SUMMER FASHION FAVS - JULY 2015 EDITION

Over the years one thing I have learned when working in a business environment is how to make the most of my wardrobe and my budget. Especially when I am trying to find clothes that will easily transition from a Monday morning business meeting to a casual Friday night out with my girlfriends or even date night with hubs all without spending a fortune. One of my favorite stores to shop for these types of clothes is Ann Taylor. 

Now Ann Taylor is not a cheap store. They carry better to high-end quality clothes with a mid-range price tag. So to get the most savings I would advise one to subscribe to their emails and sign up in-store to be notified of upcoming promotions and sales.

Here are a few of my favorite tops for Summer that I recently purchased in store and online (I'll include links for each of the items as well).

image: AnnTaylor.com

Scoop Neck Tee -
When I see the word "TEE" I instantly think of a plain white cotton t-shirt so don't let the name of this top fool you. Even though it is considered a "TEE" the look and feel of this top makes it more like a short sleeve shell blouse and it is the perfect layering piece. It features a scoop neckline which is nice and not so low as to be too revealing. With a straight hem it can be tucked in when worn under a suit or left out when worn with a cardigan, jacket or blazer. The fit, the fabric is a touch of spandex with a cotton - modal blend, is fitted but flatters the figure even us curvy gals. (FYI: Cotton Modal fabrics have a softer feel, shrink less, and are more absorbent than other pure cotton fabrics.) Typically I wear a medium in tops but this one does run small so I purchased it in a large. It comes in six colors and I purchased three: sky, black and white. STYLE #369769

image: AnnTaylor.com

Etched Rosette Tee -
This etched floral top features a scoop neckline, short sleeves and a shirttail hem. With this top the cotton - modal blend fabric flows and fits loosely around the waist. It does run a tad large so I purchased it in a medium. The cute floral pattern design of this top (which I LOVE) and the shirttail hem definitely evokes the comfort factor for me. It still falls under work appropriate when paired underneath a suit but I can definitely see wearing it tucked in with some ankle pants for a more casual Friday vibe as well. Or even left untucked adding a touch of jewelry to glam it up a bit and then pairing it with jeans or shorts for an evening out. STYLE #384995

image: AnnTaylor.com

Paisley Scoop Neck Tee -
This paisley top features the same scoop neckline, short sleeves and shirttail hem as the one above. What sets it apart is the fabric. It is a linen and cotton modal blend which gives it a crispness and drapes closer to the body. It does run small so I would advise going one size larger. I went with a large just so I could tuck it into a pair of dress pants comfortably and not worry about it coming untucked. For a more casual look I would pair it with some white cropped pants or ankle pants and then for a more relaxed evening look I would opt for some white denim shorts to pair with it. STYLE #369780

image: AnnTaylor.com

Bumble Bee Cotton Tee -
How cute is this top! I love the gold bumblebee motif and pair the top with some gold jewelry will really amp up the wow factor with this one. The top features a scoop neckline, short sleeves and a straight hem. It does run true to size. I purchased it in a medium and it fits perfectly. Keep in mind though, the fabric is 100% cotton so I would advise washing on gentle cycle and allowing it to air dry as opposed to drying it in the dryer. This will help reduce shrinkage and fading. STYLE #376622

image: AnnTaylor.com

Floral Medallion Tee -
I first saw this top at the Ann Taylor store in the Northlake mall. It is part of their new arrivals collection which consists of key pieces designed for the upcoming Fall 2015 season. The top has a scoop neckline, short sleeves and a shirttail hem made up of a cotton - modal fabric that drapes the upper body nicely. It does feel a tad big but it runs true to size so I purchased it online in a medium (the store was sold out of my size). The poppy colored accents found within the floral medallion design allow this top to transition beautifully from Summer to Fall easily. STYLE #385000

