Uncle Walter

A few quick words to honor Walter Cronkite, who died yesterday at the age of 92.

Honest, integrity, trustworthy, masterful, and a familiar and welcome face in our homes. I will never forget his awestruck reaction when Neil Armstrong set foot on the moon. We shared the thrill. He will be missed.

Photo courtesy of CBS.

Makeup Artists - Rants and Raves

Go to Fabulous over Forty and check out the nice work Roddy Gregg from Dior did on Kari's eyes. Doesn't she look great?

Is there a woman on earth who hasn't let a makeup artist "do" her face? The results for me have ranged from ridiculous to sublime. I don't know where they get some of those "artists," but the vast majority of them can't do my makeup any better than I can!

My favorite sublime creative artists, as you probably know by now if you have been following my blog, are Loyd Cassler, at Saks in Chevy Chase, Maryland, and Tim Quinn (seen above) - both representing Armani Beauty. They use makeup to spotlight our good features and "de-emphasize" our not-as-good features (even with the right amount of self-esteem, you gotta admit that most of us have at least one feature we don't appreciate). Not only can these guys make you look great, they also teach as they go. Loyd taught me the art of mixing colors on the brush, and the results have been very pleasing. Tim gives you tips (see his videos on the Armani Beauty Web site) that you can use every day. Artists like them make the experience a blast!

Now for the rant. Most makeup artists, even some of the national ones, can't see. They use a paint-by-numbers approach to every customer, meaning you get a formula that may not work for you. I had a recent experience at a Chanel counter that led me to rush home and wash my face. The woman did my eyes. She was using products with shimmer, which I love, but they have to be placed in the right place. I told her that shimmer didn't look good when placed over the crepiness on the inside crease. Her response as she blindly put shimmer there, "Oh no, you must use it here for the look." I had the look alright, and it was scary.

Even the tried-and-true test - see if you like the artist's makeup before you let her touch your face - doesn't always work. Sometimes, they can do themselves just fine, but will leave you looking like a Vegas showgirl.

I called this a rant because there's no real way to predict results. You take your chances unless you've been tipped off to a good artist, as Kari did in her post, or you go to someone who comes highly recommended. I'll share that there was a night after Loyd did my makeup when I didn't want to wash my face! Wish I had a picture of that day.

Late to the MAC Colour Craft Party

MAC's latest look, Colour Craft, offers some nice products. I'm a bit late to the party. I read all the beauty blogs, and there were so many comments about glitter that I approached the collection with a bit of trepidation. So, I ordered four pieces, and I am pleased to say that I am very happy with three of them.

I'll start with the glittery one. The Mineralize Skinfinish Trio (Smooth Merge for me) has too much glitter, as many have noted before me. It's really too bad because the colors are gorgeous! Unfortunately, face and cheek products with glitter look (in my humble opinion) very strange on anyone over 20, and I sure don't want glitter flaking onto my clothing. So, as pretty as it looks in the pan, this one gets a thumbs down.

It's thumbs up from here. The Mineralize Blush is very nice. I ordered Hand-Finish. It's not quite as pure pink as the swatch appears online, but it is a pretty peachy pink everyday color. The blushes come in many colors, so there is probably a color for everyone. I am very happy with my new blusher.

Both of the lip products I purchased are keepers. Madly Creative Lipstick feels nice and creamy and looks great. I would have been happier if it had been a tad darker, but I fix that easily by using a darker gloss over it. My Marbelized Lipglass in Pretty Pattern is, as advertised, a high-shine mixture of three colors, which gives it some depth.

Now is a great time to check out MAC at Nordstrom. Their Anniversary Sale started yesterday, and there are many Beauty Exclusives and gifts with purchase. The MAC exclusives are among the best. I have two at the store waiting for me (Lip Bag in Baby Blooms and a Look in a Box), so I'll be headed over this weekend to pick them up. A treat to anticipate!

Photo courtesy of Nordstrom.

HLMN Weekend Roundup - July 17, 2009

Beauty Junkies Unite reviews InStyler Rotating Hot Iron Hair Straightener.

Check out Beauty Sweet Spot's, Jeannine Morris, on an NBC segment and enter the Huge Lips Skinny Hips contest to win a trip to NYC for two filled with sexy activities

Check out Best Things in Beauty for a Laura Geller Giveaway Contest.

Why did Caress Evenly Gorgeous Exfoliating Body Wash disappoint Blaq Vixen Beauty?

Claire's Beauty falls in love with KenzoAmour EDT Florale.

Denim Debutante reviews Aritzia Boutique.

Fab Over Forty takes an indepth look at neuLash Eyelash Enhancing Serum.

Fabuless Beauty tells you how to try Physicians Formula cosmetics for FREE.

Glamour Whore dares you to be bold with red hot makeup looks.

If you're looking for a great primer, choose Avox Magix. Gouldylox Reviews loved it.

Hot Beauty Health shares with its readers a britbeauty brand, Illamasqua and it's coming to Sephora.

The Informed Makeup Maven reviews primers, foundations and beauty powders this week and gives away an Avene tinted compact for summer.

Krasey Beauty shares her night of beauty, twitter, and a lovely evening of girl power in NYC.

Visit Lipgloss Break to Enter to win LashFood Mascara and Go Green with a Baggu Bag!

Obsession Confessions of Glamour and Love has the scoop on the Janrah Boutique Sip and Shop Event in Seattle, WA.

The Style and Beauty Doctor is obsessed with nail trends. Take a look at her current fascinations.

