAPout http://outinapout.blogspot.com/2010/07/contest-time.html.
• Tweet entries will only be counted if you return to this post and leave an additional comment to let me know you tweeted (leave me your Twitter user name too!)
• Oh, if you see a button that says "Follow" up in the left hand corner (next to the search box) it would be really nice if you'd click it :) I'm not going to limit this to followers, because I know not everyone uses Google, but you know, it's nice to know you're loved
• Contest will run through 12PM, EST on Sunday, August 1st.
• To choose the winner, I'll pop the number of entries (ie: comments left on this post) into Random.org, and announce the lucky person on Monday, August 2nd.

Simple enough? Good luck everyone, and thanks for reading, following, commenting and just being!

Would You Rather...Beauty Edition

Since it's getting ready for vacation week, I thought I'd do something fun that doesn't take a ton of time to research, write, edit, add links, etc...so I present a Tag:

Would you rather... Beauty Edition

Would you rather go out with messy hair and nice make-up, or nice hair and no make-up?
Anyone who knows me should be able to guess this. I can be made up to the nines, and still have my hair in a pony tail! Definitely, makeup with messy hair- it's a look!

Would you rather shave your eyebrows or have your eyelashes fall out?
Eeek...both sound pretty dismal...at first I was thinking brows, because I know how often I have to pluck strays, so it seems like they'd grow back pretty quickly. Then I remembered how much I hate the look of a drawn on brow, so I'm thinking lashes. It would be less obvious from afar (especially since I wear glasses most of the time) and false lashes look tons more realistic than drawn on brows.

Would you rather be forced to shop at only MAC or Sephora for the rest of your life?
Were it not for my Pro discount at MAC, I'd say Sephora in a second. I still think I'd lean that way, simply because I need variety- no one brand is the best at everything, and I know from working in cosmetics for as long as I did that you get bored of the same line when it's all you use- even if it is a great brand.

Would you rather wear lipgloss/lipliner look or 80's perm?
I wear lipgloss & lipliner all of the time (it's called "blending" folks...) However, I think I can safely say I will never perm my hair (again.)

Would you rather leave the house with an obvious foundation line or overdone blush?
Overdone blush. Foundation lines are the bane of my existence. Plus, as long as you go super light with the rest of your makeup (I'm thinking just a lightly pigmented gloss & mascara) bold cheeks can be a statement!

Would you rather wear MC Hammer pants or biker shorts in public?
I'm gonna have to go with Hammer pants, unless I can wear a long shirt over those bike shorts. My hips & thighs are not my favorite!

Would you rather have a bad orange-y spray tan or really weird tan lines that can't be covered?
Unfair question, because I'm pretty sure I could cover the weird tan lines. Every summer wedding I go to, I see some bridesmaid (and occasionally even the bride) sporting some strap lines & I want to grab them, a brush and some Dermablend & go to town! But taking the question as it is, I'd have to say I'd take the oompa-loompa spray tan, because at least that wouldn't be permanently damaging to my skin!

Would you rather have a bad haircut or bad hair color?
Bad color, because it can be fixed almost immediately. I once had to color my hair black for a play I was in, and made the mistake of trying to go back to red on my own. The result was 2 inches of fire-engine red roots while the rest remained coal black. By the end of the night, my head may have been numb, but my hair was one color. A bad cut & you're hiding under hats for months. I do not look good in hats.

Would you rather have youtube or twitter taken away forever?
I think I'd say YouTube. I consider a lot of people that I talk to exclusively on Twitter friends, not to mention the fact that it's often the easiest way for me to contact people I know in real life. Most of the people I watch on YouTube have blogs anyway, so it's not like they'd be lost forever!

Would you rather give up using makeup brushes or mascara?
Mascara, because I could always other products (gel or cake liner and a brush, for instance) to get the look of mascara. I really am a believer that good brushes make a huge difference in the way your makeup applies, blends and even wears throughout the day. I can do an entire dramatic eye with my fingers, but blush is hella hard to put on with your fingers- and I'm pale, so I need that blush!

This Week's Sales: Pop Beauty, Clarins Skincare, Mer Soleil...and more!

HauteLook has a full week for us, beginning Monday with RSession Runway Series styling tools. Check out Go Smile this Tuesday July 20th, Emjoi Skincare on Wednesday, the Pop Beauty Blowout on Thursday, then grab a great cosmetics bag to carry it on at the Toss Designs Accessories Blowout on Friday.

