The Friday Forum - May 6

Today's Le Métier de Beauté event with Ivan Castro was great fun. Our Account Executive's daughter served as Ivan's model. She started out with no makeup and was beautiful. Then Ivan showed us how he applied her skin care and makeup, explaining his techniques step by step. She finished the session even more beautiful - which seemed impossible, given her natural beauty.

We were treated to a wonderful lunch at Maggiano's, the site of the master class. The lunch was wonderful and filling. I tried not to eat too much, but dessert put me over the top. I enjoyed watching Ivan as he worked his magic on this beautiful young woman (I'm not identifying her because I did not ask for permission to use her name). Ivan started with skin care, explaining Le Métier de Beauté's products, their benefits, and their distinctive ingredients. Then he used gorgeous colors that suited his model perfectly, showing me that he can do both "East Coast" and "West Coast." He also showed us the new brush collection. Great job, Ivan!

Ivan will be doing makeup applications tomorrow at Neiman Marcus at Mazza Gallerie. If you would like to make an appointment, call Michael or Andy first thing tomorrow at (202) 966-9700, ext. 2258. There are a few slots left. There are gifts with purchase too. It's a great time to go!

It's time for our Friday Forum and weekend conversation. The Friday Forum has always been an opportunity 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 use the comments. We have busy weekends and slow ones on the forum. I hope to see you in the comments.

Photos by Best Things in Beauty

Jo Malone Master Class with David Ponce: A New Twist on the Art of Fragrance Mixing

Today, I attended an informative (and fun) master class at Neiman Marcus Tysons Galleria led by David Ponce, Jo Malone's national trainer. David was expertly assisted by James Tyree, Diana Foerster, and David McCray as we sniffed and drank our way through fragrance notes and fragrances. Yes - drank!

If you know Jo Malone, you already know that she made the art of fragrance combining come alive for customers. Wear your favorite Jo Malone scents individually or layer them to create your own custom fragrance. All of Jo Malone's fragrances are tested before introduction to ensure that they will "play well in the sandbox" with all other Jo Malone fragrances. There will be no nasty surprises when you experiment.

Today's class had a interesting twist. The team created cocktails for us using the notes from the fragrances they presented. Assisted by the store, they created three signature cocktails (without alcohol so we could all drive away safely) using blueberries, oranges, pomegranates - you name it - if it could be found in a Jo Malone fragrance, it may have been in one of our cocktails. Sniffing while sipping is a blast!

David Ponce is a fountain of knowledge. He's passionate about what he does, and it shows in his hand movements. He's in constant motion when he teaches. I took a zillion photos, trying to ensure that I had at least one that would be useable (and not too dark in store lighting). In every one, he was in motion, gesturing to speak with his whole body - throwing himself (literally) into his subject.

We talked about the new Wild Bluebell Cologne (which is selling extremely well). We smelled the individual notes (courtesy of David's traveling bag), and then we smelled Wild Bluebell. We talked about the novelty of the Wild Bluebell advertising campaign, with the fairy and white bunny, and then we looked in our goodie bags and found a white chocolate bunny. He's adorable, but I think I'm going to have to nibble at him.

I begged for a tiny sample of the bluebell note and came home with it. I need a whole bottle. It's beyond heavenly for this floral lover. He demonstrated how the character of Wild Bluebell can change by layering, emphasizing a floral surprise by combining it with White Jasmine and Mint, or fruits by combining it with Lime Basil and Mandarin. All the combinations we tried were luscious. Now that I'm home, I'm reaching for my Wild Bluebell bottle to give it another try mixed with my old standby Red Roses.

David covered so much ground in 30 minutes! Did you know that if you purchase one of Jo Malone's Fragrance Chronicles, the combinations yield 256 different scents? Can you believe it? I'm not a math whiz, but I understand how that's possible. I might be able to fix a stray ground wire in my phone's junction box (as I did this morning), but I get lost after a simple logarithmic scale.

It's no wonder that David travels around the country training industry insiders and customers alike. His own passion ignited ours, not only for Jo Malone and all of the company's stunning fragrances, but also for fragrance combining. I can't wait for his next visit.

If you ever get a chance to attend one of David's sessions, do it. I guarantee you'll have fun. He'll take great care of you and open your mind to fragrance combinations that might not have been intuitive.

I will end with breaking news. I have been bummed about the discontinuation of Jo Malone's Tuberose - one of my favorites. Apparently, there weren't enough of us purchasing it (until Tuberose lovers found out it was being discontinued, at which point there was a rush to buy). Next year, Tuberose will be relaunced in the new Cologne Intense Collection. While I have to wait until Spring 2012, the thought that it's coming back left me feeling like I could do cartwheels again. Isn't anticipation wonderful?

Photos by Best Things in Beauty

Bobbi Brown Tips from the Master Class at Nordstrom Tysons Corner Center

What fun we had yesterday at the Bobbi Brown Master Class at Nordstrom at Tysons Corner! About 21 of us spent almost three hours with Tia Hebron, Bobbi's Global Makeup Team Artist and Education Executive (and total dynamo); Michele Shakeshaft, Bobbi's fabulous Market Coordinator for our region; and 10 makeup artists whose sole mission was to make us look beautiful - and learn how to do it ourselves.

