This Week's Sales:Illamasqua 48 Hour Sale, YSL Friends & Family,Creed Fragrances and more!

e.l.f.

50% off Studio orders $25 and over. Use code STUDIO50 at checkout. Palettes excluded. Offer ends Monday, June 27th.

Illamasqua
For two days only, use code JUNE48 and get 20% off of your entire order. Offer ends 11:59 pm GMT (7:59 pm EDT) on Wednesday June 22nd, 2011.

Smashbox

Create your own kit for just $35. Choose one of ten shades of Limitless Lip Gloss, one of eight Limitless Eye Liners & a black or blue Bionic mascara and Smashbox will pack them all up for you in a handy zip-up makeup bag. Everything is full size, so you save over 40% off of retail (plus the free bag!)

Sonya Dakar

Take 35% off the complete Sonya Dakar Skin Care collection online, now through Tuesday, June 28th. Enter promo code PR/SSS0611 at checkout.

Yves Saint Laurent
Get 20% off (and free shipping on orders over $75) with the YSL's Friends and Family event, now through June 26th. Use code FRIENDS at checkout.

Beyond the Rack

Monday: Clinique

Tuesday: Navajo Skincare

Wednesday: Women's Designer Fragrances

Thursday: Exuberance Beauty

Friday: Creed Fragrances

Brand Alley

Tuesday: La Compagnie De Provence

If you're not a member yet, click here for an invite and we can both earn a £10 voucher!

Gilt Groupe

Wednesday: Clarins, Tria Beauty

HauteLook

Monday: TanTowel, Actifirm
Tuesday: Luminess Air

Wednesday: Nutra Luxe MD

Thursday: bellapierre, Anthony Morrison Hair Care

Friday: Pamper Your Baby, Belvada

Ideeli

Tuesday: PangeaOrganics.com (and I have to mention Tarina Tarantino, even though it's jewelry and not cosmetics, because it's so supercute!)

Swirl

Monday: MyFaceWorks

Totsy

Monday: Bubalina, Kimiko Beauty, Comptoir Sud Pacifique (Vanille Pineapple is a summer favorite of mine!)

This Week's Sales:Smashbox & Too Faced Friends and FamilyRicky's Memorial Day Sale & More!

Ricky's NYC

10% off your entire purchase this week online or at any of your favorite Ricky's locations! Just print out your coupon or use coupon code MD10 online - PLUS, this week only, get FREE SHIPPING on any order $25 or more! Offer expires May 31, 2011.

Smashbox

Now through Friday, May 27th (midnight PST) get 20% off any purchase with code FF2011.

Too Faced

Semi-annual Friends & Family sale gets you 20% off purchases now through May 26, 2011. Use code FF2011S at checkout (spend over $35 and shipping is free too!)

Beyond the Rack

Monday: Michael Todd Cosmetics

Billion Dollar Babes

Beauty and Fragrance Gift Boutique Always Open

Brand Alley

Ends Tuesday: Designer Haircare Solutions

Ends Wednesday: Designer Fragrance

Monday: Skincare Solutions featuring Yes to Carrots, This Works and more.

If you're not a member yet, click here for an invite and we can both earn a £10 voucher!

HauteLook

Monday: Freeze 24-7

Tuesday: Macadamia Hair Oil
Wednesday: QuickTrim

Thursday: Three Custom Color Specialists, Bremenn Research Labs Skincare
Friday: Beauty Gadget Event

Ideeli

Monday: Pangea Organics

This Week's Sales:Carol's Daughter, Oscar Blandi, Ginger+Liz...and more!

Well, the week many wait for all year is finally here: Black Friday week. Oh, yeah, Happy Thanksgiving to my continental readers too! I have a feeling many of our favorite sites have special surprises up their sleeves for Black Friday (and of course, Cyber Monday next week). Make sure you're following me on Twitter to get the latest updates on sales, contests, and moderately interesting trivia.

Also, if you're not already following, I'll love you forever if you click that little button over there!

It really means a lot to me (and you are here anyway, right?) Plus, this way you won't miss my big Blogiversary giveaway! To thank my followers for 2 awesome years, I'll be giving away a nice bundle of my favorite things from brands like MAC, Sugarpill, and Barry M. Need I say more? I could ('cause there is more...) but you'll have to wait to find out!

As for the sales- here we go...

HauteLook starts the festivities off right on Monday, November 22nd with Tarte. On Tuesday check out Carol's Daughter followed by Ginger+Liz on Wednesday.

This Monday, Go Smile over at Gilt Groupe (that's not just a cherry suggestion, it's a sale too!) and while you're there, shop with Oscar Blandi & Corioliss Hair Tools as well.

Also on Monday, Beyond the Rack features HauteSkin.

Swirl has their Holiday pop-up shop going hot (or cold?) and heavy. Click "beauty" for deals on upscale beauty goodies from Lipstick Queen, Tokyo Milk, Honoré Des Prés and more!

