Tag, You're It!

The lovely Shela over at Confessions of a Beauty Guru recently tagged me in a beauty survey, so I thought I'd share my answers! Feel free to fill out the survey yourself and post it in your own blog or the comment section here!

What's your favourite make up look?
While I adore bold, dramatic looks and designs that create a statement, one of my favorites is a natural look! Simple, clean skin with a pinch of blush or a light dusting of bronzer, soft eyes with a pop of shimmer or color, and natural-looking lips with a dab of gloss. Letting the real you shine through your makeup while playing up your best features can be most flattering!

Do you have a beauty vice you swear by?
I can't think of any beauty "vices!"

What part of your body do you love?
People compliment me on my eyes often, and I try to play them up whenever I can!

Who is your beauty icon?
Marilyn and Audrey!

What are your favorite products?
This is a toughie - there are so many! MAC Fluidline in Blacktrack, L'Oreal HIP liquid lip color, Stila eyeshadow in Kitten, the Olay Regenerist line... the list goes on.

What beauty product makes you feel instantly sexy?
A great lipgloss adds color, shine, and the appearance of fullness, which definitely makes me feel sexier!

How do you look after your skin?
Being an esthetician, I tend to overwork my skin, actually! I cleanse twice daily (well, when I remember), use at least one serum morning and night, and moisturize. SPF is a MUST every day! I also exfoliate a few times a week and other miscellaneous treatments and masks.

What is your signature scent?
Diesel "Fuel for Life," and on the lighter side, Estee Lauder "Pleasures."

What are your hair care secrets?
Here's my favorite tip for the shower! It works well for you ladies who find yourselves getting greasy quickly, have very dry ends, or both. Shampoo your roots well, then rinse through the rest of your hair. Condition the opposite way - start at your ends and work your way up, avoiding the roots and keeping the product light as you go up.

How do you pamper yourself?
Long, relaxing showers, at-home facials, and a nice nap once in a while!

What is your beauty pet peeve?
I have too many! Overdone smoky eyes (I'm talking girls who wear this look exclusively, everywhere), poor makeup application, cakey foundation, dirty looking bronzer...

What would your desert island must haves be?
Shampoo, soap, lip balm, and an endless supply of sunscreen!

What's on your to-buy list as of right now?
The new CoverGirl Blast collection, Sephora Lash Stash, Aromaleigh eyeshadow and foundation, more Urban Decay and MAC... the list goes on.

Finally, do you have a beauty philosophy?
Beauty radiates from within.

Who are you tagging?
Fabuless Beauty, Fresco Phyrra, Happy Face, Happy Wallet... and you, of course!

Attention Phoenix Girls: H&M Grand Opening!

If you live in my home state, you've undoubtedly heard the news by now... but I can't contain my excitement, so I NEED to write about it! H&M is finally coming to Arizona!

Starting this week, us Southwest girls can get our H&M fix without driving hours to another state, because the newest store is opening right here in Scottsdale! With its selection of chic, quality fashions at affordable prices and the new Jimmy Choo for H&M collection, the company is sure to be a huge hit in the Grand Canyon State!

Doors officially open at noon, but those who have lined up first will receive special shopping privileges... so make sure you arrive early. The first 500 shoppers in line will receive a H&M Access to Fashion Pass with a random value of $10-500, along with other giveaways and special offers.

Remember, the grand opening is November 5th at 12 PM... happy shopping, desert fashionistas!

20% Off at Cherry Culture

Cherry Culture is tempting shoppers once again with a surprise sale... but it only last a few days!

Right now through November 3, receive 20% off everything in stock using code NS20 at checkout! Hurry over to Cherry Culture today to take advantage... but don't say I didn't warn you, because this sale will be over FAST!

Happy shopping!

Happy Halloween!

Happy Halloween, dear readers!

It's one of my favorite holidays, and one I usually miss out on due to time and money constraints... this year seems to be no different, as I'm working this evening. However, I'd like to hear and see what YOU are doing this festive autumn day!

Feel free to post pictures of your costume, makeup, etc.! What are you going to be? Where are you going? I'm parading around the office as a "dark" princess tonight!

Review and Giveaway: The Body Shop Love Etc...

All you need is love...

Launched on October 19, Love Etc... is the newest fragrance from The Body Shop and master perfumer Dominique Ropion. Jasmine paired with vanilla, pear, neroli, bergamot, musk, and sandalwood are united in this inspiring, feminine blend meant to signify love in all its forms.

This fragrance deserves a front spot on every woman's vanity. It's completely versatile and deceptively complex: warm and uplifting, sensual and flirty, fun and sweet, all at the same time. It embodies the energy of love on every level.

Additionally, The Body Shop is working to spread love around the world by using Community Trade alcohol made from organic sugar cane (fairly traded and organically sourced from farmers in Ecuador), organic honey (from Africa), and organic babassu oil (from Brazil) in the line of Love Etc... products.

I'm so enamored with this fragrance set that I'm proud to give one away to a special reader!

The Love Etc... Gift Set includes:Love Etc... Eau de Parfum

Love Etc... Body Wash
Love Etc... Body Lotion

To enter, submit your name and e-mail address in the box provided. E-mail subscribers can find the box by visiting the post online. Comment entries will not be considered. This giveaway begins today and ends November 9, 2009 at 10 PM EST. One entry per person; multiple entries will disqualify you. This giveaway is open to residents of the US and Canada only - sorry, international readers!

Sephora Friends & Family Sale

The long-awaited event is here... Sephora's Friends & Family Sale!!

Today through November 2, Sephora is offering shoppers 20% off on their entire online purchase by using coupon code FF2009 at checkout. This offer is only available online, not in-store, and is restricted to US residents only.

Readers... what do you plan on buying this year? I've got my eye on some Urban Decay and those amazing sampler kits Sephora has been releasing lately!

Take It All Off with Clean & Clear Soothing Eye Makeup Remover

Lately, I seem to be having more and more of those kinds of days... you know, the ones where you come home and nearly collapse the moment you get in the door. Or maybe you do collapse, and just spend the night sleeping on your living room floor. Who knows.

Either way, it's days like these when certain products can make your life infinitely easier... because the last thing on your mind is spending five minutes scrubbing all the makeup off your face. This is one such product.

Clean & Clear Soothing Eye Makeup Remover is, by far, the BEST makeup remover I've ever tried on a budget. This oil-free formula is everything I've always wanted in a drugstore remover, without the irritation and hassle.

A few swipes of this stuff takes off anything from long-wearing eyeliner to eyeshadow over primer to mascara. Simply shake, apply to a cotton round or ball, and gently swipe your eyes. You'll be amazed at what comes off those babies!

And since I wear contacts and have extremely sensitive eyes, I'm all about the oil-free, gentle formula. The liquid feels similar to an oil, without the greasy touch or gross residue after. Instead, your eyes are left feeling fresh, soft, and clean.

This remover doesn't take off everything in one swipe - something I've yet to see any drugstore product do - but it's still darn good for the price, and probably as close to a fancy, $30 makeup remover as you can get. Seriously, it works miracles.

For $5-7, you just can't say no. And why would you want to? Be sure to check out the makeup dissolving wipes and foaming cleanser, too, for even more ways to make your nightly routine a snap.

Pick yours up wherever Clean & Clear is sold, and stop falling asleep with your eye makeup on.