Fresh Peony Brightening Night Treatment Mask

I was pretty excited when I saw the Fresh was offering a new mask. Called Peony Brightening Night Treatment Mask ($65), it was enticing. I love masks; I love masks that can be left on overnight; and I love Fresh (as a rule). The photo at Sephora showed a pump dispenser, the key to my heart. What could go wrong?

A powerful overnight treatment, says Fresh, Peony Brightening Night Treatment Mask is proven to lighten the appearance of dark spots, correct uneven skin tone, and significantly brighten the complexion. The highly concentrated overnight treatment formula is also proven to replenish and preserve hydration for 24 hours, promote suppleness, and smooth skin texture so you awake to youthful-looking, luminous skin. An exclusive brightening complex derived from peony and licorice root extracts and vitamin C glucoside has been proven to reduce and prevent the appearance of dark spots and even skin tone, while amino acids help to visibly firm and smooth wrinkles. The formula is further enriched with cucumber extract, notable for its hydrating and calming properties.

Sounded great! Of course, Lev Glazman, Fresh Co-founder of Fresh, was quoted extolling the well-known properties of peonies, and some test data was presented - unfortunately without any data on sample size. After an independent consumer testing panel used Peony Brightening Night Treatment Mask:

• 94% reported a visibly brightened and lightened complexion, improved texture, and skin that was protected, smoothed, and plump;
• 90% noticed soft and supple skin;
• 87% felt the product clarified their complexion after one night;
• 81% said the product restored youthful contours.

I wish. Unfortunately, I found the mask to be somewhat unpleasant on application because of its scent, and I experienced no treatment benefits. I definitely fall into the 13% of testers who found no complexion improvement after one night's use.

The mask is a cream and dispenses easily into my palm using the pump dispenser. So far, so good. As I start to apply it (I've used it twice), I notice a synthetic fragrance with a slight resemblance to Lemon Pledge. I'm sure that's from the Lemon Peel Oil or possibly the Limonene, which is used for its scent in cosmetic products. Unfortunately, it's also used as a cleaning solvent. Fortunately, it's close to last on the ingredient list.

I don't smell peony at all, one of the benefits of the many beauty products that are "based on" the peony's recognized beneficial effects. The peony's root is extracted for the product, not the flower. That's too bad because the scent of the peony flower is divine and might have flipped my impression of the product.

It's moisturizing, no doubt due to the sodium hyaluronate (remember, nature's sponge) in the ingredients. Simply being moisturizing doesn't give it an edge over my other hydrating masks.

I'm blown away by the complimentary "reviews" on Sephora. I cannot imagine how small amounts of licorice and vitamin C could even skin tone overnight. I guess there are women who read the claims and believe them so strongly that they transfer hope into evidence.

In general, I love Fresh products. In my opinion, this one misses the mark. I find the scent mildly unpleasant, and masks are supposed to be pleasant and relaxing. Fortunately, the scent dissipates fairly quickly. The cream absorbs quickly. That's good so that users won't leave grease slick on their silk pillows.

Does it offer any advanced properties to improve skin tone, decrease dark spots, or brighten the complexion. I believe the answer is no. Sorry, but it's not worth the $65 price. Spend your money on one of my favorite masks. I have featured all of them.

Photo at top courtesy of Sephora; peony photo courtesy of commons.wikimedia.org

Fresh Sugar Shine Lip Treatment

Last week, when I was browsing at Sephora, I saw that Fresh had a new lip product: Sugar Shine Lip Treatment ($18.50). As something of a Fresh groupie, I circled around it for a few hours, thinking, "Do I need another clear lip treatment?"

Sugar Shine Lip Treatment is a high-shine lip treatment that moisturizes, promotes suppleness, and improves lip definition.  It works to promote suppleness and improve the definition of the lip area while preserving moisture for up to six hours. The high-shine treatment enhances the natural color of the lips while offering essential nourishment. It can be worn alone or on top of your favorite Sugar Tinted Lip Treatment [really any lip color] for smooth, youthful-looking lips.

I parsed that marketing blurb and decided it would offer me shine and moisture. It was a go! The lure of the Fresh brand and my endless fascination with moist lips sealed the deal. I ordered it.

I am wearing for the fourth time it as I write. Although it appears to have a slight, light pink color in the tube, it's clear. There is absolutely no sense in taking a swatch photo. What you will see is clear lip gloss. I can make it shine with a direct hit of sunlight, but why bother? Is it shiny on my lips? Not particularly.

I can feel it on my lips; it's not weightless. It's not sticky either, but its feel on my lips is a clear reminder that I've applied it. Does it make my lips plump or youthful? Of course not. Most of those claims are silly - no matter which brand makes them. I know some of you don't like certain kinds of sunscreens, but this product offers none. I give it a demerit for that. Our lips are sensitive to sun exposure, and they burn just like the rest of our skin. SPF protection would have differentiated this new product.

Is it hydrating? Yes, for however long it lasts. Here are the major players in the ingredients.

• Sugar (Fresh signature): Attracts and seals in moisture. 
• Commiphora Extract: Promotes suppleness and helps smooth rough lips. 
• Cupuaçu and Mango Butters: Help nourish, soften, and restore suppleness.
• Hyaluronic Filling Spheres: Help make the lips appear fuller. 
• Black Currant Seed and Grapeseed Oils: Help hydrate and protect.

The only bone I can pick with Fresh's description of the ingredients is their description of hyaluronic filling spheres. Hyaluronic acid is nature's sponge. It gloms onto moisture and keeps it in the skin. Moist lips might be fuller lips, but in my case, that isn't often the case.

Fresh is really good about disclosing all ingredients, so there is the list...
Diisostearyl Malate, Polybutene, Tridecyl Trimellitate, Isostearyl Isostearate, Silica Dimethyl Silylate, Ethylhexyl Palmitate, Dipalmitoyl Hydroxyproline, Sucrose Tetrastearate Triacetate, Commiphora Mukul Resin Extract, Theobroma Grandiflorum Seed Butter, Mangifera Indica (Mango) Seed Butter, Sodium Hyaluronate, Ribes Nigrum (Black Currant) Seed Oil, Vitis Vinifera (Grape) Seed Oil, Ricinus Communis (Castor) Seed Oil, Tocopherol, Ascorbyl Palmitate, Fragrance, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Ci 77891 (Titanium Dioxide), Synthetic Fluorphlogopite, Trihydroxystearin, Bht, Butylene Glycol, Caprylyl Glycol, Ci 77491 (Iron Oxides), Ci 75470 (Carmine), Hexylene Glycol, Polyglyceryl-3 Polyricinoleate, Propyl Gallate, Limonene, Citral, Linalool, Benzyl Alcohol, and Phenoxyethanol.