image: AnnTaylor.com

Etched Floral Tee -
This etched floral top is also part of the new arrivals collection for Fall 2015. The combination of varying shades of blue and poppy colored accents make this gorgeous floral top such a beautiful "Must Have" for Summer or Fall. It has a scoop neckline, short sleeves and a shirttail hem. The fabric is a cotton-modal blend but unlike the other tops this one drapes closer to the upper body and isn't as free flowing. For comfort I went with a medium and it fits true to size.
STYLE #385001

image: AnnTaylor.com

Lace Halter Top -
Now while this top definitely doesn't fall under the work appropriate category I still love it! This was my splurge but it didn't really cost that much. My husband and I have date night once or twice a month so I wanted a top that was both sexy and cute that I could pair with jeans, shorts or capris depending on the weather. This top is perfect for such an occasion. It features a halter style neck, it's sleeveless and the back has a keyhole tie. The material is a cotton / modal blend that flows loosely, has a shirttail hem (higher in front and lower in the back) and comes in sky blue and dark blue. I bought the dark blue in a medium. It runs a little big on me and I probably could have gotten away with a small but the store only had XS and medium left so I opted for the latter. STYLE #373336

BEAUTY BEFORE BRUNCH SEPHORA VIB ROUGE EVENT - SUNDAY, AUGUST 2ND, 2015

Don't forget to RSVP by July 31st for this exciting event!

Sephora always has the best beauty events and I'm super excited for this one! I have a few beauty items (face masks, lipglosses, a setting powder, maybe a fragrance or two...) on my "WISHLIST" that I've been wanting to get so I'll definitely have a great excuse to purchase them now.

Click on the image above or click on the link here to RSVP: SEPHORA.COM/ROUGE-RSVP

Check out this fabulous "FREE" gift for VIB Rouge members

HURRY-SPACE IS LIMITED. RSVP By friday, JULY 31, 2015.

• A MORNING OF CLOSED-DOOR SHOPPING FOR VIB ROUGE AND A FRIEND
• 4X POINTS ON ALL PURCHASES**
• MINI MAKEOVERS AT THE BEAUTY STUDIO
• AMBASSADORS FROM YOUR FAVORITE BRANDS
• A LIMITED-EDITION COSMETIC BAG FILLED WITH SAMPLES†

Can’t make it? Enjoy 4x points on all purchases online and in stores during Beauty Insider Appreciation Week, August 3-August 9, 2015. 

Please note: Qualified VIB Rouge will earn quadruple points, VIBs will earn triple points and Beauty Insiders will earn double points on merchandise purchases made Sunday, August 2, 2015 thru Sunday, August 9, 2015 at 11:59pm PDT

EXCLUSIONS / FINE PRINT - 
* Select Sephora stores will have different hours; only select Sephora inside JCPenney stores will have closed-door shopping events. Check the RSVP Site for participating stores and exact times.

** Qualified VIB Rouge will earn quadruple points, VIBs will earn triple points and Beauty Insiders will earn double points on merchandise purchases made Sunday, August 2, 2015 thru Sunday, August 9, 2015 at 11:59pm PDT. Bonus points will be automatically credited to your BI Accounts the same day of purchase. Points not earned on sales tax, shipping, Sephora gift cards, eGift cards and prior purchases. This offer is subject to change, alternation or termination by Sephora in its discretion at any time.
† The Sephora Cosmetic Bag with samples is only available to VIB Rouge members in select Sephora stores during the Beauty Before Brunch Event with any merchandise purchase. Limit of one of each offer per VIB Rouge client. May not be sold or otherwise transferred. Guests of VIB Rouge that are Beauty Insiders are also eligible to redeem the Sephora Cosmetic Bag with samples with any merchandise purchase, limit one per client. Valid while supplies last, quantities are limited, sample bag assortment may vary. Not valid on previous purchases, or purchases of eGift certificates and gift cards. Sephora employees are not eligible for offers. No returns or exchanges. These offers are subject to change, alteration or termination by Sephora in its sole discretion at any time.

