Last week, you saved The Friday Forum from demise. Thanks for all your comments! I loved the discussion.This has been an eventful week! To cap it off, yesterday afternoon, the DC area was hit with a line of thunderstorms that did amazing damage. Crazy, but I always feel for the trees that can't withstand Mother Nature's fury - majestic old trees, fallen by a 15-minute blast of wind. I worry about the birds who are hunkered down in whatever shelter they can find. I worry about the pets who have been left outside. I worry about lightening strikes. Can you tell I have an anxious nature? It's calm this morning as I write, and I hope it stays that way. I'm lucky. I have power and no damage (other than last week's damaged screened porch panel - anyone local know a good carpenter? Charlie is willing to pay overtime rates so he can go back "outside.").
There is so much new makeup to cover for fall! I tried this week, neglecting skin care, but only managed to show you a small selection of what's available from some of my favorite companies. Armani Beauty's Night Viper has something for everyone; Chantecaille continues to amaze me with their artistry and generosity to charities at the top of my list; Tarte has shown us the way to a bronze smokey eye for fall; and I'm now officially hoarding YSL Beauty's new Rouge Volupté Perle lipstick in #104. I bought my second one yesterday. Now I can have one in my purse and one in my bathroom. I did manage to get to hair care, with Rahua Beauty's Shampoo - a new favorite at my house. It has gone on my must-never-be-without list.
For those of you who are new to The Friday Forum, the purpose has always been to share information. Are you using a fabulous product and want to sing its praises? Tell us about it! Did you find a beauty product disappointing? Tell us why! Do you have questions others might be able to answer? We can help! Want to talk about skin care? I'm game! Just want to chat? Use the comments. Don't be shy! We have busy weekends and slow ones on the forum. Some are "really slow." Fortunately, just as I was ready to pull the plug, you wonderful readers came through with a great discussion last week!
As usual, I will share the best beauty bits (noteworthy sales and special offers) with you over the weekend. I'll put them in the comments. I can't post every deal that comes my way, or the blog would look like Advertising Central. I do try to write posts when a deal is particularly fabulous and lasts a few days.
Don't forget to enter the giveaway contest for an Armani Beauty Lip Shimmer. I have two to give away, courtesy of the Armani Beauty Team at Saks in Chevy Chase, Maryland. The deadline is tomorrow night, August 7, at midnight. The winners will be selected at random.
Thanks for reading Best Things in Beauty! Got anything you want to talk about?
This weekend at Laura Mercier online. Free shipping (and three samples) with any $25 purchase. No promo code required.
ReplyDeleteTake an additional 25% off your BeautyTicket purchase until Saturday at noon with code AUG25OFF.
Just as I write up a few, another one pops into my mailbox.
ReplyDeleteStila is having a warehouse sale, with discounts up to 75%. Check out http://bit.ly/b8zKzE. Free shipping if you spend $50.
I've been trying Guerlain's newest serum: Abeille Royal. Nordstrom got it as an exclusive for the month of August as part of their anniversary sale. It will be at all Guerlain counters come September.
ReplyDeleteIt's being promoted as a "youth serum" that will firm, lift, and correct wrinkles in the skin caused by "micro tears". It can be used AM or PM or both. Because I've only tried it for five nights, it's still too early to predict any long term improvement, but the immediate results have been impressive. I apply it at night about 20 minutes after my Renova. It immediately eliminates any residual redness caused by the retinoic acid and leaves myskin feeling soothed and comfortable. The serum has a lot of slip to it, so it glides on smoothly and effortlessly. It is absorbed quickly and leaves soft, satin-smooth skin in it's wake. It's very moisturizing and plumps the skin, thus reducing the appearance of fine lines. I particulary noticed the smoothing effect on my lips and around my eyes--two areas on my face that are chronically dry. As for firming and lifting, my skin does feel a bit firmer and the skin along my jaw line has lifted a wee bit, but to reiterate, it's too early to tell how much overall improvement will be made by using this product.