The product has no overt scent - just a slightly fruity hint you have to purposely smell to notice - so the fragrance was probably added to mask one of the other ingredients - a common practice.

I'm not sure this new product offers any advantages over Fresh's Sugar Advanced Therapy Lip Treatment ($25). I like it's gloss-like formula and texture, but not enough to recommend that you run right out to buy it, especially if you already own the Sugar Advanced Therapy Lip Treatment, which I do. At $18.50, it is less expensive than the other. Regardless, I'll stick with Sugar Advanced Therapy Lip Treatment.

Fresh says Sugar Shine Lip Treatment is proven to preserve moisture for six hours. I have not experienced that, but I don't get that from any lip product during the day. After an independent consumer testing panel (of undisclosed size) used Sugar Shine Lip Treatment:

• 97% reported smoother lips;
• 94% felt their lips were softer, more supple, and healthier-looking;
• 84% said it conditioned and protected their lips;
• 84% immediately noticed their lips looked radiant;
• 81% felt it hydrated and moisturized their lips.

You be the judge. Lip products are so personal. You can purchase Fresh Sugar Shine Lip Treatment at Sephora. Just don't expect miracles.

Photo courtesy of Sephora

Fresh Sugar Coral Tinted Lip Treatment SPF 15

Fresh Tinted Lip Treatment SPF 15 in Sugar Coral ($22.50) is the latest shade in a series of super-hits from Fresh. Currently exclusive to Sephora, the tropical Sugar Coral was described by Alina Roytberg, Fresh Co-Founder.

This was inspired by a trip to a remote island in the Bahamas: the fresh morning breeze, alfresco lunches of exotic fruit, and snorkeling with bright fish around the reddish-orange coral reef. Sun, sea, and the spirit of vacation: that's Sugar Coral.

Fresh's Tinted Lip Treatments moisturize, protect, and smooth the lips while adding a sheer tint of color. I've bought every shade ever introduced - some in multiples. I always have one within reach. No wonder they are so moisturizing. In-vivo testing has shown that Tinted Lip Treatment will keep your lips hydrated for up to six hours after application.

Treat your lips to a juicy coral color with this tint that provides sheer coverage or buildable color. Sugar, a natural humectant, ensures long-lasting moisture, while meadowfoam hydrates and the oil of black currant seeds conditions the lips. It is further enriched with antioxidant-rich vitamins to defend against wrinkle-causing free radicals and provides year-round protection from damaging UV rays. 

If you've used this tinted balm, you know how nice it is. Let's look at the color of Sugar Coral. Isn't it gorgeous? Not too orange, not too pink, Sugar Coral is the "shade of the moment," a sheer dark peach in a coral case. It's warm, sunny, and energizing.

You know that your finger pad is the best place to test lip products (and keep your lips germ-free)? It's closer in color to your lip color than your arm. While my finger may look very pale in the photo above, it is darker than my arm - trust me.

Isn't Sugar Coral luscious? I may live in it this summer, especially when I know I'll be outdoors. I love sheer colors that are good for me. Want one? You'll find it at Sephora, where there's an in-store V.I.B. preview event (with a 15% discount) today (featuring special goodies). The discount for V.I.B.s continues until April 6. Remember to look for Sugar Coral if you go.

Photo at top courtesy of Sephora; other photos by Best Things in Beauty

Fresh Sugar Passion Tinted Lip Treatment SPF 15

Fresh Sugar Passion Tinted Lip Treatment SPF 15 ($22.50) will look fabulous on all complexions, thanks to a well-balanced, warm-cool (neutral) pigment that compliments the natural shade of a woman's lip, no matter her skin tone. Sugar, a natural humectant, ensures long-lasting moisture, while hydrating meadowfoam and black currant seed oils condition the lips. The formula is also enriched with antioxidant-rich vitamins to defend against wrinkle-causing free radicals and provides year-round protection from damaging UV rays. This versatile treatment allows for buildable coverage to customize a sheer or rich hue and is the perfect partner to the best-selling clear Sugar Lip Treatment SPF 15. The UVA and UVB protection is offered with avobenzone and octinoxate.

Red is the color of passion. No other lip color gives off such a powerful, feminine energy. Inspired by imagery from my favorite book growing up in the Ukraine, "Scarlet Sails" by Russian writer Alexander Grin, I pictured a silk scarlet fabric, light as a parachute, barely there but rich with color. - Alina Roytberg, Fresh Co-Founder

I'm sure you know that Sugar Tinted Lip Treatment comes in other shades - all of which I own and love. The most recent before Sugar Passion was Sugar Honey, a flattering nude. Sugar Plum and Sugar Rosé are both fabulous. I knew Sugar Passion was coming, and I ordered it the second I knew it was available at Sephora (thanks to Product Girl). It arrived, and I am thrilled.

All of Fresh's Tinted Lip Treatments give a natural, sheer tint to the lips. While I can't wear red lipstick unless it's super-sheer, I can wear Sugar Passion easily. I know I'll need to purchase another one because I like to keep these Fresh goodies at all my personal docking stations. There's a clear one next to me at my computer.

I've attached a few swatch photos for you to see the actual shade, which is more rose than red on my arm. Of course, add the color of your lips, and the shade will be darker.

My photos were taken on a tropical morning, with the sun disappearing frequently behind the hurricane-driven clouds that will get denser as the day progresses. We are expecting thunderstorms as Irene moves toward the East Coast. That gave me multiple light intensities for photographing the swatches - all in a five-minute period.

The swatch at the top was taken with a Japanese maple backdrop with a bright overcast. The swatch at right was taken in front of a cleome when the sun was shining fairly brightly.

I think the color is gorgeous. What do you think? Will you be shopping for Sugar Passion? It's available now at Sephora, where I purchased my first one, and should arrive at your Neiman Marcus counter soon.

Photo at top courtesy of Sephora; other photos by Best Things in Beauty

Fresh Kiss & Tell - New York This Weekend - Neiman Marcus Party Last Night

Fresh is having a Kiss & Tell Promotion. With a contest online that you can enter at Facebook, you could win $2,500 in Fresh products - just by sharing your sweetest kiss ever (in 100 words or less - tougher than Twitter). Make sure to enter by July 8.