SEPHORA VIB ROUGE EVENT STARTS TOMORROW, APRIL 12TH, 2015 - WISHLIST AND MUST HAVES

In case you haven't heard the Sephora 15% off discount starts tomorrow for VIB Rouge members. Typically Sephora offers 15% off in April and 20% off in November (both with limited exclusions). During the November event I stocked up on the Make Up For Ever artist shadows. Remember those pesky limited exclusions? Well the discount doesn't apply online (limited exclusion) along with the discounted pricing for the Make Up For Ever artist shadows but it does work for all in-store purchases. So you better believe I made it work to my advantage and bought nearly all of the artist shadows that were in stock at my local Sephora stores. Hopefully this time around you can use both online.

If you are a VIB Rouge member you should have already received either an e-mail or a mailed invitation to a special "Beauty Before Brunch" party at your local Sephora. My local Sephora is hosting the event tomorrow morning - super excited! Don't worry if you haven't received either one of the invites just call Sephora to find the closest location hosting the event. Then call that location to be added to the list. If you can't make it to the event, no worries! The discount is good for multiple uses starting Sunday, April 12th and lasts until Tuesday, April 21st. OMG, I'm gonna do so much damage!!! LOL

For online purchases use code ROUGELOVE and for in-store purchases either show the email or the mailed invitation. If you forget to bring either of them just show your VIB Rouge card and a sales associate will make sure to give you the discount.

On my wishlist / must haves -

Clinique Cheek Pop blushes - $21.00 USD
Previously launched about a year ago there were only four shades available - Plum Pop, Berry Pop, Ginger Pop and Peach Pop. I purchased two of them Plum (read here) and Berry (read here). Now, there are twelve shades to choose from - the original four and eight new shades. At this time the eight new shades are exclusive to Sephora and are available only online. So expect to see these sell out super fast!

Nars Radiant Creamy concealer - $29.00 USD
This is a "MUST HAVE" for my daily makeup routine. So I'm definitely gonna stock up on these. I like to purchase several different shades for concealing, highlighting and contouring. Fortunately these are available in-store so swatch away to find the perfect color for your skintone. It does apply thin with buildable coverage. For those who are extremely dry around the eye area like myself, it doesn't look dry or flaky once applied. LOVE THIS!!

Yves Saint Laurent TOUCHE ÉCLAT Radiant Touch - $42.00 USD
Although on the price-y side it is absolutely amazing! I love this product so much and it gives my face a luminous glow especially underneath the eye area. On days when I haven't slept so well and my eyes are obviously having a moment, LOL, this along with the Nars creamy concealer camouflages those pesky dark circles and puffy eyes.

Speaking of YSL there are quite a few lippies I have absolutely been lusting after so expect to see major haulage! Here are two formulas on my wishlist: YSL VOLUPTÉ SHEER CANDY Glossy Balms (retails $34.00 USD) and YSL Rouge Volupté Shines (retails $36.00 USD). I've purchased a few previously (check the blog for swatches) so I'm familiar enough with them to know that I "MUST HAVE" more. One other formula I have been dying to repurchase are the YSL glossy stains (read here).

Giorgio Armani products -
Just the fact that Sephora carries this brand online now makes this a no-brainer! Giorgio Armani has some of the best beauty products - check out blush swatches: 400 Fusion blush here, 500 Fusion blush here, and 506 blush here. Here are two of the Fluid Sheers (which are HOLY GRAIL!!!) 8 here and 9 here. I recently ran out of a few of these Fluid Sheers so currently on my wishlist are 2, 7, 11 and 12. Need a lipstick recommendation then check out Rouge Ecstasy 508 Daybreak here. AH-mazing! Next on my wishlist is 507 and 509 Rouge Ecstasy lipsticks and maybe a few glosses. One other noteworthy product I must mention are the eyeshadow quads. Check out 11 Mystery here. On my wishlist are 2 Bourdior and 10 Mirage (the latter one is very popular and is always sold out!).

Fragrances -
When it comes to fragrances I like to purchase sampler sets or travel sized versions. My scent preferences are constantly changing and I can never use up a whole bottle before it expires so these just work best for me. Two fragrances on my wishlist are: Giorgio Armani Acqua di Gioia and Burberry Brit Rhythm For Her Floral. Both have a clean and slightly floral scent that just appeal to me.

