Modern Vices

Spa Look does it again, TWO more beauty gadgets to tempt me!

2009-01-17T14:29:00.000-08:00

I love gadgets of all kinds, always want to get the latest cell phone, the little Flip video...but most of all, I love beauty gadgets! And, SpaLook never ceases to amaze me with their beauty gadget offerings! Here are two that I really want to try...The Baby Quasar and the Baby Quasar Baby Blue!

Here is what SpaLook has to say about the Baby Quasar: Baby Quasar is an advanced light-therapy tool built on the belief that beautiful skin begins within. An effective treatment for visible signs of aging (wrinkles and lack of firmness), acne, discoloration, inflammation and other skin problems on the face and body, it uses four different red and infrared wavelengths and patent-pending SequePulse technology to stimulate cellular activity, circulation and collagen and effectively address skin concerns.

With over 90% of light-therapy, or photo-rejuventation, clients seeing immediate results, this safe and painless treatment is a truly remarkable answer to some of life's most common skin care problems. Used by aestheticians, cosmetologists, spas and salons to correct the effects of sun damage, age spots, acne, rosacea, eczema and psoriasis, this miniature version of professional models is easy to use, painless and free of negative side effects.

Current price is $359.00 (includes 20% discount, $449.00 original price)

And, here is what SpaLook has to say about the Baby Quasar Baby Blue: Designed to complement the Baby Quasar and provide additional benefits to acne-prone skin, Baby Blue uses blue light to kill acne-causing bacteria. Like the original Baby Quasar, Baby Blue uses SequePulse, a patent-pending technology, to effectively address moderate to extreme acne on the face and body.

Baby Blue gently works to control bacteria a sebum production without the side effects commonly seen with Accutane, Retin-A or Proactive, helping to provide dramatic results without the cost and inconvenience of other anti-acne choices.

Very compact and easy to use, store and transport.

Clinical studies have shown that a combination of blue and red/infrared light provides the maximum benefit to treat inflammatory acne, so Baby Blue is most effective when use with Baby Quasar to shrink pores, diminish post-acne scarring and control oil production.

Current price is $279.00 (includes 20% discount, $349.00 original price)

SpaLook is offering some great promotions for these products as well! You will get 20% off AND a FREE Pure Silk Daily Anti-Aging Hyaluronic Formula ($60 value!) when you purchase the Baby Quasar, the Baby Blue or the "Baby Power Pack"! The power pack includes BOTH Quasar products for only $599.00 PLUS Free Shipping!

If you would like to learn more about the anti-aging and acne solutions from Baby Quasar, or about additional products from SpaLook, click on this image for more information, or to start shopping today!

Givenchy Le Soin Noir

2009-01-14T16:02:00.000-08:00

So, I get a fantastic Beauty Insider email today from Sephora...which I cannot click fast enough to open...and Givenchy Le Soin Noir is the items featured and titled "Black Magic". Of course, I am intrigued...

Here is what Sephora has to say about this product:

What it does:
Givenchy Le Soin Noir contains an extremely precious, natural age-defying ingredient that will secure its status in you're anti-aging routine. Used for the first time in cosmetics, Vital Black Algae Sap Concentrate restores communication between the skin's cells. Givenchy's researchers have developed a method to infuse this potion with a rare black algae extract to help maintain and prolong cellular longevity. Parched skin drinks in the hydration it needs—leaving your complexion firm, glowing, and even-toned.

What else you need to know:
Vital Black Algae Sap Concentrate is found in the depths of the ocean and reconstructs a catalyst in the skin to counteract the signs of aging. Only Vital Black Algae Sap Concentrate contains these precious black molecules that are extremely rich in vital fatty acids. The result is skin that draws new strength to protect the cells' DNA from light-induced aging and wrinkles as it becomes firmer and restores itself. Smooth it on morning and night to form an invisible barrier that protects against the signs of aging caused by environmental and internal assaults.

Le Soin Noir retails for $360, so this is skincare for the serious beauty addict! Currently, Sephora is offering the product online only, and at Sephora 5th Avenue in New York City. I admit to a certain amount of skepticism when such claims are made, but from what I can tell, the initial reviews are quite supportive of this product being wonderfully hydrating and effective.

What is your experience with this product, or any other products containing Black Algae? Would love to hear your input and have you share your experiences with consumers trying to sort through so many products and product claims.

Product Tips for Luscious Lips!

2009-01-14T06:00:00.000-08:00

One of my New Year's Resolutions is to continue to focus on my skincare regime and look and feel great! I just finished a series on 7 tips to Luscious Lips and want to thank everyone for their wonderful feedback and input! One reader even emailed me and told me that after she followed my easy olive oil/brown sugar exfoliation tip, she applied some sexy red lipstick for a date night with her hubby and apparently all night he kept telling her how incredibly sexy her lips were! You go girl!

I did receive questions about specific lip treatments and products. I will continue this series to give some tips about lip products that will also help to make your lips their most luscious and sexiest ev-ah!

Product Tips for Luscious Lips:

This is the last in a series on Product Tips for Luscious Lips. I will try to avoid specific product or brand recommendations, as there are countless products that can address most of these tips. Instead, my intent is to focus more on the product/technique to show you how each tip can help you create more luscious lips with any brand of your choice!

(image from www.ehow.com)

Luscious Lip Product Tip #7:

Use a lip plumper product to get full, lush lips!

Lip plumpers come in a variety of effects. Honestly, some are not much more than glorified lip stick primers. Of course, they will make your lips look "plumper" and fuller, so you may find that you get that same effect from a primer product.

Others have ingredients that actually do nothing more than really just irritate your lips, making them swell a bit from the irritation and look fuller! They definitely work, but applying cinnamon or other ingredients may cause discomfort, and do not use if you have chapped lips. OUCH!

Some lip plumpers claim to have collagen or collagen-boosting ingredients as well as hyaluronic acid that over time can make your lips look fuller and more luscious. Do your research and ask your dermatologist if they think that these kinds of products can work for you.

I will recommend visiting SpaLook for your luscious lip needs! SpaLook has all of the top beauty brands imaginable, as well as amazing discounts, free offers and samples that stretch your beauty dollars further! Click on the image for more information or to start shopping!

SpaLook Offer from NuFace

2009-01-13T11:48:00.000-08:00

I adore SpaLook. I confess to spending hours finding the most amazing products on their site, and have discovered some beauty products that I can no longer live without (love, love, LOVE my ColoreScience Line Tamer - Smoothing, Soothing Skin Brightener...AMAZING product!). This recently caught my eye:

From SpaLook: NuFace is a petite, portable device to lift and firm your face and neck, lessen the look of lines and wrinkles, and boost production of collagen and elastin. The first and only hand-held device FDA-approved for facial toning and stimulation, NuFace delivers a safe, painless, gentle microcurrent, rehabilitating and firming the facial muscles. This soothing stimulus increases cellular blood flow and cell turnover, restoring natural balance, tone, and a more youthful, rejuvenated appearance in the privacy of your home.

With a frequency range between 0-500 MicroAmps for optimal effectiveness, NuFace gives you flexibility in customizing the settings to each area of the face or body being treated. A simple knob allows you to turn the equipment on and off and adjust settings.

About the creator behind NuFace: NuFace creator Carol Cole is a visionary and expert in at home technology and a pioneer in the evolution of the aesthetic industry. As a well-known and highly experienced cosmetologist, Carol has had a successful aesthetic practice located in San Diego, California, a mecca for health and beauty.

When Carol became immersed in microcurrent technology and its holistic, non-invasive benefits to the skin, it became her mission to make a true visible difference in the skin of all her clients. She recognized the powerful results and started promoting the impact it had on facial muscles and skin. With the launch of NuFace, the first and only hand-held microcurrent device FDA-approved for home use, Carol has been able to extend her microcurrent mission to the masses.

The price is definitely something to consider, but once you factor in what the average facial costs and how many facials you get a year, this might actually be a deal! And, you could even tip yourself after your treatment! Anyone have any NuFace experiences that you would be willing to share? They sweeten the deal with this offer, as well:

So, you will receive a free Optimizing Mist with a purchase of a NuFace device. If you would like to learn more about this item, or about SpaLook, click on this image for more information, or to start shopping today!

Benefit offering FREE shipping!

2009-01-13T09:55:00.000-08:00

Benefit's BADgal Waterproof Mascara is a fantastic way to keep your lashes looking fantastic in wet, snowy weather! I also am a huge fan of their BADgal waterproof black eyeliner! You can create those amazing smoky eyes that will last all night long without smudging or smearing!

Click on this BADgal image to find out more about their waterproof products, as well as this amazing BADgal Plum mascara that works magic in intensifying your eye color!

To help you ring in the New Year, Benefit Cosmetics is offering FREE SHIPPING (US Standard Shipping)! Click here for more information, or to start shopping now!

FREE US SHIPPING for 4 DAYS ONLY! From 1.13.09 thru 1.16.09 get free US standard shipping on any order. Enter promo code FRESHP09 at checkout. Not valid with other offers.

Product Tips for Luscious Lips!

2009-01-13T06:00:00.000-08:00

One of my New Year's Resolutions is to continue to focus on my skincare regime and look and feel great! I just finished a series on 7 tips to Luscious Lips and want to thank everyone for their wonderful feedback and input! One reader even emailed me and told me that after she followed my easy olive oil/brown sugar exfoliation tip, she applied some sexy red lipstick for a date night with her hubby and apparently all night he kept telling her how incredibly sexy her lips were! You go girl!

I did receive questions about specific lip treatments and products. I will continue this series to give some tips about lip products that will also help to make your lips their most luscious and sexiest ev-ah!

Product Tips for Luscious Lips:

This is the sixth in a series on Product Tips for Luscious Lips. I will try to avoid specific product or brand recommendations, as there are countless products that can address most of these tips. Instead, my intent is to focus more on the product/technique to show you how each tip can help you create more luscious lips with any brand of your choice!

(image from www.thisnext.com)

Luscious Lip Product Tip #6:

Use a lip stain for deep, dramatic color.

I love to use lip stains, as some will create a very saturated color. The color tends to appear a bit more like a natural color of your lips, as lip stains can be intense and will remain long after a lip gloss you applied over it wears off.

There are a variety of applications, and I tend to like the applications that don't involve using your fingers. I have actually found some to stain my finger tips as well!

Lip stains can be a bit more dry, so again, it is a great idea to apply a primer first to seal your lips. Or, finish with some moisturizing lip gloss. Some contain alcohol which helps the stain to dry quickly and to "pull" the color into your lips. If you have sensitive lips, a lip stain may not be an option for you.

I will recommend visiting SpaLook for your luscious lip needs! SpaLook has all of the top beauty brands imaginable, as well as amazing discounts, free offers and samples that stretch your beauty dollars further! Click on the image for more information or to start shopping!

Product Tips for Luscious Lips!

2009-01-12T06:00:00.000-08:00

One of my New Year's Resolutions is to continue to focus on my skincare regime and look and feel great! I just finished a series on 7 tips to Luscious Lips and want to thank everyone for their wonderful feedback and input! One reader even emailed me and told me that after she followed my easy olive oil/brown sugar exfoliation tip, she applied some sexy red lipstick for a date night with her hubby and apparently all night he kept telling her how incredibly sexy her lips were! You go girl!

I did receive questions about specific lip treatments and products. I will continue this series to give some tips about lip products that will also help to make your lips their most luscious and sexiest ev-ah!

Product Tips for Luscious Lips:

This is the fifth in a series on Product Tips for Luscious Lips. I will try to avoid specific product or brand recommendations, as there are countless products that can address most of these tips. Instead, my intent is to focus more on the product/technique to show you how each tip can help you create more luscious lips with any brand of your choice!

(image from www.retroradar.com)

Luscious Lip Product Tip #5:

Use a great lipstick to create full, luscious lips!

Again, you can start with a lip primer and lip liner to shape and prepare your lips for lipstick application.

Choose colors that compliment your skin tone. Red lips are certainly luscious and sexy, and there are a variety of cool and warm reds that will compliment any skin tone.

It is also a good idea to "blot" your lipstick after you apply it. Just put a tissue between your lips and press them together lightly to remove excess lipstick and help set the color. Then apply another layer and your lips will look lush, the color will be dynamic and you should get better wear out of that application.

You can also find great lipsticks that help to moisturize your lips and keep them healthy!

One tip is to be careful with the overly matte lipsticks, as for some people they can dry and irritate lips. I love a few matte lipstick colors, but do apply a primer first to seal what moisture my lips already have to avoid that overly dry feeling.

I will recommend visiting SpaLook for your luscious lip needs! SpaLook has all of the top beauty brands imaginable, as well as amazing discounts, free offers and samples that stretch your beauty dollars further! Click on the image for more information or to start shopping!

Product Tips for Luscious Lips!

2009-01-11T06:00:00.000-08:00

One of my New Year's Resolutions is to continue to focus on my skincare regime and look and feel great! I just finished a series on 7 tips to Luscious Lips and want to thank everyone for their wonderful feedback and input! One reader even emailed me and told me that after she followed my easy olive oil/brown sugar exfoliation tip, she applied some sexy red lipstick for a date night with her hubby and apparently all night he kept telling her how incredibly sexy her lips were! You go girl!

I did receive questions about specific lip treatments and products. I will continue this series to give some tips about lip products that will also help to make your lips their most luscious and sexiest ev-ah!

Product Tips for Luscious Lips:

This is the fourth in a series on Product Tips for Luscious Lips. I will try to avoid specific product or brand recommendations, as there are countless products that can address most of these tips. Instead, my intent is to focus more on the product/technique to show you how each tip can help you create more luscious lips with any brand of your choice!

(image from www.chinadaily.com.cn)

Luscious Lip Product Tip #4:

Use a sexy lip gloss to get a fuller, pout-ier, glossier luscious look!