This weekend in New York City, a Kiss & Tell Pop-Up Truck may be in your neighborhood. Inside the Kiss & Tell Trucks, you will receive a free Sugar Lip Treatment of your choice - and have a chance to experience a Sugar Lip Experience, a beauty ritual that nourishes, protects, and perfects your lips. You can see the schedule for the truck's stops at this link. With four locations, anyone in New York should be able to make it. Jawn Marques will be there this weekend, so you will have a chance to meet him. I guarantee you will be enchanted. More below.

You can also send a Kiss & Tell e-card to one of your friends. Tell a friend why you love the Sugar Lip Treatment Collection, and the lucky recipient will receive a free Sugar Lip Treatment with any $50 purchase on fresh.com. How cool is that? Check out this link to send a card.

I'll bet many of you know Fresh primarily for the iconic Sugar Lip Treatment SPF 15 ($22.50). Often featured at Sephora, this lip conditioner, along with the rest of the Sugar Collection, put Fresh on the beauty world's map in 1997. Fresh founders Lev Glazman and Alina Roytberg were inspired to use sugar as a natural ingredient in their formulas by childhood memories of their grandmothers using it as a natural antiseptic to heal cuts. As they say, the rest is history. Fresh's Sugar Collection remains a pillar of the brand today. To know Sugar is to love it, but a failure to explore the rest of Fresh is an oversight you need to correct!

Last night, a select group of shoppers and friends had an opportunity to get up close and personal with Fresh at a master class and party at Neiman Marcus Tysons Galleria. With plenty of wine and food, we feasted while Jawn Marques gave us an overview of Fresh, the company's philosophy, and skin care. He touched on fragrance and color, but Jawn stressed skin care. After all, your skin has to look good for your makeup to look good!

The Fresh candle-lit table was set elegantly for our group of beauty lovers - all of whom sampled as Jawn started with Crème Ancienne, Fresh's couture anti-aging formula, handmade in a monastery, and ended with fragrances, covering all the options (serums, moisturizers, eye creams, masks, you name it) to keep our skin looking fresh and healthy. Toward the end of our party, Alyson O'Brien and others helped our partygoers spruce up for the evening. I love visiting with the Fresh team and appreciate the special effort they made (in rush-hour traffic) to pop down to Virginia to spend the evening with us.

Afterwards, we got Jawn and Alyson set up on Twitter, so make sure to follow them today! They are @Jawn_Fresh and @Alyson_Fresh. I took this photo upstairs after the party - the lighting in the Café wasn't great for photos. Let's show them some love on Twitter!

That's the morning report! I'll have a makeup feature for you in a bit.

Photos courtesy of Fresh; Jawn and Alyson's photo by Best Things in Beauty

Fresh Sugar Açaí Age-Delay Body Cream and Special DC-Area Fresh Event

Recently, I've tried two "delicious" body creams. Fresh Sugar Açaí Age-Delay Body Cream ($65) is one of them. I look for opportunities to apply it.

Sugar Açaí Age-Delay Body Cream is enriched with açaí oil, which is extremely hydrating, provides fabulous antioxidant protection, and helps to maintain elasticity in the skin. It also includes skin-softening sugar and citrus fruit acids (natural alpha hydroxy acids) that gently remove dull, dry skin cells - the ones that make your skin look dull. The formula is enriched with sugar apple extract to enhance collagen production and improve inter-cellular cohesion and sweet almond protein to naturally firm, lift, and smooth the skin's surface.

It has an addictive scent! Bergamot, caramel, and exotic açaí fruit laced, with undertones of white and green tea make Sugar Acai Age-Delay Body Cream one of the most delightful body creams I'm using. I use it after my morning shower, before bed, or anytime I'm looking at my dry arms thinking about how parched they look.

Açaí oil is obtained from the purple berry of the açaí palm native to the Brazilian Amazon rain forest. The berry is known as a super-fruit because it is rich in vitamins and anthocyanins, the same pigments found in red grapes that provide antioxidant value. Açaí is also rich in essential fatty acids, such as omega-6 and omega-9, which help to maintain the skin's elasticity and smoothness and prevent water loss. Fresh's signature sugar is a natural humectant and skin soother that helps to prevent moisture loss, while it smoothes and revitalizes.

A citrus fruit AHA complex in the cream gently removes dulling, dry skin, promotes cellular turnover, enhances suppleness, and clarifies skin. Sugar apple extract and sweet almond protein provide firming and toning benefits. Finally, time-release ingredients prevent dehydration and provide a constant stream of moisture.

Fresh sent me Sugar Açaí Age-Delay Body Cream, and I wanted to tell you about it as I formally announce a special party/master class we'll be having at Neiman Marcus Tysons Galleria on Wednesday, June 22, after work. Jawn Marques, Creative Director of Fresh, will be flying in to lead the class and give participants individualized beauty tips. The whole Fresh team, including Alyson O'Brien, Account Executive, and Alison Kauffman, Product Specialist at Neiman Marcus, will be with us to make sure you have a great time. Kathy Shoreman, super sales associate and an expert herself, will be there too.

Every time I get together with Jawn, I have a blast. He is so much fun - and beyond talented. We'll learn how to use Fresh makeup and skin care to look and feel great and treat our skin, and we'll have a fun exposure to all of Fresh's fragrance products. We've been planning this for months to ensure you have a great time.

The party starts at 5:30 pm at the Café at Neiman Marcus Tysons Galleria. That's a soft start for those who want to come and chat - or maybe have a glass of wine and nibble on some food. The hard start will be at 6:00 pm, when the master class starts (of course, the food and wine will continue to flow). Fresh will sponsor a drawing for a gift basket of Fresh products. Everyone who participates will be entered to win.

To make a reservation, call (703) 761-1600 starting tomorrow, Memorial Day, and ask for Kathy Shoreman at extension 3282. Alison will be off getting married in June, so it's best to look for Kathy. You can also reserve a spot by e-mailing Kathy_Shoreman@neimanmarcusstores.com. I hope to see my DC-area friends there!

Photo at top courtesy of Neiman Marcus; photo of Jawn and Alyson by Best Things in Beauty

Fresh Soy Face Cleanser and a Coming Attraction

Did you know that Fresh Soy Face Cleanser ($38) is Neiman Marcus's best-selling cleanser? I didn't until I started talking with a Fresh representative who had given me one. It was also a Neiman Marcus Beauty Award Finalist in 2010, voted by customers.

I told one of my "Fresh friends," Alyson O'Brien (remember Alyson? she wrote a guest feature for us), about burning my lips recently with glycolic acid and that I had used only pure, gentle products on my face the week after. I didn't want to apply anything that would exacerbate the burn and accompanying pain. My Fresh Soy Cleanser had arrived recently, and it seemed like the perfect choice for removing makeup at night and washing my face in the morning shower. I knew it was mild, so it has been my go-to cleanser since. I love it!