For my UK readers, there's still time to get in on tons of sales over at Brand Alley! Rio Professional Nails, Designer Fragrance and Haircare boutiques, as well as InstitutKarité Paris are on on the menu this week. If you're not a member yet, click here for an invite and help us both earn a £10 voucher!

Last but not least, hop over to Beauty Story on Monday for ABI Dermaceuticals Skincare. Tuesday's special is Borghese Makeup, Hand Perfection by Ellen Sirot is on Wednesday and the site hosts a blow-out "Black Friday’s Fashion Finale MEGA Sale" on, um, Friday.

In non-members only sales:

E.L.F is having 50% off it's entire Studio line on any purchase over $20 with code HOLSTU. Offer expires 11/24/10.

Smashbox is having it's online friends & family, so you can enjoy 20% off your order using promo code FFSB20. Offer lasts until November 29th.

Kate Somerville is also having friends and family; they're offering 30% off of all internet purchases, now through November 30th. Use code KSFF2010.

Bliss is having their "blue week" which means a new deal every day! Today they announced 30% off any customized gift set purchase (which looks like it's any two or more items bundled together!) Offer is valid at blissworld.com only, use code GIFTS30!

Folks, have a wonderful week, a happy holiday if you're celebrating. Most of all, remember: Black Friday is not for the tired, the weak, or the easily intimidated. It is also not for the "I don't use my rear-view mirror in parking lots" crowd but believe me, some people out there on Friday will not have gotten my memo! For the sake of all that is soft and cuddly in this world, be careful- and lemme know what you find! :)

Smashbox 2010 Friends & Family

Now through Friday, May 28th, get 20% off of your entire Smashbox.com order. They'll even ship it to you for free (if you live in the US, anyway.) Use code FF2010 when you checkout!

Oh, and don't forget to check out the site's curtain call section which features discontinued products and shades that are already reduced up to 50%- and YES, you can use the F&F discount on top of that!

So, friends, what are you getting?

Lime Crime Look:The Phoenix

This incendiary look is an update of an old signature look of mine that came to be known as fire eyes. When I first created this look, you simply couldn't find red eyeshadow; I used blush and lip liner to create the flame's vivid red. Now, in honor of Xenia and the launch of her fantastical Lime Crime Makeup, I've been inspired to revive fire eyes. From the ashes of old arose- the Phoenix!

I created this look with eye colors exclusively from Lime Crime Makeup, using only 2 shadows and a glitter for the entire look! Read on for all of the details, and make sure to click here to read my complete review of Lime Crime Makeup.



As always, I started by priming my lids from the upper lash line up to the eye brows. Using a small eyeshadow brush, I applied bright yellow Circus Girl to my lid, starting at the inner corner of my eyes and extending it just up to (but not in) the crease, leaving the outer third of my lid blank. I was very careful not to take the yellow into the crease or outer "V" of the eye, since I wanted the red to be as pure as possible.

Placing my pencil brush in the crease at the outer corner of my eye, I worked Siren (a warm, satiny red) along the crease, extending it just past the center of my lid, blending it slightly into the yellow shadow. Switching to a fluffy, domed shading brush, I used the brush clean first to blend the red crease shade lightly into the yellow, being careful to leave the inner corner pure yellow and the outer corner pure red. Then I applied the smallest bit of red pigment to the brush and applied it lightly it to the center of the lid and out. As you can see in the closeup, the result was a gorgeous coppery orange tone.

As an update to my old look, I added a bold blue "flame" along my lower lash line with sapphire blue glitter. I moistened a flat, angled eyeliner brush with a mixture of glycerin and water, dipped it into the glitter and placed the sparkles just underneath my bottom lashes, thinning and winging the line up slightly at the outside corners. Then, I used a moist smudger brush to apply a bit more glitter to my tear duct, extending it up slightly onto the inner corner of my lids. I applied a deep blue liner to my waterline, and finished the look with black mascara, false half-lashes, and a thin line of black gel liner to disguise the lash band.

Since this look is more editorial than daily wear, I chose to match the boldness of my eyes with a bold red lip. I applied a cherry red shade to my lips, patting a bit of Circus Girl pigment on top before applying clear gloss. When I ventured out on a shopping trip later in the day, I did switch to a more toned down lip, filling my lips with a nude liner before topping it with a bit of Circus Girl mixed into clear gloss.

Product List:

Eyes
Base: Urban Decay Primer Potion
Inner Lid: Circus Girl Magic Dust (Lime Crime Makeup)
Outer Lid & Crease: Siren Magic Dust (Lime Crime Makeup)
Lower Lash Line, Tear Duct, and Inner Corner: Unicorn Glitter (Lime Crime Makeup)
Top Lash Line: Blacktrack Fluidline (MAC)
Waterline: Blue Jay Duo Eye Pencil (Vincent Longo)
Mascara: Chanel Inimitable in Black
Brows: Automatic Brow Pencil Duo in Soft Brown (Estee Lauder)
Eyebrow Mascara in Auburn (Bourjois)
Lashes: Andrea Accents #305 in Black

Cheeks
Fusion Soft Lights in Dusk (Smashbox)

Lips
Pro Longwear Lipcolor in Lasting Lust (MAC)
Circus Girl Magic Dust (Lime Crime Makeup)


Brushes
MAC 239 (small dense eyeshadow)
MAC 219 (pencil brush)
MAC 222 (fluffy, domed shader)
Estee Lauder 7E (flat, angled eyeliner)
Lancome #10 (small smudger)

A Key to Color Correctors

If you've been foundation shopping lately, you may have noticed something strange next to your typical ivories, beiges and mochas. Little vials of yellow, lilac, rose, and the always shocking green can only mean one thing- color correctors are back on the menu for those looking to transform not-so-perfect skin.