There are a variety of lip glosses out there, in a variety of applications, colors, textures, etc.! However, applying a great lip gloss can help you lips look lush. When your lip gloss has moisturizing properties, it can also help your lips stay healthier as well.

Sheer glosses are best for daytime looks, and also help to accent lipstick. Dot an extra bit over lip stick in the middle of your bottom lip to make it look a bit "pout-ier".

The frosty lip glosses are great for evening and more dramatic looks. Again, you can use a dab of a frosty gloss in the middle of your bottom lip over lipstick to make it look fuller.

If you choose to wear lip gloss alone, it is always best to line the lips first. Lip gloss has a tendency to "bleed" or "feather", and a lip liner (as advised in the first tip) can help avoid that tendency.

I will recommend visiting SpaLook for your luscious lip needs! SpaLook has all of the top beauty brands imaginable, as well as amazing discounts, free offers and samples that stretch your beauty dollars further! Click on the image for more information or to start shopping!

Product Tips for Luscious Lips!

2009-01-10T06:00:00.000-08:00

One of my New Year's Resolutions is to continue to focus on my skincare regime and look and feel great! I just finished a series on 7 tips to Luscious Lips and want to thank everyone for their wonderful feedback and input! One reader even emailed me and told me that after she followed my easy olive oil/brown sugar exfoliation tip, she applied some sexy red lipstick for a date night with her hubby and apparently all night he kept telling her how incredibly sexy her lips were! You go girl!

I did receive questions about specific lip treatments and products. I will continue this series to give some tips about lip products that will also help to make your lips their most luscious and sexiest ev-ah!

Product Tips for Luscious Lips:

This is the third in a series on Product Tips for Luscious Lips. I will try to avoid specific product or brand recommendations, as there are countless products that can address most of these tips. However, this is a specific product that I am recommending, as it is one that I use and it is a unique product from a proven cosmetics company.

Luscious Lip Product Tip #3:

Use Cupid's Bow Lovely Lip Shaping Set from Benefit Cosmetics. I highly recommend this specific set make your lips full and pout-y! Think Clara Bow's beautiful lips and you have the genius behind this product!

With this kit you get a duel-ended pencil and a duel-ended applicator. The pencil has a highlighter that you apply above the lips to create the "bow" effect AND a darker lip liner type end with which you shape your bottom lip to create the "pout". The applicator helps you to properly blend and apply you lipstick/gloss to finish your look.

This is one specific product tip, but you can find ways to create the same effect with other cosmetics you already have!

Click on the image below to find Cupid's Bow, and many other fantastic products to maximize your luscious lips!

Product Tips for Luscious Lips!

2009-01-09T06:00:00.000-08:00

One of my New Year's Resolutions is to continue to focus on my skincare regime and look and feel great! I just finished a series on 7 tips to Luscious Lips and want to thank everyone for their wonderful feedback and input! One reader even emailed me and told me that after she followed my easy olive oil/brown sugar exfoliation tip, she applied some sexy red lipstick for a date night with her hubby and apparently all night he kept telling her how incredibly sexy her lips were! You go girl!

I did receive questions about specific lip treatments and products. I will continue this series to give some tips about lip products that will also help to make your lips their most luscious and sexiest ev-ah!

Product Tips for Luscious Lips:

This is the second in a series on Product Tips for Luscious Lips. I will try to avoid specific product or brand recommendations, as there are countless products that can address most of these tips. Instead, my intent is to focus more on the product/technique to show you how each tip can help you create more luscious lips with any brand of your choice!

(image from www.giella.com)

Luscious Lip Product Tip #2:

Lipstick Primer can help extend the life of your lip color. Primer can also help to fill small lines to make lips look healthier and younger, too.

As advised in the last product tip for luscious lips, lip liner can be used as a type of primer if applied over your lips. This is certainly one way to help you lipstick last longer.

Another trick that a friend who was once a makeup artist taught me was to apply my foundation on my lips as well. The foundation would act as a base to which the lip liner and lipstick could adhere.

And, of course, there are a variety of lip primer products from different cosmetic companies. Your best bet is to try to find some samples and experiment with one that works best for you. Many cosmetic counters will also assist you with a luscious lip makeover and apply primer for you to "test drive".

I will recommend visiting SpaLook for your luscious lip needs! SpaLook has all of the top beauty brands imaginable, as well as amazing discounts, free offers and samples that stretch your beauty dollars further! Click on the image for more information or to start shopping!

Product Tips for Luscious Lips!

2009-01-08T06:00:00.000-08:00

One of my New Year's Resolutions is to continue to focus on my skincare regime and look and feel great! I just finished a series on 7 Tips to Luscious Lips and want to thank everyone for their wonderful feedback and input! One reader even emailed me and told me that after she followed the easy olive oil/brown sugar exfoliation tip, she applied some sexy red lipstick for a date night with her hubby. Apparently all night he kept telling her how incredibly sexy her lips were!
Even the littlest things in our beauty routines can make a big impact on our appearance.

I did receive questions about specific lip treatments and products. I will continue this series to give some tips about lip products that will also help to make your lips their most luscious and sexiest ev-ah!

Product Tips for Luscious Lips:

This is the first in a series on Product Tips for Luscious Lips. I will try to avoid specific product or brand recommendations, as there are countless products that can address most of these tips. Instead, my intent is to focus more on the product/technique to show you how each tip can help you create more luscious lips with any brand of your choice!

(image from iluvdesi.com)

Luscious Lip Product Tip #1:

Use a Lip Liner. A lip liner can do a variety of things for you:

Lip liner can help your lipstick from "bleeding" into some of the fine lines that may be around your lips.

Lip liner can help you define lips that may be slightly uneven. If your lips droop a bit at the edges, you can create a bit of a lift with lip liner. Some lips are not symmetric and you can create symmetry with lip liner.

Lip liner applied slightly inside your lip line can help your lips look a bit thinner, applied along the very outer edge of your lip line can help you lips look fuller. If you use the method to make your lips look fuller, my advice is to line your lips right at the outer edge then use your finger or a lip brush to slightly "blend" the lip liner toward the center of your lips. This helps to minimize that dreaded look where you are eventually left with just liner and no lipstick as the day wears on!

Lip liner should be applied AFTER the rest of your makeup has been applied. That way, you get the best application without the lip liner getting smeared when applying any lotions, foundations, etc.

Lip liner can be applied all over your lips prior to applying lip stick to create a "base" and help you lipstick last longer throughout the day.

I will make one strong recommendation in a very special website. I recommend visiting SpaLook.com for your luscious lip needs! SpaLook.com has all of the top beauty brands imaginable, as well as amazing discounts, free offers and samples that stretch your beauty dollars further! Click on the image for more information on special offers for you and to start shopping!

Tips for Luscious Lips!

2009-01-07T07:00:00.000-08:00

One of my New Year's Resolutions is to continue to focus on my skincare regime and look and feel great! However, I also need to do that with an eye on my budget, no super expensive skin care treatments or surgery for me! So, feel free to follow my blog explore easy, realistic and budget-friendly skin care and beauty tips in the year ahead! Join me in looking your very best, feeling great, and staying on budget!

(image from www.redheadgo.com)

Luscious Lip Tips:

This is the last tip is in a series of tips to keep your lips luscious and healthy. Our lips lack the ability to produce natural oils like our skin can. This makes our lips more vulnerable to the harsher elements of weather and even to changes in our health and diet routines.

Luscious Lip Tip #7: Avoid oils and other elements that are often packaged as "natural" or "organic" but can actually be quite irritating. Lip glosses with menthol, peppermint or citrus oils can irritate lips. Many of the lip plumping products have elements in them like these listed and others that irritate the lips making them "look" fuller. This is really not the way you want to care for your lips over time, and that small window in which your lips look fuller, they can often feel quite awful. While I admit that I am lucky to have fuller lips, when I have tried some of those lip plumping products I could not get them off fast enough as they were too tingly, some stung, and many left my lips and the skin around my lips feeling and looking red and irritated.

One great resource that I look to for all kinds of wonderful beauty products, especially products to keep my lips looking their very best, is SpaLook. SpaLook has all of the top beauty brands imaginable, as well as amazing discounts, free offers and samples that stretch your beauty dollars further! Click on the image for more information or to start shopping!

Tips for Luscious Lips!

2009-01-06T07:00:00.000-08:00

One of my New Year's Resolutions is to continue to focus on my skincare regime and look and feel great! However, I also need to do that with an eye on my budget, no super expensive skin care treatments or surgery for me! So, feel free to follow my blog explore easy, realistic and budget-friendly skin care and beauty tips in the year ahead! Join me in looking your very best, feeling great, and staying on budget!

(image from media.superpimper.com)

Luscious Lip Tips:

The following tip is in a series of tips to keep your lips luscious and healthy. Our lips lack the ability to produce natural oils like our skin can. This makes our lips more vulnerable to the harsher elements of weather and even to changes in our health and diet routines.

Luscious Lip Tip #6: If you smoke, quit now. If you do not smoke, don't start. Without a lecture on the "evils" of smoking, it is very simple what smoking does to your skin and to your lips. Smoking dries them out which irritates them, the chemicals in the cigarette also irritates lips and the constant "pulling" in of smoke can and will cause lines and wrinkles around your lips and mouth. Years of nicotine can stain your lips and the chemicals you exposure your lips and mouth can cause cancer.

One great resource that I look to for all kinds of wonderful beauty products, especially products to keep my lips looking their very best, is SpaLook. SpaLook has all of the top beauty brands imaginable, as well as amazing discounts, free offers and samples that stretch your beauty dollars further! Click on the image for more information or to start shopping!

Tips for Luscious Lips!

2009-01-05T07:00:00.000-08:00

One of my New Year's Resolutions is to continue to focus on my skincare regime and look and feel great! However, I also need to do that with an eye on my budget, no super expensive skin care treatments or surgery for me! So, feel free to follow my blog explore easy, realistic and budget-friendly skin care and beauty tips in the year ahead! Join me in looking your very best, feeling great, and staying on budget!

(image from www.redbubble.com)

Luscious Lip Tips:

This next tip is in a series of tips to keep your lips luscious and healthy. Our lips lack the ability to produce natural oils like our skin can. This makes our lips more vulnerable to the harsher elements of weather and even to changes in our health and diet routines.

Luscious Lip Tip #5: Exfoliate your lips. The easiest way to exfoliate your lips is to combine a bit of olive oil with some brown sugar. Rub that gently (the operative word being GENTLY!) onto your lips and rinse off. There are many fantastic products on the market that will also exfoliate your lips, and I have had great success with those as well.

I have also heard it is recommended to use a soft children's toothbrush to gently exfoliate your lips as well. You could do that, however, I would recommend if you are going to use a soft toothbrush you could simply wet it with water. Again, this is a very gentle process, as you lips are tender, and you don't want to irritate them with too much brushing/scrubbing.

One great resource that I look to for all kinds of wonderful beauty products, especially products to keep my lips looking their very best, is SpaLook. SpaLook has all of the top beauty brands imaginable, as well as amazing discounts, free offers and samples that stretch your beauty dollars further! Click on the image for more information or to start shopping!

Tips for Luscious Lips!

2009-01-04T07:00:00.000-08:00

One of my New Year's Resolutions is to continue to focus on my skincare regime and look and feel great! However, I also need to do that with an eye on my budget, no super expensive skin care treatments or surgery for me! So, feel free to follow my blog explore easy, realistic and budget-friendly skin care and beauty tips in the year ahead! Join me in looking your very best, feeling great, and staying on budget!

(image from share.thumbplay.com)

Luscious Lip Tips:

This next tip is in a series of tips to keep your lips luscious and healthy. Our lips lack the ability to produce natural oils like our skin can. This makes our lips more vulnerable to the harsher elements of weather and even to changes in our health and diet routines.

Luscious Lip Tip #4: Stay hydrated. While many in the beauty community seem to downplay the role of staying hydrated (after all, if it were that easy, would you need to buy all of their products?!), most dermatologists will tell you that there is indeed a correlation between hydration and great looking skin. This rule also applies to your lips!

Staying hydrated also keeps you from licking your lips (see Luscious Lip Tip #2!), keeps you from nibbling on your lips (which is common with dehydration) and helps to aid the process of keeping your lips moist with emollient balms.

One great resource that I look to for all kinds of wonderful beauty products, especially products to keep my lips looking their very best, is SpaLook. SpaLook has all of the top beauty brands imaginable, as well as amazing discounts, free offers and samples that stretch your beauty dollars further! Click on the image for more information or to start shopping!

Tips for Luscious Lips!

2009-01-03T07:00:00.000-08:00

One of my New Year's Resolutions is to continue to focus on my skincare regime and look and feel great! However, I also need to do that with an eye on my budget, no super expensive skin care treatments or surgery for me! So, feel free to follow my blog explore easy, realistic and budget-friendly skin care and beauty tips in the year ahead! Join me in looking your very best, feeling great, and staying on budget!

(image from www.dreamstime.com)

Luscious Lip Tips:

This next tip is in a series of tips to keep your lips luscious and healthy. Our lips lack the ability to produce natural oils like our skin can. This makes our lips more vulnerable to the harsher elements of weather and even to changes in our health and diet routines.

Luscious Lip Tip #3: Watch your diet. Often, overly spicy foods can irritate your lips and cause short term drying and chapping. Furthermore, doctors and dermatologists will tell you that we know that a healthy diet can impact healthy skin. This also goes for your lip tissue. Eating a balanced diet, full of vitamins such as C, D and E will help make your skin look great, and keep your lips looking luscious! I know some gals who even use a capsule of vitamin E and apply that directly onto their lips. While they swear by it (and they do have great looking lips!) one word of caution is that this can be irritating for other lips.