Soy Face Cleanser has a unique, multifunctional, soap-free formula that promotes a pure, clean, healthy complexion. Ideal for all skin types, this ultra-gentle face wash contains nourishing amino acids, rich soy proteins, and soothing botanicals to hydrate, calm, and tone. The lightweight, natural cucumber- and rose-scented formula has a refreshing and cooling effect (good for the dufus who her burned her skin). It effectively removes every last trace of my makeup, even around my eyes - no raccoons here (inside at least)! It even conditions your eyelashes.

Fresh’s unique crème-gel formula won’t strip the skin of its essential nutrients. It leaves my face feeling hydrated and clean. Because it's safe for use around the eye area, I apply and cleanse with abandon, which is how I got myself into trouble with the glycolic acid. No worries - Fresh wouldn't hurt us.

The ingredients of this French-made cleanser contain pure, organic extracts of rose and cornflower, mallow, and aloe vera, cucumber, and ginseng.Then, there's the soy. Soybean extract is a valuable protein that protects the skin and improves texture and resiliency. Soybeans provide amino acids that are essential in helping the skin to retain moisture, maintain elasticity, and preserve a smooth appearance. They contain a high concentration of isoflavonoids, a type of polyphenol that exhibits antioxidant properties. Soybean germ extract is derived from the soybean; after the hulls and oil are collected, the remaining flakes, which represent this valuable protein-rich extract, are crushed into a fine powder and used to make this soy extract in the cleanser, which is a liquid-gel that dispenses easily and feels great. It also contains soybean oil. It has an unusual botanical fragrance - floral, fresh, fruity - more like cucumber than rose.

I can see why so many women have discovered it before me. If you share your house with a man, you may be fighting for the Fresh! You can find it at Neiman Marcus, Sephora, and Fresh's Web site, along with the rest of Fresh's Soy Collection. This mild cleanser has earned a permanent spot at my house.

Heads up: Jawn Marques, Creative Director of Fresh, is coming back in June! We are having a Fresh party at Neiman Marcus after work. E-mail me if you'd like to attend.

Photo courtesy of Fresh

Fresh Sugar Honey Tinted Lip Treatment SPF 15

Fresh has done it again with the latest shade of its Sugar Tinted Lip Treatment SPF 15 ($22.50). Sugar Honey, a warm nude tint, is a color anyone can wear - and treat her lips while she wears it.

Sugar Honey Tinted Lip Treatment SPF 15 is formulated with an array of ingredients that nourish and protect the lips. Sugar, a natural humectant, ensures long-lasting moisture, while hydrating meadowfoam and black currant seed oils condition the lips. Its antioxidant-rich vitamins defend against wrinkle-causing free radicals and provides year-round protection from damaging UV rays. The versatile formula allows for buildable coverage to customize a sheer or rich hue.

I have every shade of Sugar Tinted Lip Treatment! The inspiration for the collection dates back to the childhoods of Fresh co-founders Lev Glazman and Alina Roytberg. Each of their grandmothers used sugar, a natural antiseptic, to heal their scrapes. Wanting to pass this effective ritual onto the world, they bottled their shared tradition, pioneering the use of sugar in the beauty industry. Today, the beloved Sugar Collection offers a complete head-to-toe sensory experience and is an amazing source for supremely soft skin. The lip treatments make sure your lips feel and look great.

Here's a swatch photo of Sugar Honey, taken in full sun. The shade will look a bit more pink on your lips if they have pink pigmentation. I find it a perfect shade for a nude look on me. It's sheer, which I love, and the combination of my lips and Sugar Honey is flattering. The case is bronze, which helps me differentiate it from the clear ones in darker cases that are always at my side.

If you don't want nude, you'll find plum, rosé (strawberry), and clear shades of this wonderful balm-like lip treatment. You can purchase Fresh at Sephora, Neiman Marcus, the Fresh Web site, and other sources. It's easy to find. I bought my Sugar Honey at Sephora.

Photo at top courtesy of Sephora

Fresh Event at Neiman Marcus, Tysons Galleria, with Jawn Marques

Visiting with the Fresh team is like a day of sugar kisses. It does wonders for your face and spirits! Last Thursday, Jawn Marques, Creative Director of Fresh, and Alyson O'Brien, Account Executive (and Best Things in Beauty guest contributor) joined product specialist Alison Kauffman at Neiman Marcus, Tysons Galleria, for a day of beauty. I had looked forward to the event for at least a month. I made an appointment for my friend Berry too. Fresh products are so universally appealing, I knew she would have fun.

Jawn was doing mini-facials and makeup applications, with a hand and arm treatment thrown in too for pampering. Berry went first, and his mini-facial turned her dry, reactive skin into a glowing wonder. Jawn usually exfoliates with Sugar Face Polish ($55), but he does so much more. He cleanses, tones, exfoliates, treats (always a mask and a serum after), and moisturizes - using many Fresh products that he custom-selects for his client based on her or her skin condition.

Berry started out a little dry. Her skin showed her recent travel and the ravages of winter and retinol, but by the time he finished with her, her face was radiant. For makeup, he gave her a golden bronze look on her eyes, and because her skin looked so good by the time he had finished the facial, he used almost no foundation on her peaches and cream complexion. On her lips? Fresh Sugar Rosé Tinted Lip Treatment SPF 15 ($22.50), of course! I think he also used a lip gloss with her lip treatment, but I got carried away chatting and missed that detail. The results? Jawn and Berry posed for me when he had finished. Her hair got a little flattened under the headband he had used to keep it out of the way, but otherwise, she looked fabulous.
The whole time he was working, I had three things going on: 1) talking with Jawn and Berry, 2) talking with Alyson O'Brien (shown immediately above on the left; she wrote a guest post for Best Things in Beauty here), and 3) talking with Alison Kauffman (at right above) - all without leaving my comfy chair. So I missed a few details. What I know is that Berry and I both hopped out of Jawn's chair with a naturally pretty look. While Jawn was working with me, Berry shopped Fresh's wonderful fragrances and soaps - a treat one should never miss.

When it was my turn, Jawn used the wonderful new Black Tea Age Delay Face Serum ($80) on me (among many other products). I had wanted this serum since its winter introduction, and I finally purchased one Thursday. The serum is a concentrated blend of potent antioxidants and peptides that firms, restores, and refines the complexion for smoother, younger-looking skin. The secret to this powerhouse formula is black tea extract. Packed with polyphenols, potent antioxidants that defend against the most aggressive free radicals, black tea extract protects the integrity of the cell membrane to prevent lines and wrinkles from forming. Its high melanin content also has a brightening effect on the skin for a radiant glow. I know I'm going to love it. I love everything from Fresh I've ever bought.