If you're not sure if you need a color corrector, then you probably don't. These products are best for those with prevalent discoloration, such as those with extreme redness caused from rosacea. Though certain shades of correctors are made to simply enhance skin or add a glow, I'll stick to the tricky ones.

Yellow is best for balancing out overly rosy skin, whether natural or reactive- like a flush or slight sunburn. Those that are just a touch rosier than they'd like may enjoy some of the new yellow-toned powder formulations, which are less pigmented than cream correctors and therefore easier to blend, but you can also balance pink skin tones by simply choosing yellow toned (often called "golden" or "warm") foundation. Yellow tones are also used to brighten dark complexions without creating ashiness.

If you're more than just rosy, such as those afflicted with rosacea, broken capillaries, or severe acne, green might be just what you need. While it may seem intimidating, new primer based formulations (like the ones from Smashbox and Make Up For Ever) go on sheer, so they're much more forgiving than their ancestors. Use sparingly (if you apply this color to even toned areas it will appear green) and always follow with foundation and concealer.

Pink, Lilac and Mauve tones reduce sallowness (grayish yellow tones), and brighten olive skin tones. Most lines carry both a pink and a light purple tone- some call it lilac, some mauve. The pink correctors are more subtle, they're best for balancing and brightening olive toned complexions. The mauve/lilac tones are better suited for true sallowness more common to certain ethnicities.

Color correctors can be a godsend to those who have complexion issues that simple foundation and concealer won't cover, but it's important to remember that uniqueness is beautiful too- I would never tell somebody they need to "correct" anything that they don't see as a flaw. For some, however, it is nice to know that the option is there.

Foundation Primer: Do You Really Need One?

In the last 10 years or so, a new product has emerged on the makeup scene. As "professional" lines like MAC, Make Up For Ever and Smashbox have gained popularity, foundation primer has become a much recommended addition to the home kit. The question is, what does it do, and do you really need it?

Foundation Primers are most commonly gel-like potions designed to be applied before you put on your face makeup, as the name would imply. They claim rather vaguely to prep your face for a perfect, glowing finish. Depending on the brand, you'll see claims of velvety smoothness, reduction of the appearance of pores, fine lines, even scars. They say makeup glides on better and will stay on better. Despite all the varying claims, at their core, all foundation primers are pretty much the same. Sad, considering they can be priced anywhere from about $8.00 to $60.00

Primers are generally composed of a blend of silicone derivatives. Those most commonly used are Cyclomethicone, Cyclopentasiloxane and Dimethicone Crosspolymer. Used as emollients, they create a barrier to help hold moisture in the skin. This barrier is also water resistant, and imparts a matte look to the skin- great for those with oily skin whose makeup melts off midday. Because of the chemical composition of these ingredients, they sit on top of the skin, and can act as a temporary "filler" to smooth out fine lines, large pores, even things like acne scarring.

Some primers employ light reflecting ingredients that act as tiny mirrors, bouncing light away from problem areas. You may have even seen the newest incarnation in the primer market- primers that are tinted with odd colors like green, yellow or violet. These products are certainly not a new idea, they're just more user-friendly versions of the color correctors that pros have been using for years to reduce redness or add tone to overly sallow or pallid complexions. (My next post will fill you in on color correctors, so stay tuned!)

So, primers do much of what they claim. The thing you need to know is that you may already be using a product that does the same thing. Many serums and anti-aging products have the same silicone-based ingredients that primers do; they too fill in problem spots like large pores and fine lines. Using a primer over these products would not only be unnecessary, but it could actually cause your makeup to "roll". If you've ever put your makeup on and had it literally ball up as you apply (or thought your skin was peeling off, but saw no flakiness when you washed your face) you may have experienced silicone overdose.

Likewise, most primers that promote anti-aging benefits have the same basic antioxidants that any good treatment serum or moisturizer would, like retinyl palmitate (vitamin A), tocopheryl acetate (vitamin E), or ascorbic acid (vitamin C). Some do have higher-end botanicals, moisturizers or anti-aging ingredients, but chances are, if you're willing to shell out an extra $50 for primer, you're probably already using skin care treatments that contain them.

If you're plagued by large pores, oily skin or need a color-correcting product, primers can be useful, provided you're not using a skin care product that contains the same ingredients. If you're thinking of a primer for it's anti-aging properties, check out a treatment serum that contains one of the silicone-based ingredients listed above; chances are they'll have a higher concentration of the anti-aging ingredient and you'll be much more likely to notice results.