Friday, September 20, 2013

The Friday Forum - September 20

Expect to see more squirrel butts soon. They are now stashing their winter food. Eat one, bury one. That reminds me a bit of my makeup addiction. Buy one, store one - somewhere, fortunately not underground. Although fragrances like to be kept in a cool environment. I wonder if anyone has ever used a bomb shelter for perfume storage.

Carnaby Street finally arrived at Neiman Marcus Mazza Gallerie. It will probably be tomorrow morning before I make it over there to pick mine up. Assuming the sun is shining, I will post swatch photos tomorrow.

Thanks to everyone who left happy birthday wishes. It was Wednesday. I had a wonderful pizza for dinner and bought a Powerball ticket - sure I would win with all that birthday luck. I was very disappointed when I learned someone in South Carolina won the $400 million.

I do have some beauty news to share with you, but I wasn't able to write it up last night. Maybe I'll do an addendum to this forum when I get home after work. Stay tuned.

The blog has been receiving a lot of spam in the last two weeks, and Google is flagging most of it as spam. It's possible I have marked some of your comments as spam. A comment with a link on a post published in 2009 looks like spam to me. I may have deleted one or two legit comments, and if so, I apologize.

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.

Photo courtesy of thegrove.americangrove.org

29 comments:

Holly said...

A belated Happy Birthday! I have been noticing how clear my skin looks lately and the only change I've made is the addition of the Chanel CC cream. I use it over my primer and under my foundation. I initially wasn't a huge fan but if it's responsible for these results, I'm hooked!

Bellyhead said...

Happy happy birthday week, CG!! :)

With the cooler turn of the weather and the leaves already turning color, I'm craving all the comforts of warm snuggly sweaters and something hot and filling for my stomach.

I can already see that my summer skincare routine is getting not rich enough for this weather. What should I do with my unfinished summer creams? Should I try to finish them up (will take a while) or store them safely some where?

Happy Friday and happy weekend, everyone!

Tatiana said...

I'm looking forward to seeing your swatches of the Carnaby Street Kaleidoscope. I noticed that Saks will be getting a kaleidoscope of it's own, called Dominique, for it's upcoming beauty event. Wish I could see them side by side, so I could decide which to buy. Can't afford to purchase everything new, so I must pick and choose.
I was in NYC this week, so I bought some perfume and splurged on Tom Ford's Orchid Haze quad. I also bought a Dior Rouge Dior lipstick exclusive to Saks called 611, after their address on 5th Avenue. It's a lovely mauvey pink that works well on my fair skin. I met some lovely SAs, who treated me well and will be getting my repeat business. Unfortunately, I also met some who I would never give repeat business to. Looking forward to a relaxing weekend. Hope you have a wonderful weekend, too!

Evelyn said...

Happy Belated Birthday to you! I hope you will continue the celebrating through this weekend, I like to think we get birthday weeks. :) That $400 million would have made the best birthday gift!

Maybe there's been a spam attack lately. I saw on another blog that she's been having a problem with that too. So annoying for you folks to have to monitor your blogs and keep eliminating these messages.

I haven't purchased anything exciting lately but I did bring home one of the new Marc Jacobs blushes, I do like it. I keep hearing raves about the face brush which is enormous, I'm not quite sure what to do with a brush as big as my face. lol I am really tempted by the Orchid Haze quad that was added to the Tom Ford line here. It might be the first one I buy, we'll see.

I'm just going to mention how much I love the Tatcha camellia cleanser. My skin has been unhappy this week, most likely due to trying out a powder foundation that disagreed with it, so I used it to clean my skin last night and it feels so much better. I like using the cleanser in general but it's particularly soothing to my skin when it is troublesome. I'm going to make sure I always have a bottle on hand.

Have a great weekend everyone as we officially say goodbye to summer!

AnneD said...

Hi CG and Happy Birthday! I personally celebrate a birthday month just so I can spread it out more!

I enjoyed Beauty Event last Saturday at NM, even though I didn't win anything. It was fun and exciting to see the ladies eyes light up with a special prize of makeup or fragrance. I sipped sparkling water and met some new friends sitting around me. I also got so many new samples to play with. I left with some fragrance and even though the Carnaby Street wasn't in, my SA still sent me home with my lipsticks.

I then enjoyed a luncheon provided by VenEffect and learned that cleansing products are in the works and may be available in the spring. I am currently using the lip treatment.