Jawn used the Fresh Imperial Bedroom Face Palette ($55) on my eyes. This palette is a little hard to find, but Neiman Marcus had it. This subtly sultry collection from Fresh captures the behind-the-curtain, forbidden sensuality of imperial aristocracy. The palette includes luminous shades of lightly gilded Eye Lusters (Pale Moonlight and Gilded Satin), an opalescent Satin Liner (called Black Chemise, but to my eye it has traces of deep blue and green in it), a warm shimmering Satin Luster for the cheeks (Chantilly Lace), and a seductive Crown Rubies Lip Shine. The colors have an elegant brilliance that remains discreet on the skin for a masterful expression of sheer sophistication.

All fives shades were customer-blended by Alina Roytberg, co-founder of Fresh, who was inspired by the unmatched charm, romance, and over-indulgence of the British aristocracy of the early 1800s This pleasure-seeking period was all about excess and style, sophistication and lust. "I imagined a luring bedroom setting where a sensuous, shimmering beauty is lit only by candlelight and surrounded by plush fabrics and rich colors" said Alina. While history may be the inspiration for this opulent collection, the result is modern and dramatic. I loved it! I came home with that too.

I swatched the shades so that you could see how pretty they are. My photo was taken outdoors in the last snatch of sunlight we had today, and I applied each shade with my fingers. I started with Chantilly Lace at the top. Below (top to bottom) are Pale Moonlight, Gilded Satin, Black Chemise, and Crown Rubies. John mixed the Lip Shine in with the Stain Liner and used it on my eyes. These colors all have an elegant glow, perfect for those of us who like a radiant, natural look. He used Sugar Rosé Tinted Lip Treatment SPF 15 on my lips, as he had with Berry.

Skip forward to the end of my session, and here I am posing with Jawn. Isn't that a silly, self-satisfied smile on my face? I went straight from Neiman Marcus to physical therapy, and everyone in the room complimented me on my appearance! I was sure they wouldn't recognize me with makeup on. Normally, I have no incentive to dress up for torture. Because we were running late, I didn't have time to get close-up photos of his masterful work on my eyes. It was one of those times when I didn't want to wash off my makeup when it was time to go to sleep.

I have a lot more to tell you about Fresh. Click on this link for a quick description of Jawn's last visit. Stay tuned in the coming week for more about Jawn Marques and celebrity beauty.

Photo at top courtesy of Fresh; palette photo courtesy of beauty.com

Fresh Island Reverie Face Palette

At the Fresh event at Neiman Marcus, I purchased the Island Reverie Face Palette ($55) Jawn used on me. Turns out this palette was introduced about two years ago, but it's still so popular, Neiman Marcus had to have it sent to me from another store.

The palette has three eye shadows: Tiare, Plumeria, and Rum - all named to evoke the delicious floral fragrance of a tropical island - or the splash of run that that screams "vacation." The palette also contains a blush, Island Reverie, and a bronzer, Treasure Cove. All in all, it's a warm, sunny, tropical delight.

Jawn mixed Tiare and Plumeria together to apply them on my eyelids. The effect was a delightful light peach that warmed my look and made me want the palette. One thing I really love about the palette is the combination of the blusher and bronzer - also perfect for mixing on your brush. Or you can use them to follow Alyson's bronzing techniques (if you didn't read her advice, just click here).

Rum is a great eyeliner color, particularly for those who want to go easy on liner - nothing dramatic, just some punch. It coordinates beautifully with the other shades, so you will find the palette perfect for one-stop color.

My swatch photo was taken in less-than-ideal conditions: in my office in direct, but not sunny light. I swatched the top row of the palette, left to right, and the bottom row left to right also. At the top of my arm, you can barely see Tiare. Actually, you can see the bruise on the side of my arm better than the eye shadow. Tiare is almost skin toned, but with a golden touch. Plumeria is a golden peach - much easier to see in the photo (right above the line of rum). The darkest color is rum, the brown liner. It's a medium brown - not warm, not cool - a perfect contrast to the sunny shades with which it's packaged. The blush, Island Reverie, is definitely warm. A pinky-toned peach, it's a nice shade to warm us up for winter. I haven't had much time to play with the bronzer, but I will. I'll have plenty of time in January!

This is a nice palette, and it appears that demand for it remains strong, years after its introduction. You can find it at Neiman Marcus. I did a quick Web scan and found it hard to locate otherwise. Fresh doesn't offer it at its own Web site anymore. Oddly, you can buy it at Sears.com, but you'll pay more for it than I did at Neiman Marcus. What's with that?

Photo at top courtesy of Amazon

Pro Makeup Artist Guest Blog: Bronzer Techniques

This weekend, I introduced you to Alyson O'Brien, shown in the photo at left. I mentioned that Alyson is the Fresh Account Executive for the Mid-Atlantic region. What I didn't tell you was that she's also a celebrity makeup artist! Did I mention darling too?

While we chatted at the Fresh event, I learned that Alyson has many passions, including writing. She was interested in writing beauty features. As you might imagine, I jumped at the chance to offer her a guest post - or as many as she wants to write. She's talented and fun, and I knew she would be able to share with you her "tricks of the trade." First, though, the budding makeup artist's history. She's a hoot!

In her own words...
Ever since I can remember, I drew faces. It was always a face, with detailed separation of eyes, lips, and cheeks. I noticed this type of thing as a small child and found deep pleasure in drawing “portraits” of people. I normally drew females. I can remember drawing long eyelashes on people who had close-set eyes, adding fullness to lips when they needed symmetry, and contouring cheeks to different levels, depending on the face shape. This may be why people loved the pictures that I drew of them…because I made them look, well, better.

Cutting and styling hair at the age of nine for my extended family was also commonplace in my young life, and I loved doing it. I knew where the hair needed to fall after it was cut - and how the hair needed to look to accentuate a person’s face.

“Hey Alyson, how does this look?” was a common question in my home before my family members departed for fancy events. Fashion was also a huge passion of mine - mixing and matching color and putting cloth and color where they were needed to accentuate features.

When I got my first cosmetics job at the Clinique Counter at Macy’s almost 15 years ago, as soon as I saw a client, I would know immediately what I wanted to use on her, even as I analyzed her face and sized up her personality. The rest is history, and I continue my beauty journey, making people shine from within because they feel better about the way they look.