One great resource that I look to for all kinds of wonderful beauty products, especially products to keep my lips looking their very best, is SpaLook. SpaLook has all of the top beauty brands imaginable, as well as amazing discounts, free offers and samples that stretch your beauty dollars further! Click on the image for more information or to start shopping!

Tips for Luscious Lips!

2009-01-02T09:00:00.000-08:00

One of my New Year's Resolutions is to continue to focus on my skincare regime and look and feel great! However, I also need to do that with an eye on my budget, no super expensive skin care treatments or surgery for me! So, feel free to follow my blog explore easy, realistic and budget-friendly skin care and beauty tips in the year ahead! Join me in looking your very best, feeling great, and staying on budget!

(image from lips.busythumbs.com)

Luscious Lip Tips:

This is the second tip in a series of tips to keep your lips luscious and healthy. Our lips lack the ability to produce natural oils like our skin can. This makes our lips more vulnerable to the harsher elements of weather and even to changes in our health and diet routines.

Luscious Lip Tip #2: Do not lick your lips. This becomes a counter-productive habit as the more you lick them, the more you can irritate them. Then when you try to soothe them by licking them further, it only deepens the irritation! OUCH!

Instead, use an emollient balm to keep your lips moisturized and avoid the vicious lip-licking cycle! I keep one handy in my car, keep on in my purse and even keep one on my desk. While it sounds like an awful lot of lip balm to have on hand, it keeps my lips soft, moisturized and luscious!

Speaking of using an emollient balm, it is ideal to also use one right before going to bed. This gives your lips the opportunity to be moisturized all night long! Keep a balm by your bedside and make this one of the last steps of your nightly beauty routine.

One great resource that I look to for all kinds of wonderful beauty products, especially products to keep my lips looking their very best, is SpaLook. SpaLook has all of the top beauty brands imaginable, as well as amazing discounts, free offers and samples that stretch your beauty dollars further! Click on the image for more information or to start shopping!

Tips for Luscious Lips!

2009-01-01T11:00:00.000-08:00

One of my New Year's Resolutions is to continue to focus on my skincare regime and look and feel great! However, I also need to do that with an eye on my budget, no super expensive skin care treatments or surgery for me! So, feel free to follow my blog explore easy, realistic and budget-friendly skin care and beauty tips in the year ahead! Join me in looking your very best, feeling great, and staying on budget!

Luscious Lip Tips:

My first tip is in a series of tips to keep your lips luscious and healthy. Our lips lack the ability to produce natural oils like our skin can. This makes our lips more vulnerable to the harsher elements of weather and even to changes in our health and diet routines.

Luscious Lip Tip #1: Use lip balms that have sunscreen. Don't forget that sunscreen is vital to keeping your skin healthy in protecing your skin from the harsh rays that can lead to cancer as well as keeping the skin from premature aging. Your lips need to be protected from the sun as well, year around as even in the winter months you can still get plenty of sun exposure!

One great resource that I look to for all kinds of wonderful beauty products, especially products to keep my lips looking their very best, is SpaLook. SpaLook has all of the top beauty brands imaginable, as well as amazing discounts, free offers and samples that stretch your beauty dollars further! Click on the image for more information or to start shopping!

2008-12-28T12:54:00.000-08:00

I am all about my Benefit blushes, I routinely use Thrrrob which gives my skin a lush, pink "flush" and Hoola for a bit of a bronzed look ...without that scary orang-y hue of all too many bronzers! I love how they are nicely saturated with color, and I often add a little of this one to a little of that one to create my own shade.

To hear that they are offering a new color selection to their already stellar blush lineup...well, I am beyond excited to try Benefit's newest addition to their blush lineup...CORALista! Here is what Benefit has to say about CORALista:

"...here's a sneak peak at our new product CORALista! Take a pleasure trip with CORALista, our new tropical blush for a coral flush. Sweep this warm coral pink powder onto cheeks for an instant smile. Move your brush to the beat and turn up the heat...bikini optional! $28"

Click on this image for more information or to buy it today! Benefit is offering FREE SHIPPING on CORALista from 12/30 - 1/7...just enter "CORALSHP" at checkout! Come and join me in trying this new blush from Benefit!!!

How to "Winterize" Your Skin Care Regime

2008-12-28T11:59:00.000-08:00

Winter weather can be a real challenge to keeping skin hydrated and looking healthy. The harsh outdoor elements take their toll, along with indoor heat and other factors. Skin can easily become chapped, dry, and stripped of its natural beauty and luster. Here are five simple tips to keeping your skin looking fantastic despite the weather outside! And the real beauty of these beauty insider tips? They won't break your beauty bank!

(image from www.graphics8.nytimes.com)

1. Drink lots of water. At this time of the year, especially in colder climates, we often look to our beverages to bring us some warmth. Thus, we are less likely to drink water and more likely to drink hot tea, coffee or cocoa. Do not forget to drink water, and plenty of it during cold weather! In door heating and the elements can dehydrate us, keeping hydrated will not only keep you healthier, but keep your skin looking great.

Winterizing Tip: Furthermore, with more holiday events and parties, we may be more likely to indulge in drinks containing alcohol. This, too, can dehydrate us and our skin, so a great tip is to drink one glass of water for every cocktail you savor at your holiday bashes!

2. Exfoliate. During the winter months and cold weather our skin can begin to look a bit dull. Many of us do not think of exfoliating as we do during the warm weather months as we may (and should!) be using safe self-tanning products that require exfoliation and shaving more often during that time of the year. It is important to still exfoliate, from head to toe to keep skin looking clean, clear and energized.

Winterizing Tip: When it comes to exfoliation (especially with salt scrubs!) make sure that you do that prior to shaving. Not only do you avoid any stinging sensation from the salt on newly shaved skin, you also avoid any irritation from the scrubbing and exfoliation elements on freshly shaved areas. Best of all, you get a better shave when you exfoliate first!

3. Moisturize. The winter months can be tough on skin, and sometimes we need to look at our moisturizer to ensure that it is up to cold weather duty. Most moisturizers do the job year around, but for some of us, our skin requires more moisture, especially when our heaters are running day and night! Many dermatologists recommend applying your moisturizer while your skin is still a bit moist.

Winterizing Tip: A great way to keeping skin moist is to use a humidifier during the months that you are running your heat in your home, especially in your room while you sleep at night.

4. Avoid hot water. I am the first to want to warm up the Jacuzzi or take long, hot showers and baths to "thaw out" at this time of the year. Unfortunately, prolonged exposure to hot water is not good for your skin. That hot water can strip your skin of necessary and natural oils and rob your skin of its natural ability to keep your skin moisturized. While it feels great to soak in a tub with oils and other soothing ingredients added, most of that is simply drained away when you drain your tub. It is better to shower in lukewarm water and avoid excessive exposure to spas and hot tubs that are excessively hot.

Winterizing Tip: A great rule of thumb here is that if you skin turns red in a jacuzzi or shower, it is truly too hot. Cool it down a bit to help maintain the natural and necessary oils your body produces to protect your skin .

5. Still use your sunscreen! You may think that when you see less sun in the winter months, you do not need to apply sunscreen everyday as you do during warm weather months. You are still being exposed to the sun and its potentially damaging rays in the winter. Apply sunscreen to your face and other exposed areas (for some of us, not much else in exposed in this cold weather!) and ensure that you stay on a routine to keep your skin healthy year around.

Winterizing tip: A great product is to find a multi-tasking product that provides sunscreen and powder or foundation style coverage for your skin. This makes applying sunscreen on a daily basis a "no-brainer" and a simple routine!

How do I know all of these amazing tips? I am a retail industry insider with over 15years of retail management experience. My background includes extensive experience in health and beauty products, including managing large volume health and beauty departments and staffing and training beauty consultants. I have been awarded both regional and company-wide awards driving beauty counter sales with one national retailer.

Furthermore, I am an admitted beauty product junkie. I have worked with at least one major beauty company to test products prior to market launch. If you would like me to test your products, or you would like me to blog about your beauty products, please feel free to contact me! I love to try new things and help give exposure to new products and new product companies.

Shopping Tips for the 25 Days of Christmas: Tip #25

2008-12-21T11:11:00.001-08:00

This is going to be my favorite tip of all. I have offered a wide range of holiday shopping tips, 24 so far, that stem mostly from my retail management experience. Some from my own experience as a consumer. All of them, however, lead to this very last tip.

HOLIDAY SHOPPING TIP #25:

Enjoy spending time with family and loved one this holiday season. Your presence is the very best present you can give to someone you love!

I hope that you have a wonderful and restful Holiday Season and a Happy New Year!

Shopping Tips for the 25 Days of Christmas: Tip #24

2008-12-20T12:40:00.000-08:00

When it comes to giving for friends and family, it becomes very complicated when you are on a budget and yet still want to give presents or tips this holiday season. Many of us are also dealing with gifting for teachers, for co-workers, giving tips to service providers. It becomes overwhelming and incredibly expensive to try to accomodate everyone!

However, it does pay to have open, honest conversations with friends and family. While it may feel very uncomfortable to start that conversation, you will most likely find a very open and relieved recipient to that dialogue!

HOLIDAY SHOPPING TIP #24:

Set realistic expectation for gift-giving with friends and family members!

There are countless other options to spending money on gift after gift after gift. Discuss expectations with friends and family, and while setting gift-giving rules may seem to take away from the holiday spirit, it will certainly help everyone with their holiday budgets...which in the long term makes the holidays much less stressful for everyone!

* Set a budget for kids gifts. Really, kids receive so many presents, they will still love and appreciate smaller gifts as well!

* Make handmade presents and "swap" talents. I can knit, you make soap. I will gladly create a scarf for you, if you are willing to create some luscious soaps for me! I know of many handmade "trading" circles, suggest one for your circle of friends. Most everyone has a unique craft talent!

* Draw names for adult gifts in a family. Instead of large families buying gifts for everyone, it is fun to draw names and get one special gift for that recipient.

* Create fun coupons in which you will offer your unique and special services. A friend of mine has a sister who is a masseuse, and she gives coupons for a free massage. Sounds wonderful to me! She really does not have to spend a lot of money on those gifts, and she gives her friends and family a wonderful gift...her time and talent!

* Get together and simply plan a nice holiday event in which you savor each other's company. Instead of everyone spending so much on gifts, each person could create a special holiday food dish that represents their holiday tradition or heritage and simply enjoy everyone's company. A fun potluck-type get-together creates many more lasting memories!

The reality is that many of us do not have the holiday budget that we have had in the past. It is not realistic to run up debt or overspend to try to please everyone we know and love. Many of them, too, are trying to cut back. It makes much more sense to strive to enjoy handmade gifts, share out talents, and ultimately share our time and love together this holiday season.

Shopping Tips for the 25 Days of Christmas: Tip #23

2008-12-19T10:15:00.001-08:00

While many of us are focusing on the wonderful and joyous aspects of the holiday season, there is an unfortunate darker side to the holidays as well. With an economy that is tough for so many, there is a criminal element that arises from this hardship. Also, at a time of the year where so many are doing a great deal of shopping in large crowds, we are sometimes left more vulnerable than we truly know.

Many of us are operating on a "cash-only" holiday shopping budget. So, that means that are carrying more cash than ever, and the thieves know that too! While I certainly do not want to scare anyone during the holiday season, I know from my many years of retail management experience how so many people assume they are safe, are complacent and truly do not focus on their personal safety while out shopping.

Thus, this tip is all about being safe with your cash while shopping this holiday season!

HOLIDAY SHOPPING TIP #23:

Use these tips to be cash safe this holiday season!

1. Many of us rely heavily upon ATMs to withdraw cash. If you can, do the buddy system, especially with ATMs that are slightly more isolated, or if you are withdrawing money while it is dark. If at all possible, it is best to do that cash transaction inside the bank. Take care to make sure that you get your card back (over the last week, I have found TWO cards left in ATMs!) and that you are careful with entering your pin, and requesting and taking your receipts. Yes, the information is somewhat "encrypted" but do you want a potential criminal to know your balance information and decide to target you based off of that info?

2. Do not keep all of your cash in one place. If you are carrying hundreds of dollars, or more, try to break it down into smaller batches so that you are not pulling out a fat wallet or "wad" of money. That is really telegraphing to a potential pickpocket or thief that you are a target. Paper clip it into smaller batches (say $100 in $20s) to minimize how much money you are pulling out in public at any given time.

3. Keep your cash as close to your body as possible. I continue to see moms with their purses in shopping carts everywhere I go. Yes, I live in a safe community. But, remember, the criminal element knows where the "safe" communities are, too. They will pinpoint those very communities as they know that we are more likely to assume that we are safe. I can tell you from experience, when we caught and busted pickpockets and thieves in my stores, they were not from the immediate community. Some had come from as much as 2-3 hours away to get to you in your safe community.

4. Never, ever keep money in pockets, jacket pockets, flaps of your purse or anywhere that a pickpocket could have easy access. A casual "bump" in a crowded mall could be someone relieving you of your cash! I have seen videos of pickpockets that have been caught in my stores, and I can tell you that they were so good I could not even see them taking the cash!

5. Make sure that you are thorough in giving your cash to a cashier. Count it out to them, make sure that they know you are well-aware of what you are handing over to them. Short change artists rip off cashiers all of the time, however, that is reciprocated with cashiers short-changing consumers as well. I had a friend who recently paid for an item and in the hustle and bustle of the transaction was short-changed by $40.00! She told me, in tears, and I called the store on her behalf asking the store manager to count down that drawer immediately. Luckily, the store manager listened, pulled the cashier off of that lane, counted the drawer and found it to be $267.00 OVER in funds. That cashier was creating an amazing little holidy shopping kitty for herself. My friend got her money back, but think of all of the other customers (to the tune of $227.00!) that may not have realized that they were missing change! OUCH!

I do hope that these tips are a reminder to shop safely with your cash this holiday season! Happy Holidays!

