Until the rest of 2008, you can receive 10% off your entire order at Jessicurl!

Jessicurl’s Too Shea! Extra Moisturizing Conditioner ($12.75) is just what my thick, dry and curly hair craves.  This conditioner is infused with Lemongrass, Nettle, Burdock, Kelp, Marshmallow Root, Horsetail, Basil, Bay Leaf, Oregano, Rosemary, Peppermint, Sage, and Thyme; Aloe Vera Juice, Shea Butter, Jojoba Oil, and Avocado Oil.  For finer haired individuals, Jessicurl’s Daily Aloeba Conditioner ($12.75) is a great choice as well.

My nine-year-old daughter Sarah recently asked while creating her holiday wish list, “Mom, what’s the name of that stuff that makes my hair feel so silky soft?”

I replied, “Jessicurl’s Too Shea Conditioner.  Why do you ask?”

Sarah grinned shyly, “Because that is what I want for Christmas.” (more…)

If you haven’t heard or had the opportunity, LUSH is a fun, amazing beauty store that sells homemade soaps, skincare, cosmetics, and hair care products.  I have sampled and fallen in love with many of their products, including their Tea Tree Toner, Ultra Bland Cleanser (excellent for extremely dry skin), and Shampoo Bars.  DecoDiva’s favorite facial cleanser is Lush’s Baby Face Cleanser.

If you don’t have a local Lush store to shop at; you can shop online at their website and save! 

Get a $20 gift for just $5 with your next order, at checkout use the promo code: LL5GIFT08.

- Spend $70+ and get a gift worth up to $20 for just $5*

- Spend $85+ and get 2 gifts worth up to $20 for just $5 each*

This code is good only until December 22nd!

*If you would like to read more about the benefits of using shampoo bars versus regular sulfate-based shampoos, follow this link:  “Hair washing without a Bottle? Try a Shampoo Bar!”

Hot off the cyber-presses, tarte cosmetics is offering a 40% friends and family discount for the next five days (December 11- 15th).

Enter the code: FF08 at checkout to receive 40% off your entire order at tarte!

Be sure to notice tarte’s Holiday Value Gift Set (listed for $65 which is a $115 value, and with the 40% discount is now only $39!)  There are a limited amount of these sets which includes:

natural cheek stain in tipsy (sheer peach with a touch of shimmer)
mini glistening powder in sugar daddy (bronze shimmer) 
indelible wink in charcoal
picture perfect eyelash curler
lash hugger eco-friendly natural mascara 
vitamin infused lipstick in hatha (shimmery rose)

Please comment on any of your favorite tarte cosmetics here. This is really something to celebrate!

After reading a compelling review of Clinique’s Clarifying Makeup Clear Skin Formula from Kate at Megsmakeup.com, it led to my stopping by the Clinique counter.  After discussing the pros and cons of this particular foundation, the Clinique Beauty Advisor said that she thought the newly re-formulated Superfit Makeup would be a better match for my particular skintype (combination and almost 40 yr. old skin).  Clinique changed the formula to enable this foundation to wick away sweat and excess oil and eliminate the midday shine or the late day fadeout.  After the Clinique Advisor applied this to my face and I felt it on my skin, I was sold.

This foundation blends well into the skin and provides buildable medium coverage, but I have noticed two problems while using it.  While Superfit makeup works well on my drier cheek areas, it looks a bit too shiny on my forehead and chin.  This might be due to some added light diffusers or shimmer in the foundation.  The other issue was that the shade I purchased (Petal) appears orange-y on my skin, not a perfect match.  I have also read several reviews of the Superfit Makeup that are saying similar things.  I would expect this foundation to be perfect for individuals with warmer tones and drier skin, and I believe the Clarifying Makeup would have been a better match for me personally.  So many times finding a wonderful foundation that works for your specific skintype is a trial and error experience! (more…)

Because DecoDiva loves to experiment with various colors and has a gift for creating beautiful dramatic eyes with her makeup, I asked her to share some ways to “dress up” your eyes for the holidays.  Choose your favorite shades and have some fun with your eye color this holiday season!

Nude Eyes
If you want a nude eye look, here are the shades I recommend.

Aromaleigh Nude Frost – Pale champagne pearl frost
MAC Bare Study – champagne with gold and white pearl
Urban Decay Sellout – pink champagne shimmer
Meow Witty Kitty – vanilla with a subtle metallic cinnamon-copper sheen and undertone
Aromaleigh Pink Negligee – pink with delicate taupe and violet undertones
Aromaleigh Angel Wing – a very pale white/pink with iridescent pink highlight
Aromaleigh Alchemy – an iridescent, very fine shimmer that has a copper glow
Aromaleigh Champagne Toast (above picture) – a nude pinkish fawn/champagne tone with bright aqua shimmer
L’Oreal Hip Pigment Restless ($7) – a french vanilla yellow with a pink reflect
Too Faced Totally Toasted Park Avenue Beige ($17)

Then I would use a gel liner, such as Aromaleigh’s Indelible gel eyeliner in Black Out, or MAC’s Fluidline in Blacktrack.  Finish with your favorite volumizing mascara.