Makeup Brushes -
I don't have a particular brand in mind but I do know I want to invest more in synthetic or fiber bristled makeup brushes. In my opinion they last forever and are a better quality brush. The Sephora brand has quite a few to choose from and one in particular I'm excited to try is this one here. It is definitely on my MUST HAVE list. 

Another brand I have purchased from is the Make Up For Ever Artisan brushes. I have quite a few of their fiber bristled brushes and have been dying to purchase this set here. It is on the price-y side; it retails for $210 USD which is why it's on the WISHLIST and not the MUST HAVE. Also keep in mind that it does include all the brushes you will need to create any make up look. So if you were to purchase each of the brushes separately it would end up costing you a great deal more.

Worth Mentioning / Must See - 
These are some products I'm SUPER EXCITED to swatch and try on tomorrow:

Too Faced Melted lipsticks
Clinique Pop Lipsticks
Kat Von D Shade and Light Eye contour palette 
Hourglass Ambient Bronzers
Dior Rouge Brilliant glosses

SEPHORA VIB ROUGE HOLIDAY SOIREE NOV 5TH EVENT AND VIB HOLIDAY 2014 SHOPPING EVENT

The biggest shopping event makeup addicts like myself, look forward to every year is almost here! November 5th kicks off all the festivities for VIB Rouge gals and guys so start making those shopping lists! This year the closed door VIB Rouge Holiday Soiree will feature a fun filled extravaganza of yummy treats, awesome gifts to reward VIB Rouge clients for their loyalty to Sephora and an additional day of shopping with 20% off your entire in-store and online purchase (**see important note below for further explanation**). The event starts at 7PM and lasts until 9PM although last year my Sephora store stayed open until about 10 or 11PM because everyone was having such a fantastic time shopping for all of their favorite things!

Good News for those who need an enabler to help convince them to buy more makeup! Each VIB Rouge invite allows you to bring a friend! So SHOP ON!!!

Be sure to RSVP here: www.sephora.com/rouge-rsvp by November 4th. The card says Nov 3rd but there was a slight delay in getting the invites out so Sephora has extended the sign-up an extra day. Don't worry if you RSVP'd but then can't make the event. Just call up your local Sephora and they will usually set aside the goodies for you to pick up later. Haven't received your invite yet, no worries! Just click the link above to RSVP to the Sephora event and you are good to go!

**Important VIB Rouge members**

Saw something online at Sephora.com but your local Sephora store doesn't carry it in-store? No worries! Just ask a Sephora Associate (preferably the Manager) during the Holiday Soiree event and they can assist you with the online order and yes, you will get to use the 20% online a day early.

Starting Thursday, Nov 6th and ending Monday, Nov 10th Sephora has given VIB and VIB Rouge members five whole days of shopping with 20% off your entire purchase in store and online plus the 20% can be used multiple times.

Use code: GIFTROUGE for VIB Rouge members and code GIFTVIB for VIB members.

GRAND OPENING CHARLOTTE PREMIUM OUTLET MALL - MY EXPERIENCE, WHAT TO EXPECT and HELPFUL TIPS

Overview -
This past weekend was a fun-filled day of shopping for my family. The Charlotte Premium Outlet mall had just opened their doors on Thursday, July 31st and they were offering shoppers a 4-day celebration of awesome deals and sales. The list of stores at the outlet mall is quite impressive and every store has a ton of people ready to assist you. Many stores were offering 20-40% off your entire purchase with some stores hosting giveaways and contests. While other stores would offer a small discount up front and then offer even bigger discounts at a later date to try and entice you back with the promise of additional savings.

This is the newest mall to be built since Northlake mall opened in 2005 and although there are several outlet malls in surrounding areas I believe this is the first outlet mall of its kind for Charlotte. The new outlet mall is quite impressive - a size of approx. 400,000 square ft (with an additional 125K square ft available for potential expansion), over 100 new stores to shop, and the main anchor store is Saks 5th Avenue Off Fifth. At this time there are 2,000 parking spaces for shoppers at the outlet mall and three overflow parking areas located in surrounding neighborhoods (Berewick Elementary School, Radiant Church and Shopton Square Shopping Center) with shuttle buses operating from 6 am to 11 pm taking shoppers to and from the outlet mall.