Luckyscent.com...how I love thee...

2008-12-18T20:21:00.000-08:00

Is it possible to love a .com? I am absolutely head-over-heels in love with Luckyscent.com. I love their selection of unique and hard-to-find perfumes and scented products. I love how easy they make it for me to search for a certain note, and every email I get from them I open like a giddy school girl!

I am not being paid for this declaring this passion, I just wanted to share my adoration for Luckyscent.com and hope to spread some of that wonderfully scented love around!

Right now I am simply addicted to Fou d'Absinthe by L'Artisan Parfumeur that I purchased on Luckyscent.com.

Here is what Luckyscent has to say about Fou d'Absinthe:

"Absinthe – the legendary green fairy, that entrancing vixen that brings visions, addiction and madness. Bacchanalian nights on the Moulin Rouge were fueled by this forbidden wormwood liquor that lives on the razor’s edge of bitter and sweet, of cold and hot, of delirium and inspiration. Fou d’Absinthe opens with the steely grip of icy-cool alcohol, enveloped by the distinctive, slightly bitter, unnervingly true note of absinthe, touched with a brisk tingle of angelica. The unique “hot-cold” sensation continues as the crisp, cool bite of anise contrasts with the heat of a cocktail of four spices, before settling into a resinous blend of dry pine, fir balsam and woody citrus. Elegant and mesmerizing, the journey from the initial bracing, herbal sharpness to the deeply sweet and intoxicating mellowness at the end, makes us feel, for just a moment, as if we had actually indulged in contraband. We would follow this green fairy anywhere."

I know that for many of us, perfume is a serious budget-breaker right now. It is an indulgence, without a doubt. However, Luckyscent makes this a much easier decision for you, as most of their fragrances are also available as very inexpensive testers. I have purchased testers and not liked the fragrance at all. So, for a few dollars you can decide well before you invest much, much more! And, I do recommend using testers as you want to really wear a fragrance before you select it. They may smell one way when you first put them on, then change as the day wears on. They adjust to your body chemistry and blend with your skin oils and your natural scent.

Visit Luckyscent and experience for yourself this fantastic website, top notch customer service and amazing offerings!

Shopping Tips for the 25 Days of Christmas: Tip #22

2008-12-17T10:08:00.001-08:00

This holiday season many of us are using far less credit, in some cases because we simply do not have as much credit extended to us, in other cases because we are using cash trying to eliminate debt. Credit card companies have lowered credit limits on many consumers, even those who have faithfully paid their bills on time over years! So, for some consumers they have far less "credit buying power" this holiday season. However, there are ways to protect and maximize that buying power if you so choose!

I have touched upon credit and credit cards in a few other tips, but this one is all about using credit safely this holiday season!

HOLIDAY SHOPPING TIP #22:

Use credit and/or debit cards safely this holiday season!

By "safely", I mean the following:

Carry as few cards as possible. If you wallet or purse is lost or stolen, you will have far less risk and far fewer cards to follow up on to close or cancel. I have a dear friend who worked so hard to pay down credit and yet for some reason she still carried those cards with her. Her purse was stolen, and she had a serious mess on her hands, months of battling with credit card companies and following up on fixing that damage. Just don't carry the cards with you, not only does it reduce the temptation to spend more, it keeps you safer.

Carry credit cards as closely to your body as possible. While shopping the other day, I noticed several customers who had left their purses in the shopping cart while they were looking elsewhere. Don't set yourself up, when an economy weakens, the criminal element arises.

Ensure that you keep your eye on your credit card at all times. Do not let an associate wander off with it, make sure that they process the credit card transaction immediately and right in front of you. I was recently shopping and an associate asked to take the item I was interested in and my credit card to give to another cashier. I politely told her that I would do that myself, and thanked her for her help. As a retail manager I was involved in countless internal investigations in which associates were able to get (and immediately USE) credit card numbers that they had gotten in seconds (often times they jot down the number, or they make a "carbon" copy by putting a piece of paper over it and rubbing with a pencil).

Be very careful with applying for the those "immediate" store credit cards. I myself am very leery of this, and in all of my years of retail management, I have never once done this myself. I know from an insider perspective how "sloppy" this process is, and would never expose my personal information in that manner. The applications often sit at registers, exposed to many associates (and even other customers) and I have been involved in way too many internal investigations linked to instant credit applications and identity fraud. Even if the retailer can offer you a completely paperless manner, in which you enter all personal information into a keypad or telephone, I would still not do it. While the immediate discount is very attractive, weigh it against the risks, the reason they are offering to extend credit to you (to get you to buy MORE!) and the interest rate you will pay if you do not pay that balance off immediately.

Set up online account management with your credit cards. During this time of the year, it is a great idea to log on daily and review your charges. If you see anything suspicious, you can react immediately and get resolution much more quickly.

I hope that these few credit safety tips help you to save money and your credit this holiday season!

Shopping Tips for the 25 Days of Christmas: Tip #21

2008-12-16T12:19:00.000-08:00

As a veteran of the retail industry, I know all too well that when economic times are tough, retail managers get very creative to "save the sale" and keep your customers happy. Prices are so incredibly promotional right now, and in some cases literally dropping by the day.

I had posted an earlier tip about keeping your receipts to ensure that if prices dropped, you could return to that retailer to get a price adjustment. Many retailers offer at least a 14-day price protection so that if it goes down (except in the case of clearance items) the retailer will give you that lower price.

The following tip is also related to getting the best price, but with a twist:

HOLIDAY SHOPPING TIP #21:

Keep your eyes open for prices at competitors and ask for that price match if you have already purchased that item at another retailer!

If you have kept your receipts, and find an item that is less expensive elsewhere, you should ask for a price adjustment. If you can find documentation of this lower price, bring that with you (an ad circular, a screenprint, etc.). If the retailer refuses to adjust your price you always have the option of returning the item and purchasing it from the retailer that is less expensive. In today's competitive retail world, the chances are pretty good that the retailer will try to "save the sale" and adjust your price by a few dollars instead of losing many more dollars. The best thing you can do is to ask for the "Manager on Duty" and politely and professionally inform them of the price difference.

This also applies to your online purchases, you should inform the online retailer that there is a lower price from another online competitor and that you would like to ask for a price adjustment. Again, you should have documentation, and can send them a link to the item in your communication.

Where it gets tricky is when you purchased something in a store, but see it online at a competitor for less. Online pricing will often be different than store pricing as they are working with different economies of scale. However, in my experience as both a retail manager and as a consumer is that a retailer will honor that price adjustment if the customer can provide some documentation. I recently was awarded a sizeable price adjustment from a national big box retailer when I brought in a screenprint of the same item with a much lower price online.

It can also be more complex when you have purchased something online but find it for less in a store. It can be done with persistence, patience, politeness and "please and thank you"! Remember, these employees are feeling the pinch of this holiday season, they WANT to find a great way to help friendly customers! The online process can take a bit longer, but I am again proof that it can be done...a certain major online retailer adjusted a $5.00 price difference for me.

Good luck, and remember to always keep your receipts!!!

Heels.com has fantastic offers for the holidays!

2008-12-16T10:15:00.000-08:00

Calling all shoe lovers...Heels.com has amazing holiday offers for you! I know you need gorgeous shoes for holiday celebrations, including New Year's Eve, so shop NOW!

Just click on the images and/or text below to start shopping, and don't forget your coupon code at check out!!!

Save $15 off any order over $125 at Heels.com with code HEELQ4AFF from 10/1/08 - 12/31/08

Origins Last Minute Shopping Offers!

2008-12-16T08:49:00.000-08:00

Origins is offering fantastic savings for you last minute holiday shoppers! Click on any image or text for more information or to start shopping for the beauty product lovers on your list!

Place your Origins.com order by December 22, 3:00 PM, EST, and not only will we get it there by Christmas, use Offer Code Free2DayLS for Free 2nd Day Shipping!

Last Minute Holiday Savings from Benefit Cosmetics!

2008-12-15T13:07:00.002-08:00

Benefit Cosmetics is offering amazing last minute holiday savings for those of still that are still in gift-giving and gift-buying mode!

Check these out! Click on any of the images OR text for more information!

Get Free 2 Day US Shipping on any order. Enter code TWODAY08 at checkout. Select second day (2 days) as the shipping speed during checkout. Offer valid 12.15 and 12.16.08 only.

It’s the best time of the year! Get 20% off any order on 12.17.08 only! Enter code TWENTY08 at checkout.

Go from zero to gorgeous with a FREE rush hour with $30 order. Enter RUSHGIFT at checkout. Valid 12.18.08 only.

Need a pick me up? Our Beauty Uppers set is at a new lower price! Now an $86 value for $58.

Save more than a pretty penny! Get 20% off any order on 12.20.08 only! Enter code SAVEGOOD at checkout.

There’s still time to gift gorgeous! Get FREE next day US shipping and get your gift in time for Christmas. Enter code LASTGIFT at checkout. Offer valid Dec. 21st and 22nd only. Select next day (1 day) as the shipping speed during checkout.

Last Minute Holiday Savings from Benefit Cosmetics!

2008-12-15T13:07:00.001-08:00

Shopping Tips for the 25 Days of Christmas: Tip #20

2008-12-15T12:50:00.000-08:00

I received some great emails regarding my shopping tips about making gifts (and not really doing all that much shopping!) and shopping handmade. Of course I network with other artists and creative types and those kind of gift-giving tips are ones that are near and dear to us!

It then dawned upon me that there is a fantastic Holiday shopping/Holiday gift-giving tip combines a "Do-It-Yourself" aesthetic and creating something "Handmade" with what you already have in your possession...

HOLIDAY SHOPPING TIP #20:

Look to what you already own that you can embellish or improve upon to re-purpose and give as a one-of-a-kind gift!

This is not "re-gifting" or doing any kind of "White Elephant" type gift. I once had a circle of friends and we passed around this really ugly (in our humble opinions) purse that one of them had received as a gift from their grandmother. Of course it was done tongue-in-cheek, but it almost became a gift of "hot potato"...who could get rid of that purse the quickest?! This is not getting rid of a fruit cake or some other odd gift you have received!

Instead, this tip is about re-purposing, and creating something completely new and different out of something that you may already own. I have a friend who is giving people on her list scarves that she has beaded and embellished. She has taken smaller scarves and pieced and sewn them together into large wraps, then crocheted borders and painstakingly beaded accents onto the silk. She has taken something that she already owned, but did not use (and that she acquired from ebay, garage sales, vintage finds, etc.), and made these items into something extraordinary. What an amazing gift!

Think of how you can re-purpose items that you no longer use that can make them special and unique for friends and loved ones!

Shopping Tips for the 25 Days of Christmas: Tip #19

2008-12-14T20:23:00.000-08:00

With so many of us cutting back this holiday season, we are searching for sensible, meaningful gifts to help stretch our gift-giving dollars. Many of us are looking for gifts for people who may need some extra help this holiday season including elderly parents, college students and others. In the past, it would have made sense to give a splurge gift, now it makes sense to give something that is considerate and useful.

HOLIDAY SHOPPING TIP #19:

Look to gift cards for sensible gifts this holiday season!

A couple of extra tips to accompany this tip:

A word of caution in purchasing gift cards from smaller, boutique type stores, smaller regional retailers and retailers that are currently struggling. Well, yes, most retailers are having a tough season, but big box national retailers are in this game to stay, so to purchase and give gift cards from Target, Walmart and Best Buy are all a solid bet.

Find out if you get bonus points from your grocery store for purchasing gift cards. Currently, my Ralph's store is offering triple points for gift card purchases, and I can buy gift cards and translate those points into discounts for gas and groceries. Be careful, however, as they sometimes charge a processing fee that can cut into your total purchasing power and erode the "benefit" of bonus points awarded.

Find out if you receive special points, air miles, etc., on your credit card for buying MasterCard, Visa or American Express branded gift cards. I recently got an XBox 360, a Nintendo DS and some Wii games at NO CHARGE by "cashing in" on my Amex points. Not bad!

Be careful about purchasing gift cards, as there at least one major gift card scam that is impacting consumers. Both internal and external thieves will write down gift card numbers and frequently check to see if those gift cards have been purchased and activated. As the activation is often immediate upon purchase, if they have captured a gift card number that is activated they can use those funds themselves. Pick gift cards from the middle of the display, or try to select the gift cards that require a scratch off number for activation. Better yet, if you can, ask a cashier for gift cards that are located at their register as those would be more difficult to be tampered with (most registers at major retailers have cameras on them, it would be exceedingly difficult for a cashier to play any kind of gift card scam while being watched by the "eye in the sky".

Shopping Tips for the 25 Days of Christmas: Tip #18

2008-12-13T11:09:00.001-08:00

To accompany my last Shopping Tip #17 (DIY this holiday for gift-giving!) I thought it would be important to also pass along another related shopping tip that is certainly near and dear to my heart...

HOLIDAY SHOPPING TIP #18:

Buy HANDMADE gifts this holiday season!

I love handmade gifts. I love that someone took the time to make something by hand. I enjoy that passion for their talent and gift. I really dig the idea of supporting an entrepreneur and not a huge corporation. Of course I love some really amazing brand products, however, I also truly appreciate how hard an individual works at creating something that is often one-of-a-kind or something that simply cannot and should not be replicated in a factory somewhere!

So, support an artisan this holiday season, buy local, buy handmade!

Shopping Tips for the 25 Days of Christmas: Tip #17

2008-12-13T11:08:00.000-08:00

From my own personal experience and in talking to so many friends and family, and even in the feedback that I have received from this series of tips, I get that many of us are on serious budgets this holiday season. Coupled with that is a feeling of being pretty "burnt out" on the usual holiday consumer message. All too many are struggling with credit card debt, decling home values, and we just do not want to be overwhelmed with the usual "buy this, buy that" message.