That’s what it’s all about, right? That’s why you’re reading this, and I’m writing this. We all want to feel better. Usually when you look good, you feel good.

My approach to beauty is very rudimentary, probably because I learned it prior to kindergarten. If you need color, add it. If you need moisture, add it. If a feature looks big, make something else look even bigger. My job is to educate people so they know what to do about their personal beauty concerns. This will not be done in one general blog feature, but I can help with “tips and tricks” as I write about what comes naturally to me. Ninety percent of the time, when I meet someone, I see something that I can improve with beauty products. It’s an automatic response. "Mom, that lady’s pants are too tight," Good thing I’ve always been soft spoken.

I interrupt Alyson to show you the photo at right of Kelly Monaco, after Alyson prepared her for the red carpet in New York City. That day, Kelly was a modern-day interpretation of Disney's Cinderella, re-released on DVD. Alyson used a lot of bronzer on Kelly - even on her neck, chest, and arms - but you can't see the bronzer, unless you look very carefully, because of Alyson's techniques. What you see is a gorgeous woman! The event was outdoors, which made it even more challenging to make Kelly look natural!

Here's more from Alyson...
My first tip, which is a general rule, not only for makeup, but for any form of art is to apply light color when you want to feature something and make it prominent, and apply dark color when you want a feature to recede. Let's focus on this tip, while I will tell you about using bronzer. Bronzer and the technique with which it’s applied can make an immediate, positive difference to someone’s beauty. Bronzer isn't just for Jersey girls - and I'm a Jersey girl! Take a close look at the men on the evening news. They are all wearing bronzer. Sometimes the makeup artists miss the ears, which is the telltale sign that the men are wearing it.

The following techniques can be used for applying bronzer by incorporating a light/dark art theory. Use bronzer all over the face evenly and don’t forget your neck and ears if you want to give your face a smaller look or reduce fullness. Since you are making the face darker, it will appear smaller, just the same as wearing black pants. This is one of the main reasons why some people feel and look better with tan skin.

Use extra or a darker bronzer when...

• You have a weak chin or double chin, and you want your neck or double chin to recede. Apply the bronzer below the area of the chin you want to emphasize.
• You have a large forehead and you want to minimize it. Use bronzer along your hair line. This is especially effective if there is a large contrast between the color of your skin and your hair.
• You have full cheeks. Use bronzer directly under your cheekbones. Darker color creates definition under the cheekbones by creating a shadow effect to make them more prominent. Use a highlighter at the top of your cheekbones.
• You have a wide nose. Use bronzer on the sides of your nose. This creates a slimming effect. Use a highlighter on bridge of your nose to enhance this trick.

Use less bronzer when...

• You have deep-set eyes. You don’t want to make them appear more shadowed. By keeping them light, they will appear to be more prominent.
• You have dark shadows or circles under your eyes or a prominent bridge of the nose.
• You want your nose to look smaller. The crease on the sides of the nose where it meets the cheeks is a small area that generally should remain light-colored.
• You have to stretch your bottom lip up to cover your bottom teeth to get to an area on your chin. If that's the case, chances are good that you should not be applying bronzer there - a crease that does not need to be accentuated by a deepening of color.

Fresh's Here Comes the Sun Face Palette ($45) is a fabulous choice for trying out these techniques. The formula is made with crushed pearls, so it reflects light, eliminating a "powdery" look and imparting a slight dewiness. You can layer it and never look like you dipped your face into a bowl of flour! The palette has three bronzers with which you can experiment: one darker and one lighter, along with a natural blush or highlighting shade. Remember you can swipe your brush across more than one to create your perfect shade.

I'll be thrilled if just one of these tips for using bronzer to lightening or darkening areas has helped you. Sometimes the smallest things can make the biggest difference. Stay tuned for my next feature on highlighting - more on the light/dark theories. Please leave a comment if you have any questions or want to share your own techniques for applying bronzer. I love to talk beauty!

Blurry photo of Alyson by BTiB; photo of Kelly provided by Alyson; palette photo courtesy of Fresh

Fresh - Feel Good Beauty

I'll bet many of you know Fresh primarily for the Sugar Lip Treatment SPF 15 ($22.50). Often featured at Sephora, this iconic lip conditioner, along with the rest of the Sugar Collection, put Fresh on the beauty world's map in 1997. Fresh founders Lev Glazman and Alina Roytberg were inspired to use sugar as a natural ingredient in their formulas by childhood memories of their grandmothers using it as a natural antiseptic to heal cuts. As they say, the rest is history. Fresh's Sugar Collection remains a pillar of the brand today. To know Sugar is to love it, but a failure to explore the rest of Fresh is an oversight you need to correct!

Did you know that the White House has had a Fresh gift closet since Bill Clinton was president? Special visitors of the president and first lady are given Fresh presents! Presidents George Bush and Barak Obama have continued the tradition, treating their guests to the ultimate in American luxury. Now I want an invitation to the White House!

I didn't know that Fresh did the skin care and makeup for Chelsea Clinton's wedding. A team of Fresh beauty masters, including Jawn, prepared Chelsea and the whole party (groom, bridesmaids, mothers, fathers, relatives - everyone) for the big event. No wonder Chelsea glowed!

For years, I've had a habit of stopping to see what was new in Fresh land each time I visited a Sephora or the Fresh counter at Neiman Marcus. My favorite counter at Neiman Marcus is now a large display on what seems like floor-to-ceiling metal and glass shelves, making all of the testers accessible for customers to touch, feel, and smell. On Thursday, Neiman Marcus at Tysons Galleria had a Fresh event, and Alison Kauffman, the store's Product Specialist, was joined by Jawn Marques, Creative Director for the company, and Alyson O'Brien, the Fresh Account Executive for our region. By the time I arrived, they had already had a long day, but they were "fresh" and fun, making sure customers with and without appointments got a mini-facial and color application. They had a whole team with them, and everyone was warm and welcoming.

I thought this was a cute photo of the adorable Alyson and Jawn, posing in front of the Fresh display. You can't see all the customers, but they were scattered around the Fresh area, all loving their sessions - and looking pretty.

I had been watching Jawn complete a customer's skin care and makeup, and she glowed. I didn't hesitate for a second to jump into his chair when my turn came. I had been eager to try Crème Ancienne, Fresh's couture anti-aging formula, handmade in a monastery, and I wanted to see what other products Jawn would select for me. I enjoyed every minute of my pampering session, which included a short hand massage that was too short (I think the next time my blood pressure starts to rise at work, I need to pop next door to the spa for a hand massage).