By the way, "abeille" means bee and the serum does, indeed, contain those old standbys: honey and royal jelly. It also has moisturizing ingredients, antioxidants, and peptides. It's $140 for 1 ounce which is pretty much in keeping with other department store brands.
I'd encourage anyone with dry or mature skin to visit their
Guerlain counter and ask for a couple of samples. Originally, I was given just one, and because I'm using it on my face, neck, and chest, it only lasted three nights. So, back I went, and after raving about it to the lovely SA, she graciously gave me three more :-)
Happy Friday!
ReplyDeleteThis has certainly been the summer of storms. I'm pretty anxious too....I worry so much for the dogs and cats trapped outside and give my puppy girl a big squeeze.
Good beauty week here too. Been using some new Jouer I picked up in NY and in love with the brand. Wish it was more widely available.
Have a great weekend!
Hi Eileen,
ReplyDeleteI am very impressed with the research that goes into Guerlain's skin care. The reps have been very generous in giving me samples, but the samples are so perfumed that I have been unwilling to purchase the products. They put amber and other fragrances I don't love in them.
I am glad to hear the new serum is effective. Maybe you would like to write a guest post after a few more weeks of use? I think BTiB readers would love to hear about it, and I won't be able to bring it to them otherwise. Basically, you just wrote the post in your comment. Let me know when you finish up your samples! :)
Hi Laurie!
ReplyDeleteI would kill for a Jouer counter here! I had so much fun in New York in February when I shopped the line. I wonder why the distribution is so limited.
Hope you have a fun weekend too! Yes - give that puppy a hug. I tried to give Charlie a hug yesterday afternoon (after I paid $100 to have his porch fixed), and he squirmed away. Silly cat must have thought I had an ulterior motive.
I hope you're having a restful and enjoyable weekend. Although I live in Southern California, we've heard about the storms you've been having back there. A heavy dose of thunder and lightening is sure to stress anyone out.
ReplyDeleteThe Abeille Royal does, indeed, have a light fragrance, but it disappears quickly. Personally, I don't have a problem with a light amber sent, but take that with a grain of salt. I'm a woman who wears Prada's L'eau Ambree! LOL
Hi Eileen,
ReplyDeleteThe last few storms have been killers - literally. The lives lost last week were so tragic. The trees lost this week were so sad. I have a friend who asked, "What's next? Locusts?"
DC has sure had its share of weird weather this year, starting with the record snows. I said last winter I wouldn't complain about heat, but I keep forgetting that promise. They said it was the intense heat build-up that caused this week's wicked storm. For once, the heat was from nature, not the hot air from all the politicians in town. :)
I'm glad the fragrance doesn't bother you - especially since it sounds like the Guerlain product is really working for you! I have a very sensitive nose, and scents I don't like seem to hang around longer than scents I love. Go figure. I should send you all my samples.
I finally got around to using the Smashbox primer that has been lying around for a couple years, then used the Tarte Park Ave Princess waterproof bronzer that I just bought. It's my favorite bronzer now. It has just a hint of gold/orange, which makes it pop on my skin. The primer and the waterproof quality of the bronzer withstood the horrid humity we've been having here in the DC metro area.
ReplyDeleteThanks so much for your reviews - I enjoy reading them so much!
Thank you, Ava! I also think Park Ave Princess is lovely. It seems to work for most of us, no matter what our skin shade! That was brilliant design from Tarte. If you haven't already, check out Kelly's photo wearing the Tarte set at Gouldylox Reviews.
ReplyDeleteThis summer has been brutal! We expect heat and humidity in July, but July was crazy. The mosquitoes in my garden are out of control too. Let's hope we cool off - even just a little - soon.
When my parents built our house, it was in a wooded community that had once been established as a "summer home" destination for people who lived just seven miles away in DC! Now I see why. DC was a swamp, and the heat and mosquitoes were too much to bear. :)
Lots of free gifts with purchase at Beautorium. See this link: http://bit.ly/c8VNhE
ReplyDelete