Sample Sale Report: Laura Mercier

After work I stopped by the Laura Mercier sample sale excited to stock up on some high quality cosmetics by the superstar make-up artist that is a favorite amongst celebrities. When I arrived on scene I was relieved that the line did not extend outdoors. Mandatory back and coat check were in place and there was a selection of clothing from various brands available at the sale including James Jeans, La FeeVerte, Muuba and Manrico Cashmere.

While there were only a handful of shoppers looking to shop the clothes, the cosmetics were where the line formed and I walked in at about 6:15pm to a line of 15-20 women ahead of me. As to prevent mass chaos, Clothingline had set up 6 identical tables where 3 women can shop at a time. Each table was manned by 2 staffers and everyone was very friendly. While I was hopeful that there would be tinted moisturizer, that was absent but there was a tinted moisturizer compact for just $20 a pop - there was a good selection of colors from what I could tell. Moisture Supreme Foundation was also $20 a pop but there were only about 8 colors to choose from.

For eyes there were items like the baked eye colour, caviar stick eye colour, eye brow pencil,
kohl eye pencil, tightline cake eye liner, long lash mascara, faux lash mascara for between $10 a pop. Illuminating eyecolor was $12. While none of the eyeshadows spoke to me, I snagged a couple of caviar eye color sticks and a brow pencil.

For lips there was the creme smooth lip colour & lip glace for $12 but the colors tended to be more frosty and sheer than what I was looking for. Frosty sheer orange, pinks and nudes were the most of the selection. There was even a frosty sheer white.

There was body bronzing make up for $9 but I didn't notice it. While nail lacquer was just $8 a pop,
all $8 but most of the colors were very classic.

Staffers were on hand with cotton balls, q-tips and wet wipes. As you request items, they drop it in a plastic bag that they seal with a twist tie that you can ring up at the cash in the front. With almost no waiting after the initial line, I was able to pop in and out in about 25 minutes.

While I was a little disappointed that they didn't have the regular tinted moisturizer, secret concealer, primer or any powders I can't complain about my haul.

As for the clothes prices are as follows:
James Jeans: $60 for Cords, velveteen, coated and color denim. $70 for basic denim. $80 for coated jackets.

La Fee Verte: Blouses & sweaters $40, leather tops $125, dresses $75, skirts $40, blazers $100, leather pants $95, outerwear $225, leather $250, fur $300.

Manrico Cashmere: Items that retail up to $600 are now $150, items that retail over $600 are now $200.

Muubaa: tops/skirts $99, woven leather or pants/vests $129, dresses $149, jackets $179, leather with fur $249

Who: Laura Mercier Sample Sale
What: Up to 55% off on beauty products from the celeb fave make-up artist at her first ever sample sale. I personally love her tinted moisturizer! Snag moisturizer, mascara, nail lacquer, eye pencil, lip gloss, brow pencils, and more.
When: October 22-24, 2013. Tues-Thurs 11am-7pm
Where: Clothingline, 261 West 36 St (b/n 7th & 8th Ave), 2nd Floor

In Full Bloom with Jane Iredale

A few days ago I had the opportunity to stop by Floristy in Chelsea for a flower arrangement class thanks the the lovely folks at Jane Iredale. We were also celebrating the launch of PureMoist lipsticks which come in 24 shades. The lipsticks are designed with keeping your kisser supple thanks to the natural ingredients such as sunflower oil and vitamin E.

While the class was brief I learned some important lessons about creating a hand tied bouquet from the instructor/owner of Floristy. He recommended choosing a front to the bouquet and making it look visually appealing from 80% of the angles. This makes sense since you tend to see arrangements mostly from one side.

I chose a focal point with a full Hydrangea stem and built my bouquet around it. I also learned that in order to give a bouquet a more modern feel, I should color block my flowers by placing like colors together. For my bouquet I grouped the dalhias, cockscomb and roses and I arranged the unique flowers like fiddlehead in mid-bouquet to make sure they got noticed. Finally I filled in with astralagus and framed my arrangement using an umbrella fern for a cascading finish.

While munching on artful veggies and sipping on Prosecco I completed a bouquet to be proud of! Lush, fresh and full of color the flowers made a great pairing with the Jane Iredale PureMoist lipstick. I got to take home a goodie bag of complimentary shades and liner to try for myself. 