Smoky Eyes
Smoky eyes are always great for the holidays, and there are several ways to pull off this look. I would pair up Black and Gold, Black and Copper, Black and Silver, Green and Gold, or Green and Silver for a festive holiday eye.

Use a gel liner, such as Aromaleigh’s Indelible gel eyeliner in Black Out, or MAC’s Fluidline in Blacktrack. Finish with your favorite volumizing mascara.

For extra shimmer, apply gold or silver eye shadow to your eye lash tips.You can use Too Faced’s Starry Eyed Liner in Gold Digger, Silver Lining or Ooh and Ahh. (more…)

New! Discount Deals of the Week.  Check out more free samples, beauty product steals and contests from top brands like Clinique. Hurry, they won’t last long! 

Everyone loves a good bargain, which is why we’ve rounded up some of the best deals, sample offers and contest opportunities from favorite beauty brands like Estee Lauder, Clinique, Smashbox, Bare Escentuals and more. Take advantage — they’ll only be around for another few weeks!

Shop deals

In response to the post on the upcoming Sephora Friends and Family Event (Nov. 6-10th), Tracy wants to make sure we have our facts right.   Enter FF2008 for 20% off your entire purchase!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

“I went to the Westfield Valley Fair Sephora this morning, and the gals there told me the in-store promo is on the 17th only. They had no idea about the online promo. Anyone have any more info on this??”

Believe me, if someone has the facts correctly, it would be Tasha (a top reviewer at Megsmakeup.com)!  Tasha just sent this ad as well.  Seeing is believing!

“I did leave with only one lipstick, but two pages of stuff written down to order online for friends and family!!  (Which lipstick did you end up with?)  Any info on the following, Jen: (more…)

These are the beauty articles that captured my attention this week:

e.l.f. launches new Studio Professional makeup line! - Bionic Beauty tells all about e.l.f’s new “kickin’ it up a notch” cosmetic line.  Instead of $1 it runs in the $3 dollar range, and who can resist that?

My Makeup Collection 2008 – NessasaryMakeup bares all!  Are you a beauty product addict?  I dare you, no, I triple-dog-dare you to even come close to having the amount of makeup this beauty diva has!!! 

Lashtastic Eye Magic - Afrobella discusses the range of eye lash and brow conditioning and enhancing products.

LUSH BIG SHAMPOO! HUMP DAY HAIR DAY! - SharonD and the gals at Megsmakeup.com tell us more about the incredible LUSH haircare and beauty line.

Drugstore Chic: Gillette Fusion Razor – Raging Rouge notices how great her husband’s skin feels after shaving and gives this razor a try for herself!  You go RR!

Sephora Beauty Innovations: What’s next? - And unless you haven’t heard, Sephora’s Friends and Family 20% discount is going on until November 10th.  Beauty.com and Benefit Cosmetics are also offering 20% discount codes and free shipping this weekend.

To receive a 20% discount and free shipping until Nov. 10th at Benefit Cosmetics after entering FRIEND08 at checkout enter PRETTY50 and your order ships free!  

Have a wonderful weekend and happy shopping!

Without a doubt Beauty.com is announcing their big Friends and Family Event this week to usurp Sephora’s.

Beauty.com Friends and Family Event:  Wednesday, November 5th – Friday, November 7th – 20% all beauty brands (excluding NARS and Kooba).

May the best deals win, and have fun y’all.  Tasha knows, she always knows the deals!

A sweet little bird (named Tasha) just informed me that the Sephora’s Friends and Family Discount offer starts this coming Thursday November 6th.  Now is your chance to purchase those items that you have been lusting after all year!

nov 6 till nov 10th
Enter code ff2008 @ checkout

The Friends and Family code at Sephora runs November 6th through the 10th, but possibly could be extended a few more days.  As Tasha put it, “I mean 4 days can’t possibly be enough…lol.”  No kidding Tasha, and thank you so much for both enabling the beauty addicts and stimulating the economy at the same time, LOL!  You are awesome.

This week we will be sure to post reminders of some of our favorite Sephora Exclusives that you might want to add to your list, like that Lash Stash Sampler, or the Scent Sampler, or that Laura Mercier Flawless Face Kit, or the Korres Sugar Plum Kit, or possibly some Caudalie skincare… I better stop right now!