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Friday, June 27, 2014

The Friday Forum - June 27

I saw my first mosquito of the season last weekend. "He" had made his way into CVS - either flying through the open door or riding in on someone's clothing. That mosquito made me think about one of the worst aspects of summer: ugly mosquito bites and the possibility of getting West Nile virus and the other diseases mosquitos carry. I need to order a fresh batch of Avon's Skin So Soft Bug Guard with SPF. I like it because it smells better than the other repellants on the market.

I ran across an article that noted plants that repel mosquitoes. Ageratum, Basil, Beebalm, Catnip, Citronella Grass, Geranium, Lavender, Lemon Thyme, Marigolds, Rosemary, and Sage. Check out insidershealth.com. Many of these plants are desirable additions to the garden. The herbs can find their way into our meals, while the decorative plants, such as lavender, smell great and add a touch of elegance.

Speaking of Avon, they are implementing a major cost-cutting program. It's expected that they will eliminate 600 corporate positions in an effort to return Avon to "sustainable growth." Somehow, over the years, Avon seemed to become our mother's beauty company. It could use an update. I'd love to see more adventuresome products and snazzy marketing.

Elizabeth Arden is another company undergoing major change. Their restructuring plan calls for reducing head count; exiting under-performing businesses, retail doors, and fragrance licenses; discontinuing certain products; and shuttering the Puerto Rico affiliate. It's a competitive world out there. That often makes me wonder how so many new and very small companies are starting up at the same time established ones are cutting back. Hope springs eternal?

I noticed a "new" Estée Lauder product at Sephora: Pure Color Cheek Rush. It's not new at all. It's a re-introduction of the limited-edition Pure Color Cheek Rushes from the Cello Shots Collection from last year - right down to the same shade names! I hate it when companies introduce re-promotes as new. Sometimes they mix re-promotes in a new collection, reducing the creative effort required to develop new products, and sometimes they simply bring back individual products as new. It's one of my pet peeves.

The Pure Color Cheek Rushes are nice products. If you missed them last year, you might want to check them out this year. The ultrablendable blushes feature an array of see-through shades and sheer, buildable, water-light gel coverage. Simply pump sparingly on fingertips and then blend for a perfect luminous and natural glow.

Last week's Friday Forum comments ended with a focus on Tom Ford's Fall 2014 beauty collection. There is an eye shadow quad in the collection I must have! I don't steal photos, so I'll send you over to Full Time Ford to check out the advance photos.

If you missed the Le Métier de Beauté Dark Orchid Kaleidoscope when it was offered as a GWP at Neiman Marcus' Camp Gorgeous, you might be able to pick one up at Bergdorf Goodman. I'm not sure when that offer ends, but a sharp-eyed reader let me know.

I have noticed that I am getting unsubscription notices with the reason "too many e-mails." If you don't want to get an e-mail every day, you can go click on the FeedBlitz link and select a frequency that you prefer. Perhaps once/week? This is a feature that Feedburner did not offer.

It's time for the Friday Forum. I love this part of our week. What new products did you discover this week? Did you find any deals you couldn't resist? Are you using a fabulous product and want to sing its praises? Did you find a beauty product disappointing? Do you have a question others might be able to answer? Want to talk about skin care? What's new in your life? Just use the comments. Don't be shy. Just make sure to ask any question you might have over the weekend. By early the next week, most (not all) readers will have moved on.

Update: Now through June 29, you can get a 20% discount at Beautyhabit by using the code SUMMERKICKOFF. I'm shopping!

Photo courtesy of Burpee.com

31 comments:

  1. Avon did something very nasty in Ireland last year. Without warning they pulled out of Ireland. Customers waiting on orders, Avon sellers knew nothing why their orders not arriving. Turns on the Area Managers had a conference call which just told them as of that day Avon no longer trading in Ireland. Bang! Gone.

    Love the look of the Tom Ford Quad.

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  2. Just about to settle into my work day here in CA. Thanks for posting the link to the Fall Tom Ford. I am seriously lusting after the new eye quad. I hope it won't be a limited edition. I like the look of the two new lipsticks, too. But as with all color products, I will wait to see them in person before I make a final decision on them. Of course I will also check out the nail polish and the Traceless foundation. Hoping the lightest color will actually be light enough with the correct undertones for my skin. It's really about wearing the correct undertones, I think. Have a great weekend!

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  3. The recession is not over; everyone seems to be cutting back, including the makeup giants. I am getting the Eve Lom cleansers. I've thought about it for weeks and now I have decided to get the mainstay cleanser and the morning cleanser as well. I loved the samples. Do you have earwigs in Virginia, Cg? Horrid bugs. Ugh.

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  4. For some reason, I'm really wanting to purchase a Chantecaille lip gloss! I must have seen a pic in an ad or on a blog, but I WANT one, with a capital "W"!
    Nothing disappointing. Had some wonderful, above-and-beyond customer service experiences at Bobbi Brown , Gorjana-Griffin jewelry and Clare Vivier handbags. That always restores my faith in humanity.

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  5. I read that Avon was the biggest seller in Brazil (?) Last week there was a station wagon filled with Avon in a shopping center parking lot with a local girl selling for about 1/3. She handed off a bunch of those little lipstick samples (love them). Tom Ford - good. I'm wearing silver MAC pencil with grey shadow.

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  6. CG, re mosquito bites. My best solution for mosquito bites is to immediately wash with soap and water. Dab with a bit of alcohol. Don't scratch or touch the bite again. Within 15 minutes they urge will subside you have no bump and no evidence of ever having been bitten. It has saved me all those pesky bumps.

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  7. One collection that I'm truly looking forward to is Tom Ford's fall collection. I want both of the new blushes and the new eyeshadow quad.