The lipstick smells faintly of raspberries and has a wonderful velvety texture as it goes over your lips even if they are a little on the dry side. It is smooth and has a light sheen through it and doesn't crease up in your lip crevices. The product is packaged in a skinny matte gold tube with angled tip that serves for precise application even without lipliner. However if you do use lipliner there is a chance to play the colors and expand the range of each lipstick! Pretty awesome! The lipsticks so far have been pretty great and feel great on. I get dry lips especially at this time of year and usually avoid lipstick, glad that I can wear some color. My personal favorite is Margi a matte red that I can't help but wear often. In fact I am wearing right now!

Buy: Sephora by OPI Nail Polish

I just discovered that Sephora by OPI nail polish is now available for a super deep discount! Seriously, 50% off doesn't happen everyday and OPI's long lasting fomulas and wide range of colors are now available in store and online for just $4.50 a bottle. Just $3 if you want one of the "Blasted" crackling formulations. Trend Tips and Toes are $6 a pack while nail sets are $12 a set. So if you're a bit of a nail polish fiend like me, it's your perfect chance to stock up on colors.

To note a lot of the stock has already sold out at stores! When I asked a sales associate why, it turns out that the cosmetic giant has decided to discontinue the line of nail polish with OPI and will be replacing it with their own "S" brand soon.

Make Up For Ever Holiday Party at Style Coalition

Last week Style Coalition Lounge hosted a holiday gathering with the talented ladies from Make Up For Ever. While sipping cocktails, we had our chance to get make-up tips from professional make-up artists. When it was my turn I asked about false eyelashes as they are my beauty nemesis. They always add a lot of drama to special occasions but I always have trouble applying them.

The first step is to apply some eyeliner at your lashline to disguise where they will be attached and create a more natural look. She also curled my lashes because my natural lash growth is very straight. Then gently remove the lashes from the packet using only your thumb and a sweeping motion so as not to damage the lashes or put a kink in them. In my case for a more comfortable and customized look, the make-up artist cut the lashes into 4 equal sections but only applied 3 to my lid, with the longest segment at the center of my eye. Before applying them she had me open my eyes with the faux lashes resting on my natural lashes to check for perfect positioning. She applied the segments, using the glue that came with the package.

Sephora Friends & Family 2011

Every year I wait until this time of year to stock up on my beauty products at 20% off.  Sephora Friends and Family is back and if you have not been so fortunate to get a code from a store associate fear not.  You can get your very own code online at SephoraLove.com/FriendsandFamily.  So what will you be picking up?  Laura Mercier Tinted Moisturizer, Make Up Forever Fluo Night Pigment and Nails Inc Magnetic Nail Polish is on my list.

Special thanks to my girl TC for the tip.

Wear: BITE Beauty

A few weeks ago I was introduced to a recently launched beauty brand – BITE Beauty. It’s a collection of products that focus on the lips combining anti-aging antioxidants with natural and food grade ingredients.

The tagline caught my attention: “…Beauty for Lips That’s Good Enough to Eat” because the average woman will consume over 6 pounds of lip product over her lifetime. On a daily basis, intentionally or not, lips will be licked, or touched throughout the day as you eat or drink. Chemical based products like polybutenes and petroleum byproducts are replaced by organic shea and fruit butters and pigments are food grade and naturally derived. Since in the cosmetics industry, many lip pigments especially in the red category contain lead – food grade pigments become even more appealing.

If you think about it, women use anti-aging products on their skin and around the eyes, but the lips are not usually treated with as much care. As women age the skin around the lips unfortunately begins to lose it’s plumpness and lines begin to set in. BITE Beauty contains Red Wine Resveratrol that is a powerful antioxidant that assists the body to fight against free-radicals and helps to reduce wrinkle and prevent the appearance of fine lines while essential oils provide hydration. Each tube of lipstick packs the equivalent amount of Resveratrol found in 5 glasses of red wine.

I had the chance to test some of these products out firsthand and here’s what I thought about them:

Luminous Crème Lipstick – The lipstick comes in 24 shades and I got to test out Zin – a muted berry shade. First off I was very attracted to the packaging of this product in particular. The matte charcoal slightly bullet shape reflects the shape of the lipstick itself and it is simple and functional. As for the lipstick itself – it goes on velvety smooth and gives me a natural color that creates a sexy berry stained look. It’s not at all sticky and has a slight sweet taste. The color somehow seems to exude a sense of naturalness that makes the beauty of my lips shine through. Though the color is not particularly shimmery, there is a soft sheen to my lips as if I just applied lip balm. My lips feel as moist as if I had just applied a lip balm too.