Off came my makeup with Soy Face Cleanser ($38), a unique, multifunctional formula that is ideal for all skin types. The ultra-gentle face wash contains nourishing amino acids, rich soy proteins, and soothing botanicals to hydrate, calm, and tone. It's one of Fresh's best sellers.

Jawn exfoliated my skin with Sugar Face Polish, which leaves the complexion extremely bright and radiant with just one use. The innovative formula is enriched with revitalizing brown sugar and antioxidant-rich wild strawberries, which work together to gently dissolve dead skin cells. The nourishing blend also has meadowfoam seed, plum, mango, and macadamia oils to intensely condition and moisturize the skin. It's so gentle, you can use it every day, and it has a marvelous fruity scent. What was interesting to me was that it didn't leave any gunk on my face, as one would expect from an exfoliating product applied in a department store. I couldn't hang my face over a sink and rinse thoroughly.

When it was time for the Crème Ancienne, Jawn applied the Eye Cream ($95) and the Elixer Ancien ($250). There is a video at Fresh's Web site where you can learn the magical story of the Crème Ancienne Collection. Only two drops of the Elixer, a precious, anti-aging face treatment oil, were needed to make my skin glow. I mean seriously glow. The key ingredients tell the story.

• Seabuckthorn oil - an antioxidant enriched with high amounts of omega-7 fatty acids that enhance cell regeneration
• Skin-firming amino acids - derived from palm trees to lift, tone, and firm the skin
• Comminphora extract - an age-reversing resin that plumps and visibly reduces fine lines and wrinkles

I loved the look and feel of the Elixer Ancien and decided on the spot that I had to have it. Apparently, so did a lot of customers because Alison had to "Option 7" it for me, meaning it is being sent from another Neiman Marcus. I want it now!

Skipping forward a bit, Jawn then applied my makeup. He used one of my regulars, Armani's Luminous Silk Foundation, to even out my skin tone, and then he applied Fresh color to my eyes, cheeks, and lips. I loved it all - and bought new Fresh color: an eye palette and a Sugar Lip Gloss in Sugar Desire ($18), a deep burgundy. I already have Fresh Sugar Plum Lip Tinted Treatment SPF 15 ($22.50) - love it! If you haven't tried one of the Fresh Lip Treatments, you must. The combination of the light plum treatment and the punchy lip gloss was all I needed to look natural, but polished.

I also purchased the Rice Dry Oil ($48), which I had picked out earlier in the week. I was smart enough to predict that it would sell out that day. With the scent of toning camellia and grapefruit, deepened by luscious bourgeon de cassis, ripening into a fruity, earthy essence, the dry oil will probably be addictive.

There's more to tell. I was there for over an hour, enjoying every minute of my time with Jawn and Alyson. I'll feature my Fresh goodies over the coming weeks. I love everything about Fresh: the innovative natural ingredients, the indulgence and sensory pleasures of using Fresh's products, and the purity of their formulas. Fresh offers skin care, fragrance, soaps, makeup, candles, and more. It's a one-stop shopping beauty company.

My friends always say it's hard to buy gifts for me - the gal who buys what she wants. It's really quite simple. Just buy something Fresh! If you buy Fresh gifts for your friends, you might even get a little sample for yourself too. Everyone will be happy!

Photos by Fresh and BTiB

Discover Fresh for Skin Care, Fragrance, and More Plus a Special Event

Fresh is sold around the world and carries a complete line of beauty products that span skin care, makeup, body treatments, fragrance, and more. Founded in 1991 by Lev Glazman and his wife Alina Roytberg, the company set out to create the perfect artisanal soap - soaps they couldn't find in Boston - and they were a pioneer in the use of natural ingredients in mainstream beauty treatments. They sure did it well! The two went on to build a beauty powerhouse that formed a partnership in 2000 with luxury company LVMH, expanding their reach and lending that air of elegance that touches everything associated with the name LVMH.

Fresh has developed legendary collections, such as the Sugar Collection (sugar is a natural antiseptic); the Umbrian Clay Collection to fight blemishes; the Soy Collection to fight aging and dehydration; the Sake Collection, which includes the Rice Dry Oil that is on my "absolutely must-have as soon as I can afford to buy more" list; and the Crème Ancienne Collection, produced by monks in the Czech Republic using a second-century recipe that has been refined with today's natural anti-aging skin-care technology. It's still made for Fresh by hand at a monastery. There are other collections, and the expansive line has legions of fans. I'm one of them.

Recently, I've had an opportunity to try a few new-to-me Fresh products. I'm loving Black Tea Instant Perfecting Mask ($85), an intense hydrating treatment that immediately reveals softer, more supple, and younger-looking skin. The skin-perfecting formula, with its velvety texture, was proven to have a significant moisturizing effect six hours after the mask is rinsed from the skin. Use it before you go to bed, and you'll awaken looking refreshed and dewy. Its key ingredients include black tea, a powerful antioxidant, to refine the skin's texture and enhance radiance and smoothness; lychee seed extract to stimulate collagen production; firming polysaccharides to give an immediate lift to the skin and work to reduce fine lines and wrinkles over time; and the ultimate hydrator, hyaluronic acid spheres.

Black Tea Instant Perfecting Mask has a cooling sensation from the moment of application. It almost shouts, "Go relax for the five to eight minutes you leave me on your skin!" Rest and enjoy the experience while I work for you." It smells a little like tea - nothing strong, just a pleasant light scent that helps me relax. It's very gentle; my sensitive skin can attest to that. I'd highly recommend it - it's as good as or better than masks costing many times its price. I can see why it won an Editor's Choice award from Allure for the Best Mask for Dry Skin in 2008 and Best Splurge in 2009.

As I've explored Fresh's fragrances, I was stunned by the attractiveness of Fig Apricot ($75). I sprayed it on a white card and held the card while I chatted with Alison Kauffman, Fresh Product Specialist at Neiman Marcus at Tysons Galleria. My nose wouldn't stay away from that card! So, I sprayed it on my arm. I continued to be struck by the refreshing fruity floral that gives off the most luxurious - not to mention delicious - Turkish apricot, peach, and lychee scent ever. Anchoring notes like green tea and fig leaf balance out the fragrance's sweet top notes, and there's petitgrain, dandelion, musk, and marine notes in it to add some depth. I couldn't leave without it. It's obviously popular; I bought the last one in stock that day.

I'm delighted with it. I was so jealous as a friend started to describe a Mission Fig dish his sister had made at Thanksgiving. I wanted figs, but they are not in season - that plus their neighborhood markets in New York City are so much better than our gourmet shops. I'll have to satisfy myself with the scent of figs, not the real thing.