So, I say this is a tip that many of us are probably already following, and can still follow this holiday season...

HOLIDAY SHOPPING TIP #17:

Do-It-Yourself this holiday for gifts and holiday events!

Ditch the usual media push to consume, consume, consume...buy, buy, buy! Many of us have fantastic talents that we can put to good use for gift-giving! Offer a "cookie of the month" club for friends, knit a scarf, or make hot cocoa mix (see my recent blog post on http://jet-chef.blogspot.com!). All of these gifts will cost you so much less and be so well-received! People love personal, handmade and homemade gifts.

Beyond the fun gift-giving aspect, many "DIY" gifts have an incredible element of being personal and very practical. For example, create a coupon book for elderly parents in which you offer to do "handyman" duties to help them keep up with their home. So many of us don't need more "stuff", but we could certainly use practical solutions to make our lives easier! Think how much less will end up in a landfill, think how a DIY gift will instead fill up hearts and lift spirits!

"Brand New Skates"

2008-12-11T11:19:00.001-08:00

Santa came early this year and brought me "Brand New Skates", a new color from OPI! This is another polish color from their "Holiday in Toyland" collection. I bought mine at BeautyOne (love that place, with their frequent shopper program I recently got all kinds of "free" stuff for the holidays!).

image of "Brand New Skates, OPI

This is an unusual color (which is one of the reasons that I do adore OPI!). I have a few other polishes that qualify as "silver" or some kind of glitter-y silver color. This one is a deep silver, like gunmetal grey, with gorgeous tiny flecks of blue and even a light gold.

I love how easy the application is, it goes on smooth and shiny. This is not a heavily glittered nail polish that feels gritty or rough. I thought that the first application was nice, sheer but not too much so, and I could have very easily stopped there and finished with a top coat. The next application took the color to an opaque state, and I loved this layer as well! I wear a lot of silver and turquoise jewelry, and this color looks great with those pieces.

I am already finding myself addicted to the OPI Holiday in Toyland Collection, and next up may be either "Little Red Wagon" or "Play 'til Midnight"!

Shopping Tips for the 25 Days of Christmas: Tip #16

2008-12-11T09:54:00.000-08:00

Many retailers offer a variety of frequent shopper programs, and I am sure that many of us take advantage of them in one way or another. Retailers have to differentiate and in a retail environment in which so much looks and seems the same one true way they have to keep hold your attention is to offer you rewards for your hard-earned discretionary spending! But have you truly thought about how you could leverage that buying power all year long to pay off for you at the holidays? While this tip is offered in December, this is a tip that you can be thinking of all year long...

HOLIDAY SHOPPING TIP #16:

Leverage your year-long shopping with retailers that offer frequent shopper awards to get "free" holidays gifts and stocking stuffers!

This is a tip that all of us can truly follow all year to "cash" out for the holiday season! I shop a variety of retailers and always inquire about their frequent shopper/rewards programs to get free Spanx, free makeup and beauty products, free groceries, free clothing, free stocking stuffers and more! You are already giving them your business, you deserve to get something back for that is a great added bonus!

I simply have a small wallet in my purse that holds the rewards cards or frequent shopper cards to ensure that I have them on me at all times. Just make sure that you know if any of the rewards "expire" as some of them have to be used in a certain time frame. However, many, like my BeautyOne cards, had no expiration date and I was able to cash in over $120.00 for free makeup and beauty products!

P.S. Speaking of getting amazing beauty and skincare products, here is one of my favorite websites to find top-of-the-line beauty products: SpaLook.com! They have amazing offers to take advantage of, from free shipping to free product to much, much more! Click on the image below to experience what SpaLook.com has to offer any beauty product and skincare aficionado!

Even my Christmas Ornaments are Accessories!

2008-12-10T16:07:00.001-08:00

Yes, I can admit that my vice for accessories, in this case shoes and purses, even extends to the Christmas ornaments on my tree...

Exhibit 1:

This ornament is a Christopher Radko ornament that is a beautiful little coin purse.

Exhibit 2:

This is my Christopher Radko ornament that is a sexy stiletto...I think I have a pair pretty much just like this but in black...

Hey, a gal has to even accessorize her Christmas tree...

Shopping Tips for the 25 Days of Christmas: Tip #15

2008-12-09T09:58:00.001-08:00

Retailers are savvy about the message that they send to their customers. They spend countless dollars on marketing and media consultants, in-house and outside advertising and marketing gurus and test with focus groups the kind of commercials and advertising they plan to use. I myself saw first hand how marketing campaigns are crafted while working for a national retailer, and it is truly an amazing process.

During the holidays, these campaigns are even more intense and there is an even stronger emotional and cultural component that is designed to resonate more deeply with the consumer. This is more than selling a toy or a bike, this is selling how that toy or bike fits into your family, your lifestyle and your dreams and desires of how the holidays "should" look and feel for your family. These campaigns even poke a bit at feelings of guilt (hurried working mom who feels that she should be spending more time with her kids) or inferiority (the next door neighbor has the Lexus sedan with a big red bow, why don't I have one?)! I won't even touch the intensity of the media campaigns focusing on kids and the "want" vs. "need" factor for toys and gadgets!

This leads to an easy, no-nonsense holiday tip:

HOLIDAY SHOPPING TIP #15:

Turn off the TV during the holiday season, or dramatically limit viewing time!

These commercials are skillfully designed to provoke a very simple, visceral and emotional response. Of course, so many of us truly want the holidays to be special, and it is easy to process the media messages from retailers and their marketing messages to help us define that "special". However, with so many of us cutting back this holiday season, we are better off turning away from the TV and turning to one another to craft that "special" message ourselves. With a tighter budget it will be all the more important to turn inward to focus on how we are going to define the holidays for our family, how we are going to help our kids decide what is "need" and what is "want" and how we are going to celebrate what is most important: enjoying the holidays with friends and family.

20% off Benefit products, December 8th ONLY!

2008-12-08T12:34:00.000-08:00

Benefit has amazing products and equally amazing holiday offers!

December 8th: Today only, get 20% off your order when you purchase 3 or more products. Enter promo code EIGHTDEC at checkout. Plus, enter code DECEMBER at checkout and you'll receive FREE US Standard Shipping on $25 purchases. Offer expires 11:59pm PST 12/08/08. Get great presents at fantastic savings for the beauty product lovers on your list! (and...maybe a little something for yourself, too!) Click the image below for more info and to start shopping and saving NOW!

December 8th only, get 20% off your order when you purchase 3 or more products. Enter promo code EIGHTDEC at checkout. Offer expires 11:59pm PST 12.08.08.

Shopping Tips for the 25 Days of Christmas: Tip #14

2008-12-08T11:03:00.001-08:00

From an earlier post, I described how I truly love how technology truly allows retailers to maximize customer service and drive sales. When I first started in retail, I remember how excited we were to get an corporate-wide email/intranet system. In fact, for about a month or so I went from store to store in our district, and beyond, to help train the store staff on how to use the intranet system.

What a different a few years (okay, about 17 or so!) makes! Technology leads us to the next couple of retai insider tips!

HOLIDAY SHOPPING TIP #14:

Sign up for retailers' text/cell phone updates.

I have received text messages from a handful of retailers that have alerted me to products (finally) instock (a hot Wii game!) to a "text only" coupon to save 25% over a two day window. Not bad. I did get the Wii game, did not use the coupon (it was instore only, I have no desire to deal with the mall right now!!!). Remember, text messaging charges may apply, so know your carrier's text message charges and policies.

I am also sure that many of you have heard of other functions and applications, such as the Amazon application for iPhone users called "Amazon Remembers". This is pretty cool. You can take a picture of an item, upload it to Amazon and within minutes (althought anecdotally I have been told that it can take a day or even two, but that has not been my experience) you can have an Amazon match of that same item with what is typically a better price! I love to price shop, as you can see in previous shopping tips, so if you have an iPhone, this is a very slick way of trying to get the best price possible (especially when Amazon ships that item for free!).

One cautionary note: I also have been told that there are some retailers that will ask you to not take pictures in their store. I can tell you from my past retail experience that indeed we did ask customers to not take pictures in our store. Mostly to protect people, however, not our sales! So click with caution!

p.s. Here is a killer site for finding amazing prices on highend designer items for holiday gift giving (and free shipping!!!):

Shopping Tips for the 25 Days of Christmas: Tip #14

2008-12-06T09:20:00.001-08:00

I love how technology truly allows retailers to maximize customer service and drive sales. When I first started in retail, I remember how excited we were to get an corporate-wide email/intranet system. In fact, for about a month or so I went from store to store in our district, and beyond, to help train the store staff on how to use the intranet system.

What a difference a few years (okay, about 17 or so!) makes! Technology leads us to the next couple of retai insider tips!

HOLIDAY SHOPPING TIP #14:

Sign up for retailers' email updates.

As much as many of us hate to get spam, or emails that simply clog up our inbasket, you can make these emails pay off in savings of both time and money! I have received emails that have offered exclusive savings and special buys. You can always sign up for the emails, and if you truly do not find them to be value-added, you can opt-out (look at the bottom of the email, there will be some kind of verbage to remove your email from their list).

I get emails from both online retailers and brick and mortar retailers. I am a huge fan of Amazon.com emails as they not only offer great savings in many cases, but they are also designed to focus on my likes and interests based off of my recent purchases. (Yes, I am a sucker and think that somehow they "know" me there at Amazon.com!) I have already saved over $100.00 easily by watching my emails and taking advantage of special offers.

p.s. Shopping for eco-friendly loved ones? Gaiam.com is the online destination for people living a lifestyle of health and sustainability. We offer over 4,500 products in categories including; yoga, Pilates, organic cotton clothing and natural and healthy products for the home. Click here for more information and amazing savings!

Special Benefit Offer - TODAY ONLY!

2008-12-06T08:23:00.001-08:00

Benefit has a special offer for today, Saturday, December 6th! Get 20% off your order when you buy 3 or more products! Enter code DECSIXTH at checkout. Offer expires at 11:59pm PST 12/6/08. Act now and click the link below to cash in on the special savings!

December 6th only get 20% off your order When you buy 3 or more products! Enter code DECSIXTH at checkout. Offer expires at 11:59pm PST 12.6.08.

Benefit has amazing gifts for anyone who loves fun beauty products that actually do what they claim (I know, but it has to be said as way too many products simply do not!)! Click on the image below to unlock the many beauty treasures that Benefit offers you this holiday season!

Happy Holidays!

Bliss on MY List!

2008-12-05T16:29:00.000-08:00

I love Bliss products, and this is at the top of my Christmas List! I swear that I have been a good girl, Santa! Click on this image for more info or to get it for a beauty enthusiast on YOUR list!

Click here for great savings on ALL Bliss sets!

Get more for less with up to 25% savings on all bliss exclusive sets!

And, click here to give the Bliss gift that keeps on giving!

Spoil them with a steady supply of Bliss! Introducing continubliss, our monthly 'foam' delivery program. Subscribers will have a seasonally selected Bliss product delivered to their door each month, plus our savings-filled 2009 calendar!

BeautyFix

2008-12-05T10:21:00.000-08:00

I recently received my first BeautyFix shipment, and I am bursting at the seams to share how incredibly pleased and excited I am! I have done countless makeup memberships, autoships, and ended up with lots of pretty expensive tester-sized no-name "makeup" and "beauty products". (Using quotations as I would not claim some of those products to be makeup or beauty products at all!)

What is BeautyFix? As Beauty Fix states, "BE THE FIRST TO KNOW, FIRST TO TRY! As a Beautyfix member, you’re privy to a sampling of the latest hand-picked, high-performance products, as well as the inside scoop on anything and everything beauty-related from industry experts and beauty aficionados alike." Beauty Fix is $50 for a quarterly subscription. Yes, $50 is a lot of money, however, here is exactly what I received, you are seeing it all as I unpack it!

Here is the Beautyfix bag, directly out of the box. It is a nicely quilted and embroidered makeup bag. So far, so good...

BeautyFix bag opened! VOILA! This bag is obviously packed with all kinds of goodies! First out:

Jane Iredale, 24-Karat Gold Dust Powder. Full Size Retail Value: $12.00

This product is divine, I tried to capture how lovely the rosy color is with flecks of genuine 24-Karat Gold! This would be gorgeous on the cheeks, or anywhere else you want a bit of a rosy-golden glow! I am excited to even try it on my eyes!

NOC-Out Cover-Up Compact. Full Size Retail Value: $38.00

This compact is wonderful and contains a generous portion of three lovely and silky concealers: yellow, peachy-beige and salmon. These three concealers will help to hide a bevy of skin concerns, and can be blended to be perfect for your skin tone!

Kronos Phyx Full. Size Retail Value $105.00

Phyx is a "ph-antastic" overnight hair treatment. I personally can't wait for tonight to try this one, with the dryer winter conditions, this can help to repair damaged, dull hair while you sleep!

Perricone MD, Firming Neck Therapy. Full Size Retail Value $95.00

I have been looking for a great product to try to ensure that I keep my neck firm. Often, that is one of the places on the body that you can tell a woman's true age!

Amarte, Aqua Veil Pure Hydration Serum. Full Size Retail Value: $42.00

Amarte is a Korean product making its US debut. Again, much like with my hair getting so dry in the winter, this lightweight serum may just perform wonders in hydrating my skin! It smells like cucumber, and has a mineral dense water base and wonderful herbal extracts. In Asia, this product is referred to as "Magic Water"!

Amarte, Natural Wonder Cream. Full Size Retail Value: $90

BeautyFix included this as a bonus, and this Natural Wonder Cream is a combination of pine extract, argan oil and sulfur. These combined can help to soothe and further hydrate the skin. My dermatologist recommends products with sulfur for my skin type, so I am excited to try this product as well!