High Pigment Pencil – If you are into matte lip shades then this is definitely the product for you. Coming in 6 long wearing shades the packaging kind of looks like a fat lip liner pencil. The application is super easy and the product glides over lips easily providing liner and lipstick in one. The best part is that the color twists up so you never have to sharpen it. I tried the Honey Berry which is a great nude shade. The feeling on the lips is very light, non sticky and although it has a dryer look it doesn’t feel dry.

Lip Shine - While this product doesn’t appear to be too different from most lip gloss products out their in terms of packaging – the wand is slightly different in that it is angled for a more precise application. I tried the Melon shade which is a summery pink tone and it gave my lips a high shine look that is moisture rich and surprisingly natural. It you want lots of shine and a subtle hit of color Lip Shine delivers. The product sort of sits on your lips and lasts long while making your lips look juicy.

Lip Rouge – This product is actually a 2-in-1 lip color and blush. The slick little matte compact slips easily in my purse and the large mirror inside the lid is super useful. This product is firmer than the other products and a little color goes a long way. I tried the blush color that is a bright raspberry pink. Lip Rouge is a buildable color that can create a light stain effect or a more intense look with additional application. The color is matte and the feel is like almost nothing is on your lips. My favorite use for this product though is as a super natural cheek stain. Just the smallest dab creates just the right amount of flush that lasts all day.

SPF 15 Sheer Balms – If you want a slight tint of color, slight luster, the feeling of lip balm and the protection of sunscreen the Sheer Balms encompass all of that. It comes in a simple black tube that is very non-descript save for a tiny BITE logo on one end. It goes on light and gives a faint hardly wearing any product feel of lip balm. The color is semi-sheer so your actual lips shine through.

Vitamin Gel – I actually found the packaging of this product to be my least favorite as the product shows through but doesn’t look particularly attractive. If the tube was improved I think that my like of this product would probably turn to love. The product itself though is the tastiest of the entire collection and lends a glossy shine look on top of color or just on it’s own. The product itself does not change the color of your lips but contains the benefits of micronized multivitamins. While this product is not sticky it has a thicker slippery feel than some of the other products. Almost like you applied Vaseline to your lips without the petroleum. I tried the Pineapple flavor that is reminiscent of Asian candy.

Superfruit Butter – This product could be used by both men and women. It goes on without shine or shimmer and gives an incredibly light, feeling that feels thin yet protective. This is also another of the firmer products that apply in a super thin coat that spreads when it warms against the skin. It’s a super concentrated blend of fruit butters that can be used not only on the lips but actually also works great to moisturize nails and cuticles too. Since it is called Superfruit Butter I think I was expecting this product to have a great taste but this product has virtually no taste. The product contains subtle flecks that are pieces of actual fruit but none of the pieces are actually big enough to really be detected when applied The fruits used are in accordance to the 4 flavors – Acai, blueberry, Cranberry or Pomegranate that are super anti-oxidant rich. What can I say but I love multi-purpose products that work.

I love that BITE Beauty is indeed good enough to eat. The way they make my lips feel and look is great. While it was hard to narrow down I think that my absolute faves are the Superfruit Butter, the High Pigment Pencil and the Lip Rouge. BITE Beauty is available at Sephora in stores and online. Products range from $18 to $24.

Beauty Products of the Moment– The Hits

A few months ago I went through some of my fave beauty products of the moment.  Since that point I’ve added quite a few more products to my arsenal. Some I’ve loved and wondered how I survived without it while others I’ve found myself wondering what the big deal ever was.  Here are my fave new products that I’ve tried in recent history.

Lierac Initiatic Fluid, $48* – This lightweight lotion glides easily over my skin and absorbs quickly to leave a matte finish that is perfect applying make-up over or going bare faced.  It’s a moisturizer designed to combat the first signs of aging and incorporates anti-oxidant rich goji fruit extract and a hi-tech peptide that protects mitochondrial DNA and stimulates cellular metabolism.  While all that sounds good and fancy I love the texture and delicate scent.  There is something about it that sort of tingles my skin in a very gentle refreshing way and I feel like something good must be happening.  I’ve always been a believer that prevention is the key to staying youthful, so I love that it’s a lotion designed to do exactly that.  Since it’s not at all greasy, I’ve been loving it for those hot summer days.  The only thing that would make it absolute perfection would be the addition of a sunscreen.