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  8. Hi Anonymous, that makes Avon look dishonest. Not good in my book!

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  9. Tatiana,

    I will be pre-ordering that quad - and maybe more. :)

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  10. Nemo,

    Earwigs: the bane of our existence.

    I think the cleanser is good if you have the time for the routine.

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  11. MamaVal, you can't miss with Chantecaille lip glosses. I love them.

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  12. Hi S,

    I do try not to touch them. Sometimes, I put cortisone cream on them to stop the itch.

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  13. Hi CG, after seeing your Pixi by Petra review of the Plum Quartz eye palette recently I headed to their UK site and bought it, oh an three of their Endless Silky Eye Pencils too. We don’t have that brand in Aust. and the shipping from the UK was very dear. Oh well, the reivews of the pencils are so great, I’m sure it will be worth it. Have a good weekend xxx

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  14. Speaking of Tom Ford, Nordstrom.com has what they are calling an exclusive. Two (I think new) Tom Ford lipsticks in Scandal and Reckless. I'm not sure if these are the new fall lipsticks but they may be. It looks like they are both reds. If I were to choose one it would be Reckless. But I'm going to pass for now.

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  15. Would like to try a Rouge Bunny Rouge perfume, with the Beautyhabit discount. Any suggestions? Usually like oriental, vanilla, type scents.

    Thank you

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  16. Went to Nordies today and bought the Coco lip shine in Aura and the beautiful Songe gloss. I put the gloss on first, not overdoing it, and then top it with some of the Aura so it doesn't go on too purple-y. My rose lip color shines through and it's just a really pretty but not in your face look for Fall. I will be tucking them away until then because there is so much to enjoy for Summer. Also, I indulged in some Oribe hair products online at NM to play around with my new short haircut. Bought two sweaters and a pretty pearl grey shell from Vince, so I had a wonderful day of shopping.

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  17. Other than a ice pack for mosquito bites.
    The best to sooth it is placing Tiger Balm....it is Chinese product for muscle ailments and pain, but it works wonders for these pesky bites too.
    I am Chinese so I know this product well.
    Search the web....

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  18. I think I have to put that Tom Ford eyeshadow quad on my wish list! It looks so beautiful.

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  19. I tried a new Aveda product yesterday. It's a smoothing balm to use before blow-drying--supposed to have a cumulative defrizzing effect. We'll see!

    Picked up two Chanel Rouge Allure lipsticks ... one is in my purse and I'm too lazy to go get it <(* *)> but the other is Énigmatique, a beautiful slightly shimmery red. Goes on sheer and feels light, but lasts a long time.

    Also got Chanel Eastern Light nail polish. It looks like White Out on the nails, which isn't my look, exactly, but it has lots of pigment and self-levels beautifully; much better than the crappy Maybelline white polish I'd tried. I love Eastern Light layered under Pearl Drop or O.P.I.'s Happy Anniversary.

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  20. It sounds like many of us are already lusting after Tom Ford's fall quad :-) I can hardly wait to see the promo picture of the model because it looks like TF's going for an understated but elegant eye look with deep and luscious lips. Judging from the new cheek duos, it looks like there is also going to be a strong emphasis on cheekbones. Last fall's collection (She Wolf!) was stunning in the extreme and so expectations for this year's collection are running high.

    Hi Jo,

    According to Full Time Ford, the two lipsticks in the fall collection are called Negligee and Twist of Fate. Perhaps the two "exclusives" for Nordstrom are part of the Anniversary Sale? I went on line to check but couldn't find the two colors you mentioned :-(

    Have a great weekend everyone.

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  21. It looks like the two Tom Ford lipsticks that were available as of yesterday at Nordstrom.com have already sold out. I put one of them on my wish list and now it is showing up as being sold out. Who knows if they will replenish stock.

    I called Neiman's yesterday and had them put aside an eye quad, nail polish and concealer from the fall collection for me. The blushes I will have to wait to see before buying. She said she is expecting the collection in about a month.

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  22. Hi Jo,

    Thanks for the link :-)

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  23. Hi there, thanks for linking to the Fall TOM FORD sneak peek on my site.

    I noticed a couple of questions about the Lip Colors in Scandal and Reckless that were recently available on Nordstrom. Those aren't a part of the Fall release, they were actually released for Holiday 2012 as part of the Jasmine Rouge Color Collection. I think Scandal is actually Slander, and the others colors were Reckless, Diabolique, and Narcotic.

    Also, in terms on the Fall Lip Colors, it's difficult to tell in the images that have been shared so far, but I was told that the two color actually aren't reds, but more on the rosey/pink side, with one leaning warm coral and the other leaning neutral brown.

    If anyone has any other specific questions I would be happy to try to answer them. I should have some additional information on the new foundation up in a day or two as well.

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  24. Thanks, Full Time Ford! We are lusting over that collection.

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  25. Thanks Full Time Ford! You're absolutely right about the colors of the fall lipsticks. The two colors can be seen on Sweet Makeup Temptations. They both look like musts for me :-). All of us TF fanatics thank you for keeping us abreast of the latest collections.

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  26. Thanks so much Full Time Ford. I thought the lipsticks would not be for me but based on that description I think I am going to need both!

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  27. Hi Eileen, I can't find the TF Fall 2014 lipsticks on Sweet Makeup Temptations, will you provide a link? Thanks

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  28. Hi Jo,

    The lipstick colors are gorgeous :-). You'll see them in the forum section of the blog.

    http://forum.sweetmakeuptemptations.com/viewtopic.php?t=341&p=3497

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  29. Thank you Eileen! OMG they are gorgeous. I think the best TF lipsticks yet even. I'm reserving one of each!

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  30. to Eileen, what is the symbol after the number 341 on the link for the new Tom Ford lipsticks? I have never seen this symbol before. Thank you.

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