Su Ferreira has a great FOTD makeup tutorial.

Unfunded's opinion is heard in the LA vs. NYC fashion debate on 39th and Broadway.

For more information on The HLMN or on how to become an affiliate, please visit our Web site.

Tim Quinn Appearance Alert! Saks, Chevy Chase, Maryland

Armani Beauty followers know that Tim Quinn is Armani's National Director for Creative Artistry. Today I learned that Tim will be available for a limited number of appointments at the Saks in Chevy Chase, Maryland on Thursday, July 30. Tim will be available to show you how to use Armani products to "put your best face forward." If you want to see the new Fall colors and you live anywhere near Washington, DC, I highly recommend that you plan a session with Tim. He's fabulous - and as I said in an earlier post, fun too!

Here's part of his bio from the Armani Beauty Web site.

"As the US front-man for Giorgio Armani Beauty, Tim has traveled internationally, hosting special events, training, and promoting the beauty line. His words of wisdom have graced the pages of More, W, Elle, Glamour, Lucky, InStyle, Harper's Bazaar, and Cosmopolitan. Tim has been featured as one of the "25 Beauty Stars" in W Magazine and has worked backstage at several award shows, including the Academy Awards, the Golden Globes, and the ESPYs. Additionally, Tim has been featured numerous times on television programs such as the Today Show, Extra, and E! Entertainment. Most recently, Tim was awarded the title of "Beauty Tsar" at Hollywood Magazine's 2008 Hollywood Style Awards.

Tim has worked with a number of celebrities such as Glenn Close, Debra Messing, Victoria Beckham, Kim Cattrall, Gwen Stefani, Kate Bosworth, Minnie Driver, Ziyi Zhang, Jordana Brewster, and Brooke Shields. He has designed faces for Helen Mirren, Julia Roberts, Naomi Campbell, Katie Holmes, Sarah Jessica Parker, Barbara Walters, Lucy Liu, and Drew Barrymore."

You can join that elite group of women. Just call (301) 657-9000 and ask for Armani Beauty. Make sure to expressly request an appointment with Tim.

Photo and Tim's bio information courtesy of Armani Beauty.

Deals, Samples, and Free Shipping

Ladies, we need to do our part to stimulate the economy! It's clear that there has never been a better time to buy beauty products. Here's just a sampling of the deals that have hit my mailbox in the last day. Over the coming weeks, I will leave posts when the number reaches the "Oh my goodness" point.

Stila has wonderful sets in their summer sale, such as this 24K gloss set, a $110 value for $42. Check out their Web site for all the summer values. I'm ordering these gorgeous glosses.

Giorgio Armani Beauty has new colors, including the fabulous blusher #12, and registered members get free shipping with any $50 purchase. Enter the code FALL LOOK. The promotion ends on July 21. You can usually select two free samples with any purchase. Make sure to try Fluid Sheer!

SkinWest has Kinerase, including new products, on sale at great prices. Order over $69, and you will receive Citrix Antioxidant Cleansing Pads, a $29 value for free with your order.

FragranceNet has free shipping with no minimum. Use code FS976 at checkout. Offer expires on July 22.

Sephora has some great freebies for Beauty Insiders. Use code KORRESOAK for a free sample of Quercetin and Oak antiwrinkle cream or select a special 1.7 oz Bliss Naked Body Butter when your Beauty Bank hits 100 points.

Estee Lauder is offering a free Re-Nurtriv Duo, free samples, and free shipping with any $65 purchase. Use offer code RNLIFT. The offer is good through July.

It pays to register at your favorite sites!

Photo courtesy of Stila.

Laura Geller Plus Giveaway Contest!

Laura Geller makes some of the most wonderful face and cheek colors on earth. They captured my attention at Sephora, with names like Blush-N-Brighten, Bronze-N-Brighten, and Balance-N-Bronze, and beautiful swirly colors inside those great flip-top containers with cute little windows so that you can see what's inside. No need to remember names or numbers!

No matter which of the products you select, you will find multi-dimensional color, just the right amount of pop, and some of the longest lasting face and cheek colors on earth. I have many of the colors because they are all buildable, meaning that I can use the right amount for my fair skin and experiment with colors that might otherwise be too dark.

My fair-skin favorites?

I love Ethereal Balance, a combo color with a rose pink on one side and tan on the other. Swirled together, the two sides make a nice pink blusher. I don't know if the company still makes it - I can't locate it on Sephora or Laura Geller's site. They do make Ethereal Rose ($29.50), a marbelized blend of pink and pearl, which is also tops on my list of favorites.

Bronze-N-Brighten ($35) is a great bronzer or blusher. A nice creamy power with swirls of beige and soft pink, it delivers dewy radiant color without any orange tones - perfect for most of us. It's available in Fair and Regular shades.

Blush-N-Brighten ($29.50) comes in eight shades at Laura Geller and six at Sephora, and many of these work for me. Berry and Pink Grapefruit have earned a permanent place on my counter. Another shade that I tried recently and liked is Golden Apricot. Most of the Web site swatches make it look very orange, but it's a bronze, rose, and golden peach shade that's perfect for summer.

I scored an extra Golden Apricot, so I am offering it as the prize for our first giveaway contest. To enter, just e-mail bestthingsinbeautycontests@gmail.com and tell me what your favorite Best Things in Beauty posting has been. The contest will close at midnight Tuesday, July 21. Good Luck! Your e-mail address will be safe with me - I promise.


Photo courtesy of Sephora.