Suave Professionals Dry Shampoo Spray, $2.74* – I’ve been using dry shampoo for quite a few years as it’s a great time saver for those days when you don’t have time to wash your hair, after hitting the gym for a refresher or on summer days when you feel less fresh than a daisy.  I’ve always depended on pricier brands like Ojon or Klorane which I’ve picked up from Sephora but I was super excited when Suave launched their super affordable version.  Not only does it leave no icky residue but it smells fantastically fruity fresh, unlike other dry shampoos that I’ve tried it the past that smell only decent as best.  As with all dry shampoos to prevent the nozzle from clogging, shake thoroughly (30 seconds is best) and short blasts all over your head are all that’s needed.

Mario Badescu Drying Lotion, $17 – I’ve heard of this stuff for years but I finally had a chance to try it for myself in the last few months.  After years of struggling with trying to keep a clear complexion after a unfortunate incidence of adult acne, my skin is finally calming down to pretty manageable levels.  However that doesn’t stop me from getting the occasional volcanic eruption or two.  I will be honest this stuff stinks in a Buckley’s Mixture kind of intense way that can clear your sinuses and it’s not very attractive so not for use while in the company of others.  You will feel a deep down burn that you know that it’s sort of killing germs and drying out the zit while you sleep.  And while it didn’t make it vanish overnight, the deep down pain that hurts my entire face disappeared. After my 3rd night of using it, the pimple was pretty much vanquished into a tiny almost memory.

Lierac Sensorielle, $34* – This multi purpose oil for face, body and hair is my latest obsession.  I love the smell of jasmine, camellia and gardenia that calms my spirit.  When I first received this product I was obsessed and couldn’t stop applying it all-over myself.  It also happened to be an incredibly stressful week for multiple reasons – so the scent actually helped me to feel relaxed while using it.  The bottle is also so simple and pretty that I don’t mind having it prominently displayed on my vanity.  The oil incorporates 4 botanical oils including  Argan Oil, Hazelnut Oil, Sweet Almond Oil and Grapeseed Oil that nourish, hydrate and are full of antioxidants that regenerate and re-texturize skin.  More importantly it really does moisturize and moisturize well.  Lately I’ve preferred using oils to moisturize my body and when applying it on slightly damp skin after a shower - a little really goes a long way and I promise you won’t feel greasy afterwards.  If you are afraid of trying oils, this one is great because you can also put some in your bath to created a luxe milky bathing experience.  You can also use this oil as a massage oil and a little in your hair helps tame frizz and smooth ends.

CoverGirl NatureLuxe Gloss Balm , $5.99 – You might remember me mentioning it last week but it's like a hybrid between lipstick and lip balm - it feels soft and not sticky but gives a fun hit of sheer color. It also has SPF 15 which is perfect for protecting your lips from sun damage.  I have pretty pale lips and am not always up to the challenge of keeping perfect bold lips all day and I don’t always feel in the mood for a gloss, especially when it’s windy out.  This seems to be the perfect no fuss solution and I’ve gotten so many compliments while wearing it.

Phyto Phytomist Instant Hydrating Conditioner, $26* – After having my scalp analyzed and learning that I had a rather greasy scalp I was told that I could cut out conditioner from my hair care routine.  However, I think the idea of not using conditioner at all freaks me out.  Fortunately Phyto makes a super lightweight conditioner that you can spray on your hair and it’s been great for keeping me de-tangled.  It smells subtly like greenery and flowers but it’s not overwhelming and I love that it’s super quick and only takes me under 30 seconds to spritz myself.

*Full disclosure: Asterisk indicates that I received a complimentary sample

Recommended Product: Maybelline Eye Studio Gel Eyeliner

I'm admittedly not an expert on makeup, but I feel confident recommending this gel eye liner from Maybelline. I received it in a goody bag a few months ago and have been using it ever since. The official name is Eye Studio Lasting Drama. It doesn't live up to the 24 hour claim, but it's the longest lasting eyeliner I've ever used. It stays on virtually all day with only minor smudging towards the end of the day.

Maybelline's gel eyeliner is comparable to MAC Fluidline. In fact a few of my friends have told me they think it's actually better, and it's cheaper too! The Maybelline product retails for around $8-$10, and it comes with a brush.
I like the brush that it comes with (left). It does the job and is small enough for just about any bag. When I want to be more precise and need a finer tip, I use Sephora's angled eyeliner brush (right).

I've recommended this product to a handful of friends, and they have all agreed that it's awesome. Readers, what about you? Have you used it before or do you have another eyeliner that you swear by?