I also replenished my Fresh Soy cleanser which I love and also took home the Youth Liberator foundation. My question CG, is do you think the serum in the foundation really helps the skin? I always thought serum had to be next to the skin. I love the foundation.

Wishing everyone a lovely weekend!

Charlestongirl said...

Honestly, Anne? I have no idea. It should, but I haven't used it long enough to notice a difference.

Claire said...

Happy belated, CG, and many happy returns! We are enjoying the return of the squirrels, my toddler is really excited to see them. We learn about acorns and oaks and how arugula looks like oak leaf. Looking forward for the Carnaby Street!

Liliana said...

Belatedly, Happy birthday to you, CG and my best wishes!

Enjoying some sweet fall days here, waiting for the rain that will begin, sadly, soon enough.

Looking forward to seeing the swatches for Carnaby Street, didn't get anything from LMB yet.

Tara said...

You were robbed of your birthday lottery win! But I'm glad you had a happy one in spite of that.

Like the squirrel, I hoard the fall make up until the weather cools down enough to wear the deeper colors. Unfortunately for me, I live in Las Vegas and our cold front has only resulted in the low 90's upper 80's. Since fall officially begins Sunday, I'm wearing them anyway!

Unknown said...

Happy Birthday, Sister Virgo!
I hope that this new year brings you much health, beauty and joy!

Melanie said...

Just a quick note to say a Happy Belated Birthday, CG!

lov2read68 said...

Happy Belated Birthday CG! Like some of the other ladies mentioned I am in favor of a birthday week or even birthday month to celebrate! Will be watching to see what beauty news to share with us. You always seem to have some of the best beauty scoop to share. No new beauty finds to share. Wishing everyone a wonderful weekend! It's beginning to feel a bit like Fall here in the Midwest! I love the cooler weather!

Mamavalveeta03 said...

This might sound like a very convoluted story, but I saw that blogger/illustrator/photographer, Garance Dore`s fashion choices were going to be profiled on ShopStyle, so I was kind of excited because I really like her "French girl minimalist" look. So, I checked it out and loved several of the pieces, which made me check out her blog, and while I was there, I saw that she had just gotten a haircut (talk about a run-on sentence!!!), which was SOOO cute! I watched her short video clip of her new crop, and thought, "Hmm...I wonder what brand and color of red lipstick she's wearing, because it looks great!?!" So, it actually listed the shade in the comments section. And I went directly to Barney's online and ordered it. It's MAKE lipstick in "Scarlet", btw. http://www.barneys.com/on/demandware.store/Sites-BNY-Site/default/Product-Show?pid=00505030535565&cgid=womens-beauty&index=12

angusmum1 said...

I have been trying some Dermaglow skin products the last three weeks and I am noticing an increased brightness and fading of small sun spots, so that good!
Many Happy returns, fall birthdays are great Im October 13

Sylvia said...

Happy belated birthday! I read your blog every day, and enjoy it very much. Your posts usually go up right as I am leaving work, and they are a nice daily treat.

I bought a couple of the new Clinique eye shadows last night, and really enjoy them. I had some as a teen that I enjoyed, but the new formulation is lovely. I purchased Sunset Glow and Hazy, and recommend both. I'm also eyeing Rock Violet as is has a purple taupiness that I have a hard time resisting. I don't buy much in the way of luxury cosmetics, but do treat myself occasionally, and really appreciate your thoughtful posts and pictures. I find they helpful ( and tempting!) when I do want to splurge. I will also qualify a little bit. I'm a Sephora shopper, but live 1.5 to 3 hours from the closest Nordstrom, Saks, or NM so am limited to on line purchasing for true luxury brands, and I shy away from that.

On the opposite side of luxury is a drugstore find I rediscovered this week. I picked up my Maybelline Color Whisper in Mocha Muse again,and I find it a perfect easy lip color. I'm always amazed that these are so inexpensive as they feel somewhat similar to a Rouge Coco Shine. Hope it's o.k. I'm going on about a drugstore item. I haven't joined the Friday Forum before, but really enjoy the interactions.

wendy said...

happiest birthday wishes beautiful charleston girl!!! i hope you had a fabulous day!! xxxxxoooo to you!! wendy.

Eileen said...

Good morning, everyone. The heat has finally abated and the weather has settled into a comfortable autumn coolness. It's what I think of as "shirt-sleeve weather" --cool, but not uncomfortably so. I hope this is the real deal and that summer isn't still lurking in the wings ready to blast us with another heat wave.