Sensa. 15 Day Trial Retail Value: $29.50

I have heard wonders about Sensa, and am going to try it myself in the New Year. It is based in science of smells and aromas and how we are drawn to eat (and overeat) by our sense of smell. I cannot wait to get started with this product (maybe I can even knock out a few pounds BEFORE the New Year!).

PCA Skin, pHaze 9 Purifying Mask. Full Size Retail Value: $56.00

This is a fast-acting refining mask and exfoliating scrub all in one product! Red Sea algae, French red clay and red wine extract brighten skin while essential oils hydrate. I am about to use this product, so I need to stop typing soon!

M LAB, Anti-Aging Treatment Cream. Full Size Retail Value: $260.00

Last but not least, is an anti-aging cream referred to as the "Rolls Royce" of skin cream. Peptides, anti-oxidants and hydration firm the skin and reduce the appearance of fine lines. Sold!

All of these products for only $50.00. Amazing! I wanted to share each item with you so you can see the true value. These are not little trial sizes, or simply a one-time sample. These are amazing products and respected brands at a price that is too good to be true!

In addition, as a BeautyFix member, you have the ability to get these products and many others at huge savings. One such member exclusive: A Redpoint Makeup Clutch, Mascara, Shadow Duo, Eyeliner, Shadow Brush and Blushwhip all valued at $141.50 for only $59.00!

Come and join me! View my profile (still under construction a bit!) at http://www.beautyfix.com/member/kmace923. If you would like to join in on the BeautyFix bounty, please let BeautyFix know that I helped to refer you! I deeply appreciate the referral, and I truly hope that you invite your beauty product-loving friends and family to also indulge in these amazing products at such a great value! And, products change with each quarterly shipment, so you can look forward to more shipments of cutting-edge products!

"Baby It's Coal Outside"

2008-12-04T19:53:00.000-08:00

I just recently found an OPI polish that I simply adore, from their "Holiday in Toyland" collection. "Baby It's Coal Outside"...it is perfection! I bought mine at BeautyOne (love that place, with their frequent shopper program I recently got all kinds of "free" stuff for the holidays!)

(Picture of OPI "Baby It's Coal Outside"

I have long been looking for a black polish that was not just a flat black. This is a super deep, richly dark charcoal that on looks like a really a nice sparkly black. The sparkles are white, but in some light sources they also play off as blue. The perfect part is that the sparkles are not at all gritty or funky. The polish comes off nice and smooth with a nice finish.

This is a fantastic color for those who want a fun black polish for the holidays. I have a new favorite from OPI, and hope that you enjoy it too!

Inspirations, kind of continued!

2008-12-04T13:16:00.001-08:00

In my K. A. Mace Jewelry blog, I recently blogged about inspiration and how I felt renewed and rejuvenated by my recent inspirations...

I have to add that I have been inspired by that inspiration...I want, no NEED, a lipstick in this very color...

This is the perfect pink...If you have any suggestions, please leave a comment. I am inspired to wear this color!

I have this very color in my Ben Nye eyeshadow palette...something tells me that it will be on my eyes very shortly!!

Shopping Tips for the 25 Days of Christmas: Tip #13

2008-12-04T11:35:00.001-08:00

If you have been following these tips, you will already know that I have blah, blah, blah years in retail blah, blah, blah management. Well, one thing that I can share with you is that when it comes to retail management, you are looking to run your store as smoothly as possible. With that "smoothly as possible" comes many "not so smooth" customer challenges and concerns.

I have always trained my teams, and I believe this to be fairly universal in the retail world (at least those retailers with a shot at survival!) that if a customer asks for something reasonable, it is reasonable to grant that wish. Reasonable is in the eye of the beholder, or hurried retail manager, in this case. What I am going to advocate in this tip is very, very, VERY reasonable: When it comes to your online shopping, you have to ASK for something very easy for an online retailer to do to make you happy and click through to buy your shopping cart:

HOLIDAY SHOPPING TIP #13:

Ask for FREE SHIPPING!

Not a huge secret, really. Most retailers have an online code that they can offer you for free shipping. All you have to do is ask. The best place to go to is a live online customer service "chat" associate. Trust me, if you ask, they will give the free shipping code (along with other great shopping codes that they may be offering!).

Google your favorite online retailer for free shipping codes, and you can also find that there are many sites and blogs out there that will give you those very codes! Here is a fabulous site, MomsWhoSave.com. I found this site on Twitter, a great place to find such resources.

Speaking of Twitter, log on and send out a message to see if anyone can give you codes for a website that you are interested it. I have seen people helping each other out on Twitter, it is a great place to network and find such information. (BTW...you can follow me at http://twitter.com/KellyAlvarez!

You can also email or call the online retailer, but often at this time of the year, response times are longer than usual. If you are trying to lock into a great price, or have a short timeframe, that may not work.

p.s. Here is one online retailer that is offering free shipping: Benefit! For any of you that have beauty enthusiasts on your holiday list (or you need to get some special beauty products for yourself!) Click on these links for some of the best beauty products out there with fantastic savings!!!!

Enjoy FREE US Standard Shipping on any order for 4 days only. Enter promo code GIFTSDEC at checkout. Offer expires at 11:59pm PST 12.7.08. Not valid with other offers.

Shopping Tips for the 25 Days of Christmas: Tip #12

2008-12-04T10:53:00.001-08:00

After over 15 years in the retail industry as a buyer, corporate trainer and store executive, I am ALLLLLLLL about the price and value equation. After spending years sourcing clothing, I know the ins and outs of the fashion industry. Later, with a stint with a major electronics retailer I learned a great deal about consumer electronics. With this knowledge, I am slightly dangerous when it comes to knowing what to pay for something!

Lately, I have been finding that while brick and mortar retailers are offering some fantastic prices (and prices will only get better the closer we get to the holidays!) but I have found online prices that beat the instore prices SIGNIFICANTLY! I recently made an "small" electronics purchase which was $55 cheaper than the best instore price...and I qualified for FREE SHIPPING! WHOO HOOOOO!!

HOLIDAY SHOPPING TIP #12:

Shop around online, don't waste your precious time AND gas finding the store with the best price!

I know that many more of us are letting our "fingers do the walking" if you will online to find exclusive items, hard-to-find items (like some of the wii and nintendo ds games that I cannot even find at some brick and mortar retailers!) and to simply save time and energy. But, seriously, this season more than ever, I am truly finding some of the best pricing online. Not a few bucks, and certainly not savings that are quickly eroded by exorbinant shipping and handling costs! I am finding significant savings that actually put money back in my pocket!

p.s. Here is one online retailer that is offering amazing savings as well: Benefit! For any of you that have beauty enthusiasts on your holiday list (or you need to get some special beauty products for yourself!) Click on these links for some of the best beauty products out there with fantastic savings!!!!

Enjoy FREE US Standard Shipping on any order for 4 days only. Enter promo code GIFTSDEC at checkout. Offer expires at 11:59pm PST 12.7.08. Not valid with other offers.

Shopping Tips for the 25 Days of Christmas: Tip #11

2008-12-03T09:45:00.000-08:00

As a retail management veteran, I have seen the emergence and importance of consumer credit in the retail industry. One retailer I worked for focused on credit cards as a profit center, after all, when a retailer owns the debt, they also profit from the interest that you pay on revolving that debt! Another retailer focused on credit as a way to drive the average ticket. They did not "own" your debt, so they did not profit from your interest payments. However, they knew that if you used a credit card you were apt to DOUBLE your total transaction dollar...if not more!

HOLIDAY SHOPPING TIP #11:

Pay cash, or use your debt card. Keep your credit card for any online shopping in which you can find amazing prices, free shipping, etc.

Cash is king, and if you are on a budget this holiday season, you will be surprised at how much you can save if you pay in cash, or use your debit card. Credit is a wonderful thing, without a doubt, for those who manage it well. However, statistically, you will spend more per transaction when using a credit card. Period. Most of us have a completely different mindset when we have to hand over those dollar bills!

I do use one credit card that is specifically for online transactions. I recommend this as if your credit card number or credit information was somehow compromised online, you have one card to track, and one card to manage. I have found some fantastic online offers, items that even after (FREE!) shipping have been less expensive than instore prices. I definitely won't pass up on that deal! However, I have a post-it note on my computer that has a budget at the top, and I minus out the online credit transactions, and then I have to stop. So, I am balancing not only my cash budget, but also my limited credit budget!

p.s. Have company coming? Fortunoff is a wonderful resource for your home (including that cocktail bar for company!) with great holiday pricing and shipping offers!

Shopping Tips for the 25 Days of Christmas: Tip #10

2008-12-02T09:27:00.000-08:00

After over 15 years in retail, I am a true veteran in knowing what categories are strong for retailers to make margin. One such category are those adorable "stocking stuffer" type items you see all around the stores this time of the year. In fact, here is a tip to get completely FREE stocking stuffers!

HOLIDAY SHOPPING TIP #10:

While shopping, ask for samples! Makeup counters, fragrance counters, handbags and accessory stores, almost any department store has free samples, all you have to do is ASK!

I am sure that most of us will do some shopping at our favorite department store this holiday season. I know that I have purchased some cosmetics lately and every single time I ask for samples. At the fragrance counter, I ask for samples to take home and try the fragrance before I purchase it. I have even received free key chains and a free makeup bag for asking.

Many of us hate to ask, but they offer the samples for a reason: not only to help you make future purchases, but as a small "thank you" for your business. I have received at least 25-30 small stocking stuffer-type items while doing my holiday shopping just from the last month or so. I encourage you to ask, you may be pleasantly surprised by how many great stocking stuffer items you can get for free while doing your normal holiday shopping! I even asked at an electronics retailer, and received a free pair of ear buds for an ipod. Why not?!

I am not advocating taking advantage, but I am advocating making every dollar you spend work for YOU.

p.s. Looking for stocking stuffers for the eco-friendly and green living person on your list? Here are some amazing offers!

25 Holiday Shopping Tips for the 25 Days of Christmas: Tip #9

2008-12-02T08:50:00.000-08:00

After over 15 years in retail, I am a true veteran in knowing what categories are strong for retailers to make margin. One such category are those adorable "stocking stuffer" type items you see all around the stores this time of the year. These are huge margin categories for retailers, and while I love to indulge in some of them, and certainly will again this year, I think that there is a fantastic alternative to finding fun stocking stuffers!

HOLIDAY SHOPPING TIP #9:

Go to the "Dollar Store"-type retailers for fun stocking stuffers!

I have found that most of the items that I would use for stocking stuffers or to fill little gift bags for parties, school parties, etc., are at the .99 store! They may not have the fancy brand name, or slightly less fancy packaging, but they are the same item, for much less money! And, when you can save a bit on stocking stuffers you can either keep that savings, or put it toward something special for the family.

p.s. Looking for stocking stuffers for the eco-friendly and green living person on your list? Here are some amazing offers!

FREE Benefit "Miss Popularity"!!!!

2008-12-01T10:55:00.000-08:00

I love Benefit, and I REALLY love how easy they make our holiday shopping! And, the even want to give us FREE STUFF!!!!!!!

Check out this fantastic promotion (Click on image for larger version!):

You will get Benefit's amazing and very popular "Miss Popularity" (which I swear by!) FREE with a $30 purchase!
Click here for more fantastic offers:

Unlock Benefit’s holiday treasure chest to reveal a secret beauty treat! Gorgeous gifts, shipping offers, or insider tips…each day there is something new!

p.s. Here is the fine print: To get your FREE Miss Popularity precision highlighter, enter promo code PARTYGAL at check out with any purchase of $30 or more. Don't forget...you need to add Miss Popularity to your shopping bag, the cost of it will be removed after you enter your promo code! So go on now...check it out and...do it now!!!!

Shopping Tips for the 25 Days of Christmas: Tip #8

2008-12-01T09:36:00.001-08:00

As a retail veteran, I have studied upclose many aspects of consumer spending and what makes consumers spend more at any given retail store. One aspect of consumer spending is the aspect of group suggestive selling, or a kind of "pack" mentality that occurs when people shop in larger groups.

This is very common when parents shop with their kids. Kids watch TV, they see commercials for all of that neat stuff that they "need" (read: want) and when they go shopping with mom and dad those savvy kids "suggestive sell" those "needs" to their parents! I love to shop with friends, and often take a friend when I am making an important shopping decision so they can help gauge what looks good on me, if something fits right, etc. However, that friend subconsciously suggestive sells to me as well. Retailers LOVE this, and will use commercials to show parents shopping with their kids, gals with their girlfriends, etc.

HOLIDAY SHOPPING TIP #8:

If you can, with your personal safety first in mind, shop alone.

I do stress "if you can" in this shopping tip as I would always err on the side of safety first. If you are shopping at odd hours, when it is dark, or you are carrying larger sums of cash, this tip may not be the right one for you.

However, you can still shop using the "buddy system". With cell phones you can keep in contact via calls or text messages and still do your targeted shopping alone, while your friend or family member does their targeted shopping alone. Doesn't sound like much fun? Well, you will save money, you will stay on your budget, and you can always enjoy a great cup of mocha or lunch together!

And, truly, I do advocate if possible not shopping with your kids. Retailers deliberately merchandise their stores year around with kids in mind, however, at this time of the year they make it all the more dangerous! What you spend on a babysitter may be well worth the investment in what you save when you do not fall prey to kids begging for this and that..."this and that" can add up too quickly!

p.s. Here is an easy item to shop for alone, online! Barefoot Contessa Pantry items are wonderfully delicious! Fantastic food items for your holiday needs, or gift-giving needs!

Save 10% on our Product of the Month

Shopping Tips for the 25 Days of Christmas: Tip #7

2008-12-01T09:09:00.000-08:00

During my over 15 year retail tenure, I got to have amazing experiences in understanding the strategy behind the physical layout of a store. I was able to be part of new store openings and remodels. There is a true science to a layout of a store and it has everything to do with the way that we shop not only with our wallets but with visual cues and emotional cues.