I have three pages of notes! They covered a lot of ground, and I can't give you the whole class in one blog feature. I can tell you about the tips I found most helpful and the products Tia used on me. I also have a few photos, despite the challenge of the lighting in the room (with flash, they washed out; without, they were a bit dark). Unfortunately, my photo of Tia and Michele is dark. There's another photo of Tia below.

Tia led us from skin care to the finishing touches - with humor, talent, and energy. Somehow, "the blogger" got tapped to be the model, so I sat under the lights on the little stage as Michele and Tia demonstrated what they taught us. From my vantage point, I watched each woman in the class as she was transformed from pretty to pretty powerful. It was a blast!

We learned all about Bobbi's skin care, starting by cleansing our faces, and we got a nice introduction to the newest Hydrating Skincare products. Tia called Hydrating Face Tonic "Gatorade for the skin," a great description for the toner/tonic that is loaded with minerals and vitamins to enhance your skin before you use the treatment products best for you.

Tia focused on two great serum choices for use under our moisturizer: Intensive Skin Supplement (my choice for my aging and dry skin) and Brightening Intensive Serum, a serum that won't bleach your skin as it clarifies and brightens. We applied our serum and followed up with a moisturizer. Michele selected the new Hydrating Face Cream for me. We learned that all of Bobbi Brown's moisturizers have built-in primers so that your face will be ready for your makeup application after you moisturize.

Because your makeup can't look its best without good skin underneath, we continued to apply our skin care, using products to protect our eyes and lips. Extra Eye Repair Cream is the staff favorite in Bobbi's New York headquarters. Tia called it "Spanx in a jar," and apparently they can't keep it in stock in the closet. We also learned that Bobbi's Lip Balm SPF 25, which feels great on my always-parched lips, will bring out the color in your lips.

Tia used the phrase "runway to reality" to describe how Bobbi Brown translates runway color trends into makeup we can use every day. She started with foundation, as the artists applied three shades to our faces to see which one would disappear into our skin. You want your foundation to look natural, so selecting the right foundation shade and applying it correctly will get you off to the right start. She also mentioned that you should only apply foundation to the areas of your face that need it. That's often in the center of your face, and you should blend it out to "nothing" where your skin is clear and even. She also taught us how to use Bobbi's top-rated Corrector to take away any darkness under our eyes follow with the Creamy Concealer Kit, making sure to use concealer in the inner corner near the nose and set the concealer with powder.

Everyone needs to use bronzer! I didn't believe that until I saw the transformation of 21 women who lightly applied either the Bronzing Powder or the All Over Bronzing Gel SPF 15.

Tia used Desert Sun gel on me (and the lovely lady to the left), and I loved the warm look. None of looked tan; we just looked sculpted and healthy!

Bobbi recommends an order to makeup application: cheeks, lips, then eyes. If you run out of time during your makeup application, you can quit after any step. Your cheeks and lips will add radiance to your face. Tia was a hoot when she told us that people are nicer to you when you're wearing blusher. She suggested that if you apply the bronzer first, you simply need to add a pop of color to the apple of your cheeks to be ready to roll. With Pot Rouge for Lips and Cheeks, powder blushes, and Sheer Color Cheek Tint, Bobbi has us covered with formulas and shades! Tia surprised me when she selected Sheer Coral Sheer Color Cheek Tint for me. That may be the only shade I haven't bought! Naturally, Tia showed everyone techniques for applying color, and she recommended Bobbi's brushes - the right brush for each task - as we progressed through the class.

We moved from cheeks to lips. You probably know that Bobbi Brown recommends using your lip color before your lip liner. When you do use your pencil liner, use the flat edge of the pencil and feather it on to define and enhance your lips. Tia used Black Cherry Creamy Lip Color and Black Chocolate Sheer Color Gloss on my lips. She used Brownie Lip Liner to finish the look. (You can see my selections from the Black Velvet Collection (last week's shopping foray) at this link. Glad I bought Black Cherry and Black Chocolate!)

We did our eyes last! Naturally, I wanted to play with the new Black Velvet Collection, so Tia applied a neutral ivory color all over my lid before she started her magic. She used Khaki Eye Shadow on my lower lid before she applied the new Black Charcoal Metallic Eye Shadow. She told us that there has been a shift in how to create the smoky eye. No longer do you paint one color on your lower lid and another in the crease. Now, the best way is to apply the darkest color at the last line and blend as you move up into the crease. Don't be afraid to use your finger to help blend if you need to. Tia blended the Black Charcoal over the Khaki and followed with the new Kohl Eye Liner in Black and Extreme Party Mascara. She also used gray shadow to fill in my brows and the Highlighter Pen in Opal at the top of my cheekbones.