So far, Ideeli's DaLish Cosmetics sale on Monday is their sole offering, but of course, I'll let you know here or on Twitter if there are any surprise sales! Speaking of surprises, Beyond the Rack has slipped in a last minute Corioliss sale starting Tuesday. Of course, my Twitter followers already know that...

This Wednesday, July 21st, Rue La La presents Get Gorgeous: Salons & Spas We Love. If you live in New York, Los Angeles, Miami, Chicago, or Philly (or need an excuse to take a weekend road trip) this sale might be just what you need.

Gilt Groupe has H2Pro Beauty tools on Wednesday and Tarte Cosmetics on Thursday.

Privatistas has premium salon products this week, by means of Oliver Ifergan Atelier. Click here for a personal invite from me if you're not already a member!

Beauty Story hosts Juicy Jewel on Monday, July 19th, Nvey on Tuesday, Babo Botanicals on Wednesday, Nouba on Thursday and Mer Soleil on Friday.

Row Nine presents one of my most anticipated sales this week when they feature Clarins Skincare on Thursday, July 22nd.

For my UK readers, Brand Alley begins their Beauty Boutique on Monday. If you're not a member, we can both earn a £10 voucher- just click here and I'll send you an invite!

Of course, for anyone who missed it, keep an eye out this week for details on OutInAPout's first giveaway! See you soon!

OutInAPout on Vacation Contest!

Vacation time is almost here, and it is sorely needed in my household! As much as I'd like to pack you all in my luggage and take you with, logistically, it's just not possible. That doesn't mean I'm forgetting all about my dear readers...never! Stay tuned for an awesome OutInAPout giveaway for all of my US and Canadian followers! (I love my international readers too, so though I can't extend this contest to you, I will be having another exciting contest soon, so stay with me, k?)

See you soon....

This Week's Sales: Rock & Republic, RapidLash, Elave, Julie Hewett & More...

Stop at HauteLook first this week; their Rock & Republic Beauty starts on Monday. RapidLash follows on Tuesday, then Goldfaden on Wednesday and a Pixi Beauty Blowout on Thursday, July 15th.

Rue La La has no designated beauty sales this week, but keep an eye out at their Final Act sales: Part One starts Tuesday, Part Two Wednesday. I've seen beauty pop up at these clearance extravaganzas more than once, but it goes super fast- so don't wait!

Privatistas has Bvlgari and Givenchy fragrances this week. If you're not a member, click here for a free invite to join!

The Beauty Story week starts Tuesday with Elave, followed by Morris Organics on Wednesday, Julie Hewett on Thursday and Sea Enzyme on Friday.

As usual, I'll diligently check each site daily to make sure you know about pop-up sales and new additions as soon as possible. Check back here often, or to get the news extra fast, make sure you're following me on Twitter!

OutInAPout Editorial Opinion:13 Gross Things in Your Beauty ProductsThat Really Aren't That Gross

Tonight in the midst (yeah, midst) of some late-night Twittering, I stumbled across an article of the type that I regard much like a school yard fight, or perhaps a Kevin Smith movie. I know I could be bothered by looking, I'm aware my eyes may begin to ache after all of the inevitable rolling, but some morbid curiosity prods me forward regardless.

This particular feature, credited to one Molly Roemer, was published on TotalBeauty.com, a mega-site that promises "Expert Advice. Unbiased reviews". 13 Gross Ingredients Hidden in Your Beauty Products warns us about human waste and dead animals that we're unsuspectingly smearing all over our faces. Attention grabbing, isn't it? But is it really something we need to be concerned about? I don't know about you, but I sure don't.

Here's a somewhat extended rewording of my comment on the site (you can click the link above to read the article and my actual comment, if you don't trust me). Of course, everyone is entitled to their own opinion, and this is just little-old-mine.

First, let's just come to terms with something. Just because something is "icky" doesn't mean it's bad for you, some times it's just the best thing for the job. Penicillin is a mold, but it has saved the lives of tens of million people.

Miss Molly's article reads like it should be in the beauty section of The Sun or National Enquirer. Many of these ingredients have been used for hundreds of years; even modern technology has yet to find a better option. Others are barely used at all. It's worth pointing out, for instance, that 13 Gross Ingredients' description of tallow makes it seem like a popular ingredient. Which it was...in the 16th century. Today, the Cosmetics Safety Database (a source craftily quoted several times in the actual write up) lists only 2 products that contain the ingredient. Both products are pain relief creams- not the lipsticks, soaps and eyeshadow implied in the article.