Without getting into the hardcore theory and strategy, I will give you two of the easiest examples... Sugar cereal is lower on the aisle so that it is at eyelevel of the kids who will beg their parents to buy them the sugar cereal. Trust me, I know as I am a bit vertically challenged and have to seriously stretch to get at my Grape Nuts and "good for you" cereals! Candy is at the checklanes so that while mom is unloading the cart, kids have yet one more chance to beg for sugar! This leads me to my next shopping tip...

HOLIDAY SHOPPING TIP #7:

Avoid departments in a store that are YOUR weakness.

Yes, this seems like a no-brainer, however, retailers have worked long and hard to get the weakness departments right in front of you. Why put toys in the back of the store? TO MAKE YOU WALK THROUGH EVERY OTHER DEPARTMENT FIRST...AND YET ONE MORE TIME TO GET TO THE REGISTERS! Shoes and handbags are my vices. I will actually walk out of my way in some retail stores to stay away from those departments. Do I lack restraint? No. But, during this time of the year, when it is easy to spend a little here, a little there...impulse buying is simply not a sound shopping strategy if a budget is in place!

I even recommend using store maps. Don't wander, retailers depend upon you wandering through the store, impulse buying, picking up this little box of chocolates, that candle. The reason so many retailers have special tables and merchandise displays up this time of the year is to capture the wandering eye and the wandering consumer.

p.s. If you have a wandering eye, let it wander here! Barefoot Contessa Pantry items are wonderfully delicious! Fantastic food items for your holiday needs, or gift-giving needs!

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25 Holiday Shopping Tips for the 25 Days of Christmas: Tip #6

2008-12-01T08:48:00.001-08:00

During my over 15 year retail tenure, I was known for building strong sales cultures. What is a sales culture? A culture in your store in which your team is laser focused on sales through product knowledge, instocks, great customer service and other key elements of a sales culture.

Retail teams are trained to not only provide you with the product knowledge you need to make your purchase, but if they are well-trained, they also know how to sell you expensive, high margin add-ons that can easily take you from making your budget to busting your budget!

HOLIDAY SHOPPING TIP #6:

Beware the add-ons, stick to your planned purchase.

Do your research upfront. Know what you need to make your product work to your expectations. Cables to connect a flat screen or a game system to your entertainment center can cost an arm and a leg...in some cases almost as much as your gaming system! Know exactly what you need, and only buy to that need.

I can be completely candid in telling you that retailers do not want you to be that knowledgeable. They rely on you needing THEIR knowledge, and expect that consumers come to them for the "answers". That is fine, if you want their "answers" that have the most expensive solutions to your consumer product inquiries.

p.s. No upselling here. Fantastic food items for your holiday needs, or gift-giving needs!

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2008-11-28T12:27:00.000-08:00

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25 Holiday Shopping Tips for the 25 Days of Christmas: Tip #5

2008-11-28T08:46:00.000-08:00

After over 15 years of retail management, I have worked for retailers in good times and the not-so-good times. In fact, my first retail management position was the The Broadway (remember them??!!) and I began working there when they were already in Chapter 11. I recall going into some of the stores that we began to close to transfer inventory to stores that were planned to stay open. I was recruited to work for another retailer, so I was not with The Broadway when they closed their doors for good. However, I did buy a lot from The Broadway when they were dramatically marking down and liquidating inventory.

HOLIDAY SHOPPING TIP #4:

Shop for killer prices from retailers going out of business or closing stores.

With this tip, however, comes a cautionary note. You can find great prices, but you will have little to no recourse should what you bought not fit, not work or be a duplicate item. I have already heard many anecdotal tales of incredible deals that are out there from a wide variety of retailers that are struggling or closing for good. With that "deal" comes the realization that it is pretty much a "final sale"!

This is a great time to buy basics, buy what you know will fit, and buy things that have reliable manufacturer warranties. For example, if you were to purchase an electronics item from a retailer going out of business, you may have a solid year of manufacturer coverage anyway.

Tip: This can also be a great time to "shop ahead". When I worked for one retailer, I would often buy post-holiday clearance toys as birthday, even Christmas, presents for the year ahead. If you see great deals on digital cameras, mp3 players, digital frames, clothing basics, etc., I would buy them now and have them as presents you can give all year long. You can enjoy these savings for weeks and months to come!

p.s. Here is one present that will always fit, always work and never need to be returned or exchanged! PERSONALIZED WINE!

Custom Wine = The Perfect Gift
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25 Holiday Shopping Tips for the 25 Days of Christmas: Tip #4

2008-11-26T08:25:00.001-08:00

After over 15 years of retail management, I definitely understand how to leverage resources to get the best deal possible. As a buyer, I would hunt down the best prices, special quantities buys, closeouts...whatever it took to get the best quality at the best value. As a consumer, you have the same power to leverage retailers to get the best prices and best deals. Retailers are competing for your dollar, make them work for it!

HOLIDAY SHOPPING TIP #4:

Leverage your buying power this holiday season. Look for retailers and grocery stores to compete for your dollar by offering you special bonuses for committing your discretionary income to their store.

A perfect example is what the Ralph's (Kroger) grocery chain is offering to their customers for the holiday season. If you purchase gift cards at a Ralph's store with your "Ralph's Rewards" card, they will TRIPLE your bonus points earned on your card.

So what are "bonus points"? At Ralph's, you earn bonus points with each dollar that you spend that accumulate each quarter, and at the end of that quarter you are issued a voucher that you can apply toward a future shopping trip. (Some categories do not apply, like alcohol, tobacco, etc.) You earn $5.00 toward your voucher with the first 500 points you earn, then a $1.00 for each additional 100points. My voucher from last quarter was $27.00. So, Ralph's basically gave me $27.00 for shopping with them. Okay, I will take it!

So, with this scenario, if I were to buy, say $300 in gift cards, I would earn 900 points, another 9.00 applied on my next voucher. So, for doing nothing more than buying the same gift cards I would have purchased from Target, iTunes, Best Buy, American Express, Visa, Barnes & Noble (and on and on...I was amazed by their wonderful selection!) I am basically given $9.00 for that purchase! And, probably saved that much in gas not running around town to get all of the cards from all of the different stores!

This is the kind of leveraging that helps you save money, and even EARN money, this holiday season. All kinds of retailers offer reward programs, find out what they are and leverage them if they make sense. I am a "Beauty Insider" with Sephora and earn points for the shopping I do with Sephora. I was able to get several stocking stuffers, and a gift set worth $150.00 for FREE, yes FREE by using my "Beauty Insider" points for the holidays!

Insider Tip: Leverage your buying trips to truly leverage the retailer's offer. Case in point: While at my neighborhood Ralph's store, a customer bought $2000.00 in gift cards for her company's holiday party. She was joking about how excited her boss was that she offered to do this for him...little did he know that she was not only on the clock to do this shopping trip for him, but she also earned another $60.00 (6000 bonus points!) to apply toward a future shopping trip! Leverage your purchasing power, and you will truly leverage your rewards!

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Ten Beauty Basics You Should Never Be Without!

2008-11-25T15:38:00.000-08:00

With the current economy, we are all looking to stretch our budget as far as it can go. However, many of us still want to look and feel good about our appearance. Beauty products can be something that we simply do not, or cannot, include in our budget. This list of beauty basics helps you to prioritize what you should have in your makeup bag, purse, tote, or office desk drawer at all times. You can keep up your gorgeous appearance while still meeting your budget!

1. Mascara. Great mascara can open up your eyes, give you a look of being awake and alert and is an easy way to look a bit more polished and professional. Beauty Basic Tip: Stick to basic brown or black for work, try a colored mascara to take your look from day to evening!

2. Concealer. Concealer is a must-have for any make up bag! Brighten up dark circles under your eyes, cover up a blemish, or help even out some ruddiness in your skin tone. Beauty Basic Tip: Many beauty lines now have a variety of shades of concealers in one compact, and this can be great to have different options.

3. Eye Brightener. Find a product that has a yellow tint (sounds odd, but wait until you try it!) and apply to eyelids if they are dark and dot and blend in the very inner corner of your eyes. I guarantee it will take 5 years off of your appearance, or at least make you look like you got an extra 5 hours of sleep! Beauty Basic Tip: Eye brighteners can double as a nice base upon which to apply eye shadow. You will get the best color effect from your shadow, and they will wear longer with less "creasing".

4. Eyeliner. A great eyeliner can accent your eyes in a number of ways and make your eyes "pop", help you look more polished and take a day look into evening when you don't have time to go home. Many are intimidated to use liners, but there are now amazing liquid liners on the market that make it incredibly easy to apply and create a nice, even line. Beauty Basic Tip: You can line your eyes and smudge it to give the look of eye shadow, or leave the line more defined for a more polished look.

5. Lip liner. A perfect lip liner should not really show, but enhance the shape of your lip. When you utilize lip liner, you will find your lipstick wears longer and you find that your lip stick or lip gloss does not "feather". Typically a neutral color will do the trick with almost any skin tone, or lipstick color. Beauty Basic Tip: Use a neutral lip liner on your bottom lip and a a bit of your eye brightener in to accent the bow of your top lip to make your lips look fuller and enhance the natural shape of your lips.

6. Lip gloss. A lip gloss can be worn in a variety of ways, so it should be your lips' best friend! Wear it to moisturize your lips and for a light daytime look. Wear it with liner for a light glow to your lips. Layer it over your lipstick to lighten it up. Beauty Basic Tip: Dot a bit of your favorite lip gloss in the middle of your bottom lip after apply lipstick to make your lips look fuller.

7. One "Signature" lipstick. Find one color that works for you perfectly. Having a signature color helps you to always have the right look for any occasion. For some who prefer lip gloss, a lovely lipstick color can take your look from day to evening. Beauty Basic Tip: For those who do not like highly pigmented lipsticks and prefer a more natural look, "nude" or neutral shades are very popular and are typically pretty easy for women of a variety of skin tones to wear well.

8. Powder. Many of us now use mineral powders for foundation-style coverage, which can provide wonderful coverage and often is easier to use for sensitive skin. Carrying a loose or compact powder can help eliminate shine throughout the day, give you a nice, matte finish and extend the coverage of your mineral powder or foundation. Beauty Basic Tip: Your powder can even provide light daytime coverage for your skin.

9. Bronzer powder or cream. I personally love the look of a touch of sun; I think that it looks healthy and natural. A great bronzer gives a nice sun-kissed glow to the skin without any potential skin damage from the real thing! Beauty Basic Tip: Apply bronzer with a light hand! Cream bronzers often give the most natural appearance as they are easier to apply and control.

10. Tweezers. You should definitely have a great pair of tweezers. A nicely groomed brow can make an incredible difference in your appearance. Keeping a pair of tweezers handy helps you catch any stray hairs that could be embarrassing. Beauty Basic Tip: Tweeze in daylight, often the lights in our bathrooms or powder rooms are not sufficient to catch the potential stray hairs that you will see in the "light of day"!

With these ten beauty basics you can create a multitude of looks for day, for work, for dinner out, or for dancing the night away! Best of all, these beauty basics can be found in any drug store or mass retailer and need not be a burden on your budget.

25 Holiday Shopping Tips for the 25 Days of Christmas: Tip #3

2008-11-25T07:44:00.001-08:00

After over 15 years of retail management, I understand how important getting the right price can be to the customer. I know from my own experience how frustrating it can be to buy something, only to find that a few short days later it is cheaper! Consumers want to feel like they got the best price possible, and with so many of us on much tighter holiday budgets it is more important than ever. And truly, most retailers will work really hard to make sure that you get the right price, and that you are satisfied with your purchase.

This tip is even more important in the current retail environment. With a tightening economy, many retailers are becoming more and more promotional, and will be driving sales fast and furious. So, you will have to be quick and savvy shopper to keep up!

HOLIDAY SHOPPING TIP #3:

Keep an eye on the ads and offers from retailers. If you have already started your holiday shopping, you may qualify for a price adjustment if the price has dropped since you purchased that item (or items!). Keep your receipts handy, and you may find yourself saving a few extra bucks this holiday season!

Most major retailers have a price adjustment policy, for example, Target gives you 14days to price adjust with your receipt. The only exception is clearance. Make sure you know the price adjustment policy of the retailers you frequent this holiday season. I have already saved $10.00 in price adjusting THIS WEEK. I cannot stress enough how quickly prices are going to adjust to this economy, and I want to see you benefit from those price adjustments!

I keep my receipts from about a 15 day - 30 day time period in an envelope in my purse. That way, if I see prices that have changed, I am able to get the adjustment immediately, while I am already in the store. I also watch the ads and circulars closely and check to make sure that my previous purchases have not dropped in price any further.

Even your online purchases should qualify, so again, be informed before you buy! The easiest way to protect yourself with online purchases is to either bookmark that page or mark it as a "favorite". That way you can check back to see if the price has changed. You can also create "Google Alerts" that would let you know anytime that item has been featured in a news article, blog, website, etc. Now, of course, this is a lot of work for a handful of stocking stuffers! However, I would recommend you take the couple of extra seconds, or even minutes, for your online big ticket purchases.

Speaking of online, sometimes retailers have online prices that are different then their prices instore. This is usually a tricky one and many retailers will not adjust prices when it comes to a price on their website vs. a price in their store. If you purchased the item online and it is less expensive in the store, most likely they will direct you back to the website to contact the customer service division. This is where I love retailers with live chat!

If you purchased the item instore, and see it less expensive on their website, you may have the option of asking the store for the price adjustment. I would screen print the item and price and have that as backup. Often, when customers are clearly informed, professional and polite, managers will be flexible and want to help.