Here I am modeling the look Tia created with Bobbi's new book, Beauty Rules. There's a Beauty Rules Palette too! I'll tell you about Beauty Rules later this week. I took a closeup photo of the eye look Tia created when I got home. I had to take the photo inside using a flash, so it's very shiny - sorry about that. I should have left it on for the party I attended last night! It was pretty snazzy.

If you get a chance to attend a Bobbi Brown Master Class, you should do it! You'll learn a lot and have fun while you're learning. My thanks for Tia, Michele, the 10 artists, the sweet gals who let me take their photos (including that gorgeous mother-daughter team above), and Diron Carr, the Nordstrom Tysons Bobbi Brown manager who told me I had to attend. He was right.

Bobbi Brown Black Velvet Collection Plus Nordstrom Tysons Master Class

Very soon, Bobbi Brown's new Black Velvet Collection for Fall and Winter 2010 will make its appearance in a department store near you. Bobbi "goes noir" with this bold new collection. Bobbi's customers have been requesting the smokey eye look they have seen on runways and red carpets. Bobbi created the Black Velvet colors to provide a strong look, but one that's pretty too. Not only will Black Velvet be perfect for women who want a little drama, it will be fabulous for women with dark skin who need a break from pastel pinks and peaches.

Black Velvet is "the new black" - shimmering and infused with color. Despite their runway trendiness, the shades have been designed to be wearable. The shadows are easy to blend because they diffuse on the skin. Black Charcoal and Black Chocolate will be perfect for making a smokey eye.

The dark lipsticks and glosses are similarly "decadent." Think luscious dark chocolate-covered pomegranates (which you can buy at Costco, as I do)! Women with chocolate skin have been looking for colors that would be perfect for them. On us pale faces, they will add a dramatic dimension to our look.

I haven't seen the collection yet; these are scanned photos. I am looking forward to its arrival at Nordstrom and on Bobbi Brown's Web site. I plan to attend a very special Bobbi Brown master class at Nordstrom Tysons Corner, and I'm hoping the collection arrives by then. You can attend too! Read on for more details.

The Black Velvet Collection is a set of unique pieces from Bobbi Brown that will help us conjure black and chocolate gems, ready to be adored.

Black Mahogany and Black Cherry Creamy Lip Colors will work as a stain for me when applied lightly and blotted. My friends with dark skin will find them the "it" colors for fall and may want to use them for an everyday look. Add the Sheer Lip Gloss in Black Chocolate, and you will have a deep lip that's wearable no matter what your coloring.

The eye shadows will give us a choice of regular, metallic, and sparkle finishes - shown below. Bobbi Brown's eye shadows are super-wearable. I recently bought the New Denim shade from Bobbi's Denim & Rose Collection. When I first saw it, I was sure it would be too dramatic for me. Not! It's gorgeous.

I am really looking forward to playing with the Black Velvet Collection. I'm hoping that it arrives at Nordstrom at Tysons Corner in time for the master class the Bobbi Brown pros have planned. No matter, the master class will be fun - with or without the latest collection.

Live near Washington, DC?

Nordstrom Tysons Corner Center is accepting appointments for a fabulous Bobbi Brown master class with Tia Hebron, Global Makeup Team Makeup Artist and Education Executive for Bobbi Brown - assisted by the talented Diron Carr and the rest of the Tysons team. The dates are August 20 and 21. There will be three sessions on Friday (11:00 to 1:00, 2:00 to 4:00, and 6:00 to 8:00) and two on Saturday (11:00 to 1:00 and 3:00 to 5:00). I'm going on Saturday. Even this jaded blogger is looking forward to learning something new!

To make a reservation, call (703) 761-1121 extension 1086. There is a charge, but it's fully redeemable in products. You couldn't make a better investment for fall.

Scanned photos scanned courtesy of Bobbi Brown

Saks Beauty Week

Beauty Week at Saks Fifth Avenue is underway, and there are some great gifts with purchase. Not only that, depending on how much you spend and what departments you shop (including cosmetics and fragrances), you can get a gift card (their spend some, get some reward). Online and in stores until September 27, if you spend $450, you will receive a $100 gift card. If you spend $1,000, you will receive a $250 gift card.

Customers who spend $75 or more will also receive a Stephanie Johnson beauty bag (you can select one of three colors) filled with samples from Natori, Guerlain, Lancôme Secret de Vie skincare, Frederic Fekkai, and more (while supplies last).

Most counters have a gift with purchase special too, including Clinique, Armani, Bobbi Brown, Sisley, Laura Mercier, Estee Lauder, Lancome, and Kiehl's - to name only a few. Some of these are great gift sets.

If you order online, use code SAKSGIFT9 if your purchase qualifies for a gift card. Code SEPTSHIP9 will get you free shipping. It's more fun to stop in the store if you can.

We (work buddies) had an Armani Master Class with Loyd last night. I can't wait to tell you about it! Champagne, fruit, cheese and crackers, sparking water, skin care, and makeup! A winning combination. I will be going back to pick up my goodies and meet with Tim Quinn on Saturday. I know Tim will show me the one thing I don't have, but can't live without. He's got a knack for that.

Photo courtesy of Saks.