So, while it may be technically factual, this article is simply too sensationalist to take at face value. Thus for you, my readers, I give you my take on some of this article's standouts.

Simethicone: So, let me get this straight- I'm putting an ingredient safe enough to eat and otherwise take internally onto my lips, hair and aching joints? Oh no, let me write my congressman!

Emu & Mink Oil: OK, yes. Some animals are cute and have varying degrees of feelings and it's not nice to kill them & rub them all over us. If the idea bothers you, look for "Emu Oil" or "Mink Oil" in your ingredients lists- those are the official INCI names that manufacturers are required to use, so they should be pretty easy to spot.

Cochineal Beetles: Yeah, there are bugs in your lipstick. Get over it. Carmine (the dye resulting from this beetle tea) was used in ancient Mesopotamia and Egypt- if it was good enough for Cleo, it's good enough for me. BTW, it's also on the coating of your red M&Ms. C'mon- these bugs are grown in a closely controlled environment, boiled sterile, and strained out. Still grossed out? Look for products labeled "vegan" that use other dyes to get their fire engine red. Just remember that the dye that was outlawed in the 70's for causing cancer (Red Dye No. 2) was vegan. Just sayin'.

Ambergris (whale puke. yup.): How do they even collect that? (Oh, and pretty much no one uses it anymore, it's actually illegal in the US.)

I could go on about the other ingredients in the article, but I think you get the point, right? So what do you think, readers: will this change your routine or have you on the look out for Snail goo in your face creams?

This Week's Sales:Mario Badescu, Senna Cosmetics, Lorac Blowout...and more!

Hi everyone! Like most of the US, I took today, July 5th off to celebrate my nation's independence day- otherwise known as the 4th of July. Not sure when the Monday after a holiday became a holiday itself, but it meant I got to spend some extra time with fiancé and baby, so I'm not arguing. Hope all of you had a safe and happy holiday as well! Luckily, we didn't miss much in sale land, with one notable exception- if you follow me on Twitter, you already know what I'm talking about, if not, you'll read all about that when you get to HauteLook's offerings...

For the UK crowd, Brand Alley has the early sale this week, staring with Jo Wood Organics body care. If you're not a member yet, you can click here for an invite, which will help us both earn a £10 voucher!

Stateside, this week Privatistas has Acqua Di Gio (for the guys) along with Marc Jacobs ladies fragrance. If you're not a member yet, click here for a personal invite from me!

Rue La La has Warren-Tricomi haircare and Cal-a-Vie Health Spa on Tuesday, and that's it this week for beauty...but I have to say "yay!" for Betsy Johnson on Friday- I know it's not exactly makeup, but it sure is beautiful to me!

On Wednesday, get ready to do some sale hopping as Ideeli hosts Enzo Milano and Gilt Groupe has Mario Badescu.

At Beauty Story this week, check out a|MEN|ity starts Tuesday, followed by Senna Cosmetics on Wednesday, Corioliss on Thursday, and Hand Perfection by Ellen Sirot on Friday, July 9th.

HauteLook has DaLish Cosmetics on Wednesday, and a Lorac Blowout on Thursday, July 8th. One big word of caution to my readers (and a HUGE *tsk tsk* to Haute Look) regarding the current Red Ginger sale. This sale features multiple makeup palettes and brush sets that seem to be a great value- unless you know that these palettes are not at all special to HauteLook or Red Ginger. They are generic, widely available wholesale palettes. I'm not sure where HauteLook is getting the original prices they're quoting for the sale either- the brush sets are clearly Royal & Langnickel sets from the "Brush Essentials" line. The 7-piece brush set that HauteLook slashed from $35 down to $25? It's regularly priced at $19.99 on the Royal Brush site. Shame on you HauteLook!

Finally, Billion Dollar Babes features Skin Nutrition this Thursday, July 8th.

As usual, check back daily or follow me on Twitter for the latest updates in sale land! Oh! Don't forget that MAC's Alice+Olivia and In the Groove collections come out in US freestanding stores this Thursday- I'm gonna be checking out the gorgeous teal pigment, Partylicious, from the A+O collection and of course, the famous Stereo Rose MSF, which is being re-launched for In the Groove. Thanks to Chloe (aka: CherryfiedChloe, Fistfuls of Glitter) I may also be adding By Candlelight MSF to my collection! Any international readers have their hands on the new items yet? I'm dying to know if Stereo Rose stands up to the hype (and if it's different from the original incarnation, as many people are claiming). Well? Speak up!!!