All this week I've been using my new Tom Ford eye primer and really like it--a lot! Let me say right off the bat, though, that I don't think this would be a good choice for you ladies and gents with oily lids as the cream base is emollient. As for the setting powder that comes with it, it is not so much an oil absorbing powder as it is a light-diffusing fixative. It reminds me of an über fine HD powder. For normal to dry lids, though, TF's eye primer is a good choice: no fading, no creasing, no migrating, no muddiness of color, and no dryness or irritation of eyelids. It's actually quite a treat to use. I apply a thin layer of the base with my fingertip and then use a Hakuhodo squirrel hair brush to lightly sweep a bit of the powder over it. Properly applied as two thin layers, it is virtually weightless. This week I've used TF, Chanel, Guerlain, and Armani eyeshadows over it with equal success. So, it looks like my beloved Kanebo Sensai that I've used for years has some serious competition.

Hi Bellyhead,

Forget sealing up and storing the unused portion of your creams. Once exposed to air, they only last about a year before they deteriorate to the point where the actives are no longer, well, active. LOL As I switch to heavier creams, I use up the remnants of my lighter creams on my body. Besides, by the time next summer rolls around, there will probably be something new and exciting to try :-)

Hi Mamval,

You were certainly a woman on a mission! I've seen the color you're talking about and it is well worth a bit of sleuthing. It's such a beautifully balanced red. Oh, how I wish I could still wear shameless reds like that! Nowadays I get my dose of red via glosses.

Hi Evelyn,

Isn't Tatcha's cleansing oil the greatest? It is an excellent combination of soothing and healing oils. Here in So Cal we get seasonal Santa Ana winds. They blow in off the desert and are hot and arid. During Santa Ana conditions, I like to use the oil almost like a mask. I remove my makeup and then reapply the oil and set a warm wash cloth over my face for a few minutes. I then gently wipe the oil off and my skin looks fantastic. I just love this stuff :-)

I hope everyone enjoys this last weekend of summer.

Rebekah said...

I'm so excited about Carnaby Street! My amazing SA just sent mine on its way! She also sent me swatches of St. Domingue kaleidoscope and it melted my heart as well! Soooo now they are both en route to me lol! I'm not sure about St. Domingue being a Saks exclusive because my SA is at Neimans and I just bought both...hopefully not a fluke! Enjoy your new kaleidoscope, I can't wait to hear your thoughts!! You are far and away my fav beauty blogger...thank you so much for all you do!!

Anonymous said...

OMG CG, I didn't know it was your birthday! So sorry I missed it. Sounds like you had an enjoyable one. Pizza is how I would celebrate mine too. Darn that Powerball. Happy Birthday! And thanks for being here..

Denise at aeiokid at comcast dot net

Unknown said...

DocSmitty
Which Neimans had both LMDB kaleidoscopes?
Melissa

Charlestongirl said...

Dominique is supposed to be a Saks exclusive. I have Michael on the case. :)

Jo said...

Saks also has two LMdB crème eye shadows on their website. I'm going to investigate as soon as I can get downtown to Saks!

Bellyhead said...

Thank you Eileen! That's what I figured! :)

Charlestongirl said...

I'm back. I took a little break while I nursed my apparently broken toe (meaning I slept a lot) and did a little beauty shopping.

Thank you all for the birthday wishes. I imagine those who knew found on on Facebook. I was surprised when I started seeing messages on Wednesday.

The sun is shining, and I am on my way outside to take swatch photos of Carnaby Street. I have a photo of Dominique, and I will try to scan it this afternoon. Evelyn, I think I have had a week-long celebration. :)

Charlestongirl said...

Jo, I saw those creams and will be placing a call to Michael as soon as the store opens.

Charlestongirl said...

Eileen, I keep forgetting to use the primer, so I now have it placed in my bathroom where I will be sure to remember!

Charlestongirl said...

Bellyhead,

It has often been suggested (and I've never tried it) that you store your summer creams in the refrigerator until you need them again.

You remind me of a La Mer Eye Concentrate I opened this week. I hadn't used it in well over a year. It has dissolved - seriously, it was liquid with some gunk floating in it. Grossed me out. Into the trash it went, quickly.

Charlestongirl said...

OK - out I go before some cloud decides to move in.

Moonchime said...

Happy Belated Birthday, Charleston Girl! This week I am really enjoying L'Amour Lalique. The fragrance is intoxicating! Happy Autumn!