As a result of my recent explorations and admiration of Fresh products - I've explored the line much more deeply than I had before - I jumped at the chance to schedule a complimentary Fresh facial this coming week at Neiman Marcus at Tysons! They say to know Fresh is to love Fresh, and I'm finding this expression rings true.

You can go too - assuming you live anywhere in the DC area or can get here. Jawn Marques, Fresh Creative Director, will be at the store on Thursday, December 9, with his team, and they are taking appointments for facials and color consultations from 11:00 am to 5:00 pm. I hear Jawn is extremely talented, and I can't wait to meet him. At one point in his career, he was a Guerlain national makeup artist. Now, he travels representing the luxury and deep bench of Fresh.

The Neiman Marcus team will have a gift for guests who make an appointment, and since the event is during In Circle, there will be a nice gift with purchase for those of us who decide to try some of the products we like. I'm fairly sure my next purchase will have to be Crème Ancienne moisturizer. I'm dying to try the handmade, historical treat.

Want to go? Just give Alison Kauffman a call to make an appointment. If you wait and try to drop in, you may not be able to have that nice, free, relaxing facial! Her phone number is (703) 761-1600, extension 3297. If you need help with anything Fresh, Allison's your gal. She's a sweetie.

I mentioned that there were events galore in the coming weeks. This is one I won't miss! If you can't get to one of "my Neiman Marcus stores," you can find Fresh at Neiman Marcus and Sephora.

Photos and mask courtesy of Fresh and Neiman Marcus

Fresh Sugar Plum Tinted Lip Treatment SPF 15

As promised, here's a look at Fresh Sugar Plum Tinted Lip Treatment SPF 15 ($22.50). I have been circling this at Sephora for many weeks, perhaps months. I finally ordered it, and I'm glad I did. Since it's a component of this week's giveaway contest, I wanted to show you how nice it is.

Sugar Lip Treatment moisturizes, repairs, and protects the lips. It's available in the original clear shade, as well as Sugar Rose and Sugar Plum. I'm a Clinique Black Honey fan, one reason I wanted to try Sugar Plum. I love the shade.

Fresh Sugar Plum Tinted Lip Treatment SPF 15 offers sheer coverage or lightly buildable color. You can see on my photo below that even a heavy application yields a transparent tint. It's formulated with sugar, a natural humectant that prevents moisture loss, and a superior blend of nourishing oils and protective waxes to soften and smooth dry lips. Antioxidant-rich vitamins also work to defend against wrinkle-causing free radicals. It provides essential year-round protection from damaging UV rays with its SPF 15.

The good news, since it's a lip treatment, is that it doesn't have any parabens, sulfates, phthalates, GMOs, or triclosan. It does have a long list of active ingredients to pamper your lips.

• Sugar, a natural humectant, to prevents moisture loss and revitalize and smooth the lips
• A superior blend of nourishing oils, including jojoba seed oil, grapeseed oil, avocado oil, blackcurrant seed oil, sunflower seed oil, meadowfoam seed oil, apricot kernel oil, and passion flower seed oil, to deeply moisturize and nourish dry areas and help plump and cushion the lips
  
• Beeswax, known for its anti-inflammatory properties to soften the skin and seal in moisture
• Vitamins A, C, and E to protect, smooth, soften, and provide protection from free radicals
• Natural waxes to help lock in moisture and soothe and protect the lips

The color is a brown-toned plum. Here it is on my arm. I took this photo after about eight passes of application. With a rosy lip color underneath, the treatment will show more color, but I consider it a tinted balm. To me, that's a good thing! I can apply it without a mirror for mistake-proof moisture and some color to perk up my look.

You can purchase Sugar Plum Tinted Lip Treatment SPF 15 at Sephora and Beauty.com - or you can enter the Fresh Sugar Plum Let it Glow Giveaway Contest and hope random.org selects your number!

Top photo courtesy of Sephora

Fresh Sugar Plum Let it Glow Giveaway Contest

Congratulations to Victoria, who won this Fresh Sugar Plum Let it Glow giveaway contest!

New and exclusive to Sephora, this limited-edition Fresh Sugar Plum Let it Glow set features evening essentials that will help you look party-perfect - with diva-worthy lashes, a pretty pout, and a radiant glow. The "travel-sized" items can go along with you for any touch-ups or to take your day look to a party look after work.

This set is all you need to create a complete, dazzling look. The nourishing lip moisturizer has a deep plum tint that's buildable for a sheer look or a rich pop of color. I'll be reviewing this new plum shade this week. The Supernova Mascara is a glossy, jet-black formula that defines, thickens, and lengthens lashes in one clump-free coat. The Twilight Freshface Glow is a sheer illuminating cream that instantly imparts a stunning-yet-natural-looking radiance to all skin tones. Finish it off with the Citron de Vigne Eau de Parfum, a sparkling scent inspired by France's Champagne region.

This set contains these items.

• 0.15 oz Sugar Plum Tinted Lip Treatment SPF 15
• 0.07 oz Supernova Mascara
• 0.17 oz Twilight Freshface Glow
• 0.05 oz Citron de Vigne Eau de Parfum

How can you enter to win? Just leave a comment here once. After you comment, feel free to e-mail bestthingsinbeautycontests@gmail.com and identify your comment. You can never be too careful about sharing your e-mail address on a blog, so I would follow this second step if I were you (an alternative is to code your e-mail, e.g., myname at gmail dot com, in your comment).

You can "earn" a second entry by tweeting this contest. Just make sure to include "@BTiBeauty" (without the quotes) in your tweet. I will tweet the contest soon, and you can simply retweet it to earn that second entry.

The deadline for entries will be Saturday, September 18, at midnight. The next morning, I will use a random number generator (random.org) to select the winner. I will e-mail the winner at that time. The winner will have 48 hours to reply to my message and provide a shipping address. After 48 hours, the prize will be forfeited, and another winner will be selected.

This contest is open to anyone anywhere. Here are the terms. I will carefully pack and ship the prize (as I always do). I cannot insure it for overseas shipment - it's amazingly expensive to do so. If it's lost or stolen in transit, I won't be able to replace it with another palette for an overseas winner. We'll see how this works. My shipping issues have occurred when I've shipped overseas - the packages to the U.S. and Canada always arrive without incident. I'll do my best on this end; let's see if your mail services do right by you on the other end if we have an overseas winner.

Good Luck!

Please note: Comments with links to products for sale will normally be deleted, not only from this contest post, but all Best Things in Beauty posts.

Photo courtesy of Sephora