Insider Tip: I also urge you to be a savvy consumer and ask store management if they will adjust prices for you if you are outside of their price adjustment window. I know people who start their holiday shopping early, and while prices are dropping now, they should still have some measure of price protection. From my experience in store management, it was the extremely rare exception that we did not price adjust to make a customer happy. If you bought that XBox a year or so ago and it is less expensive now, that would most likely not qualify, not even with the most liberal of store policies. But, if you bought that hot game in October that everyone said would disappear before the holidays, well...you probably have a great case for a store manager who needs to work a bit harder this holiday season to keep your business!

P.S. Give the gift of beauty from Benefit this holiday season! Their prices are fantastic, and Benefit is offering amazing holiday offers! Click the picture below for more information or to start shopping:

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Seven Proven Tips to Stretch Your Beauty Dollar

2008-11-24T09:29:00.000-08:00

With today's economic climate, many of us are watching our dollars more closely than ever. However, we still want to care for our skin, our appearance and have a positive outlook on how we look and feel. Here are seven proven tips to stretch your beauty budget even further. As a bonus, I have included a "splurge" item with each tip. If you have it in your budget to splurge a bit, these are the items that you can spend a little extra on to enjoy the added benefits!

1. Drink Water. Many doctors and dermatologists will tell you that drinking water is one of the best things you can do for your skin. It improves the clarity and texture of your skin and can even help you reduce cellulite. Cut out the costly sodas and expensive lattes and stick to good old fashioned H2O. You will not only see the impact in your skin and overall wellness, but you will see more money in your wallet!

Splurge item: Borba has wonderful products that can truly impact your skin. They have both "Balance Waters" and "Crystalline" packets that you can add to your water bottle. These products can help you to improve your skin's clarity, firmness and promotes anti-aging.

(Click on Borba image for more information or to purchase)

2. Wear Sunglasses. While this seems very basic, or a tip to maintain eye health, wearing sunglasses, even when it is overcast, can help to mitigate the damage that squinting and frowning can do around your eyes and on your brow. Women and men alike spend a great deal on botox and other products to relax these lines or use products that claim to "fill" the fine lines. All of that time and energy could have been spent on a pair of sunglasses that over time will help to minimize the lines.

Splurge item: Invest in 100% UV Protection. Many less expensive sunglasses may be fun and fashionable and help you see a bit better in sunlight, but the best protection comes typically with premium sunglasses.

3. Wash your skin. Yes, mom's advice to wash your face is some of the best advice! Washing your skin helps to remove make up, environmental "yuk" and helps to keep your pores clear. Unfortunately, too many people think that they have to buy the expensive cleansing foams and gels as it cleans more thoroughly, or is more gentle, or they read about it in the latest magazine. In fact, there are fantastic face washes and gels that you can buy in any drug store that will do the exact same job.

Splurge item: Purchase a high quality exfoliation cream or gel. Exfoliation is a great way to improve your skin's clarity and texture. I recommend Dr. Brandt's "Dermabrasion in a Jar".

4. Wear sunscreen. This one cannot be stressed enough. This helps you to not only avoid serious issues with skin cancer, but a sunscreen works miracles on cutting down on the damage that sun does to your skin. So many of us have fine lines, brown spots and other skin damage that could have been minimized, and certainly delayed by religiously using sunscreen.

Splurge Item: Buy a sunscreen that is Dermatologist Grade or created specifically for the face. Many sunscreens can be a bit on the heavy/greasy side, and that can take its own toll on your skin. I recommend Murad's "Oil-Free Sunblock SPF 30"for a wonderful sunscreen that is not at all greasy and can easily be worn every day under makeup.

5. Buy products that multi-task. There are many wonderful products that do more than one job for your beauty routine. There are eye creams that have a slight concealing tint. There are moisturizers that have a nice tint so you can skip foundation for daytime coverage. I love the tint products that can be used as blush and lip color. Multitask and save not only money, but time on your beauty routine.

Splurge Item: Benefit's "You Rebel". This is a moisturizer, tint AND sunscreen (SPF 15) all rolled into one!

(Click on "You Rebel" image for more information or to purchase)

6. Stick with what you know. I am the ideal beauty counter customer. I see new colors or a new product line, I sit down for a make over, I buy everything they put on me. Then, I get it all home, forget how to use some of it, realize that I kind of already have that eye color or that blush. Just say no to up-selling! Stick with what you know, avoid the temptation and focus solely on what you need and what you know works for you. Experimenting is fun, but it can come with a hefty price tag!

Splurge Item: Buy one of the multi-product and color kits that you see at Sephora, or another beauty counter. Typically, the kits are promotionally priced, and you can get a variety of lip, cheek and eye colors that are in smaller, almost "trial" amounts and still have plenty of fun with trying new colors, new looks.

7. Embrace your unique beauty. This tip is the best of the bunch! We all have a unique beauty that is truly ours, and that is so important to remember and enjoy. We spend huge sums to cover up freckles, this little red spot, that little scar. We get lost in just that one flaw, and forget that we are the stunning sum of many beautiful parts.

Splurge Item: Teeth-whitening strips or treatment in your dentist's office. A beautiful smile is sexy, gorgeous, welcoming, and a lasting impact on everyone who you know and love. Make the most out of your smile with healthy white teeth!

25 Holiday Shopping Tips for the 25 Days of Christmas!

2008-11-24T07:59:00.000-08:00

After over 15 years of retail management, I know how retailers lure in shoppers and entice them to spend far more than they may have budgeted. How many times did you get to your car or your home and start looking at the bags and the arm long receipts and wonder why you ended up buying too much? We have all been there, and I hope these holiday shopping tips with save you both time AND money! Bookmark or follow my blog for the next 24 tips in the days to come!

HOLIDAY SHOPPING TIP #2:

Bring in ads and store circulars to shop for specific items.

This comes on the heels of tip #1 (Make a list, check it twice) for a very specific reason: to help you buy the right items at the right prices.

Often, retailers offer a specific item, say a particular mp3 player at a killer price point. These "door busters" (or whatever that retailer calls them) are a special buy for holiday shoppers. It is a specific item that the buyers negotiated with the manufacturer, and it is often slightly different than the other mp3 offerings that store may have. It may be that it only comes in black, that it has slightly less file storage than another, maybe slightly lower quality earplugs. You get the picture.

So, when you go to the store, you grab the first mp3 player that you find, assuming that it is that killer item from your ad. You have a basketful of items, and you may or may not even notice in the rush, and the lines, and the crowds that the mp3 player you thought was that amazing price that is in your budget is actually the other mp3 player that is twice as much!

Bring the ad, bring the store circular. Take the time to make sure that what you are purchasing is what is in the ad. Often, the small print has the model number to match to the item you are buying.

Extra tip: As these items are often special purchases, with limited quantities, you may find that the items are already out of stock. I hate to share trade secrets, but I have been in situations where only 6 of an item arrived...and 100 people lined up outside for those six items. Retailers will not offer rainchecks, as the quantity is limited. I would urge you to find a manager, first asking for the store manager, to see if they can work with you on offering a great price on a similar item. Most of the time they will...they want to save the sale, they want to drive the volume, and, if they are truly worth their name badge, they want to make YOU happy! Ask, and ye shall receive!

p.s. Here is an amazing gift to give, and you don't have to worry about any "fine print"! Give the gift of beauty from Benefit Cosmetics! They have amazing gifts for women of all ages, and their products consistenly win rave reviews from makeup artists and makeup industry insiders! With the amazing savings these links offer you, you can afford to treat yourself, too!

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25 Holiday Shopping Tips for the 25 Days of Christmas!

2008-11-23T12:16:00.001-08:00

Quite honestly, I am not much of a holiday shopper. After over 15 years of retail management, I really got pretty burnt out on the retail and commercialized part of the holidays. That is one of the main reasons why I dedicated so much of myself to spend time with family and friends over the holidays. Time was one gift I could give others that was truly one of the most precious gift of all!

With my years of retail experience, I have tons of tips to give shoppers to help them navigate the retail waters, both in-store and online. With so many of us on tighter budgets this holiday season, I hope these tips with save you both time AND money! Bookmark or follow my blog for the next 24 tips in the days to come!

HOLIDAY SHOPPING TIP #1:

Make a list and check it twice.

I cannot stress this enough. I myself fall prey to the retail frenzy, especially with the online shopping that I enjoy! However, this year all of my loved ones are on strict orders from me (wow, I know, sounds like all kinds of holiday fun!): Make a list, I will only buy what is on your list!

A list keeps you focused, a list keeps you from buying things you think they want vs. what they truly want, and a list keeps you on your budget. With a list, you tally up prices and meet your budget.

I figure if it is good for Santa, it is good for me!

p.s. Here is a great item to put your on holiday lists, or even buy for yourself as a great treat for some relaxation during the crazy, busy holiday season! Santa approved!

Click on image for more information or to purchase! Free standard shipping and a free 1 oz. high intensity hand cream on all purchases of $75 or more at blissworld.com. Enter code 108916 at checkout to redeem.

Dramatic Ben Nye Eye Makeup Tutorial

2008-11-22T07:27:00.000-08:00

I am completely addicted to my Ben Nye "Grande Lumiere Palette", and have had a blast experimenting with the colors. The colors are quite saturated and vivid, so a little goes a long way! Here is the palette, I purchased mine from www.makeupmania.com. (I do highly recommend Makeup Mania, fantastic shipping and customer service!)

Picture from www.bubbasikes.com, this website carries an extensive line of Ben Nye products!

I wanted to find a fun look for tonight, as we are going to see Trans-Siberian Orchestra in San Diego! I always love that crazy video of the guy who hooked up his Christmas lights to one of their songs! Then, I stumbled across this tutorial, and knew that I had my look for the night!

I am a little bit bummed that a couple of the colors that she uses are not included in my palette, but I think that I can pull it off with the Ben Nye colors that I do have. I love the look she creates, and really admire her talent.

Share your favorite make up tips and tutorials! I am always looking for people to showcase on my blog, a guest blogger, or any other information to share with fellow makeup addicts out there!

Top Beauty Trends for 2009

2008-11-19T14:14:00.000-08:00

I recently read that Mintel, an international research consultancy, revealed their annual "Mintel Beauty Innovation" report. Interesting trends were highlighted in this report, many that I think that great relevance to those of us who love beauty products and are looking to what will be new and exciting.

I can already see from my observations (hanging out at Sephora, or department store Beauty Department for any length of time becomes a legitimate social/scientific experiment in my book!) and from talking to those in the beauty industry and those that follow it as obsessively as I do, that consumers are spending less on beauty products. Many of us want beauty products that are multi-functional, that perform a couple of beauty "tasks" for us, as we can then feel that we are getting two, even three, products for the price of one. A great example is a product like Benefit's "You Rebel" that offers a tinted moisturizer that also has SPF 15. So, when I use that product, I am moisturizing, getting some sheer daytime coverage AND protecting my skin. (p.s. you can check it out for yourself by clicking on my Benefit banners =====>>>>>)

Here are the real scientific observations that Mintel discovered:

1. "Austerity Chic": Consumers are tightening their budgets, and will be much more selective with the products they do buy. Disposable income has a huge impact on the beauty industry. Consumers will have a "targeted" approach to their beauty routines. Instead of experimenting and splurging on several eye colors, for example, they will buy one special set of eye colors that they know work for them and they will feel good about.

2. "Turbo Beauty": Consumers will continue to shift toward "science-based" products that actually do live up to their promises. How many times have we indulged in the latest "beauty science breakthrough" only to be out a great deal of money with a product that simply did not perform as this Dr. or that Dr. promised? These advancements will have their roots in serious scientific advancements, like stem cell research, cellular research and new peptides.

3. "Extreme Ethical": This goes beyond the debate of animal testing and into other areas of ethics including Fair Trade ingredients, truly eco-friendly packaging (Finally! Really, some of these products take up an entire waste can to just get to that kohl liner!), sustainable production and charitable initiatives.

4. "Beauty Foods": This trend will focus on not just the external application of beauty products, but actually consuming foods and drinks that impact our beauty regime and skincare. Borba is a leader in this "Beauty Food" movement, and I know many people who swear that the Borba products have improved their complexion, their skin tone and their overall appearance.

I would love to hear your input on these trends, and any trends that you see upcoming for beauty products. Please answer my blog poll and let me know which one of these trends mean the most to you, and would have the greatest impact on your beauty and skincare needs!

Powderflage by Benefit = Magic Pixie Dust!

2008-11-18T20:10:00.000-08:00

I have found a new powder that I simply adore...Powderflage by Benefit!

I am already a huge fan of Bluffdust by Benefit. While it looks kinda funky (it is a yellow-toned powder) it is a miracle powder for anyone who is a bit ruddy and wants to even out their skin tone.

Powderflage is an amazing light-diffusing powder that is perfect for under the eyes or anywhere else on the face. It comes with a "flager" brush (like a fan) and even instructions on how and where to apply. Gotta love anything that comes with an instruction manual!

I used under my eyes, and it brought instant glow and an even tone. It even diffused some fine lines (my laugh lines!) and I felt like it made me look MUCH more awake and alive! Magic pixie dust! I did not try all over my face, but am certainly going to have fun experimenting!

Click on the picture above to your your Powderflage today! This is definitely a vice I won't be able to live without!

What are My Modern Vices?

2008-11-18T20:04:00.001-08:00

I cannot indulge in the usual vices...

Smoking is not good for you, plus I am terribly allergic!

Gambling empties my pockets too quickly, I need my cash for shopping!

And...well...some of the other vices a good girl simply won't discuss.

But my Modern Vices are the ones that don't get you in too much trouble...unless, of course, you hit your credit limit.

I am also looking for guest bloggers, fashion designers, accessory designers and others who want to share their modern vices, or their modern creations.

Welcome to My Modern Vices

2008-11-18T18:27:00.000-08:00

My Modern Vices is all about my favorite vices: Fashion and Fashion Accessories!