What to expect trying to get there -
Opening day, Thursday, July 31st, shoppers showed up as early as 6 am in the hopes of scoring some awesome deals. It was the same on Friday, Saturday and Sunday with police routinely shutting down surrounding entrances and roads into the mall to allow time for parking spaces at the outlet mall to clear out. Depending on the time of day, the shutdown could be for as little as an hour or two or at its most extreme it could be for several hours. On Saturday, the traffic fiasco was made even worse due to a special guest appearance by Bethenny Frankel, who founded Skinnygirl Cocktails. Roads were shutdown for three to four hours at a time.

Our experience trying to just get there -
Getting to the exit for the outlet mall didn't take us long - we took I485 south to exit 4 on Shopton road. We tried to turn right going towards the mall but the police directing the traffic diverted everyone away from the mall - either go back onto I485 or travel down the road in the opposite direction of the mall and then make a u-turn. After having to sit in traffic for well over an hour we finally made it to the road leading up to the mall entrance only to be turned away once again. According to police, the mall was closed. By now, it was around 5 pm and we were tired, hungry and beyond aggravated about the outlet mall closing so early. We decided to get a bite to eat before heading home and coincidentally there was a Bojangles directly across from the road leading to the mall entrance so we stopped there.

While we relaxed and ate our food cars kept pulling into Bojangles thinking they could park there and walk to the mall. Not so, the managers at Bojangles were patrolling the restaurant parking lot and turning people away who weren't there to eat at their establishment. On the roadways it was even worse, people were abandoning their cars on the sides of the road and making the really long walk to the mall. It was sheer madness! We stayed at the restaurant for about 45 minutes all the while we watched as scores of people walked along the roadways heading towards the mall. We also saw hordes of cars exiting as well but the police were still not allowing cars into the mall entrances. It was during this time we realized the mall hadn't closed it was just filled beyond capacity with too many cars and not enough parking spaces. Well, I guess we timed it perfectly because just as we were leaving Bojangles the police decided to reopen the main road leading to the mall entrance. By then hardly any traffic remained so we were able to park and shop at our leisure.

Helpful tips -
For right now the best time to shop at the outlet mall will be right as they open. Any later in the day and a person runs the risks of not being able to get in due to the police presence and them shutting down the entrances to the mall. I wouldn't advise going close to closing either as the majority of the merchandise will be picked over and not worth it.

This is an open style mall with some areas covered and some open. If it rains an umbrella or a rain jacket will be needed. If the weather is cool or hot then it might be necessary to dress in layers to accommodate the ever changing crazy weather. Also, there are plenty of places to rest with seating and benches all along the middle of the walkway.

There were a few snack shops open such as Great American Cookie and Auntie Anne's but not much else in the way of food. The food court wasn't open yet but several food trucks and food vendors were readily available along the perimeter of the mall with overpriced food similar to what one would find at the ballpark. Take for example Chick-fil-A, they had $5 dollar sandwiches with your choice of spicy or original chicken and for an additional $2.50 you could get a bag of waffle chips. One thing noticeably missing were soda machines or drinking fountains. Those were located in a few of the restrooms situated midway on both sides of the mall.

Shopping was extremely easy with a few of the more popular stores having long lines such as Kate Spade and Nike. There was a line just to enter the Kate Spade store but once inside shoppers could freely roam the store without feeling crowded or rushed. Overall there was plenty of sales associates to assist shoppers and to expedite the checkout process.

Our shopping experience -
My husband and son shopped mainly for clothes at Gap, Old Navy, American Eagle and Aeropostle while I shopped at stores such as Coach, Eddie Bauer, Ann Taylor, Talbots, Kate Spade and Michael Kors. We did purchase quite a few items from various other stores such as Wilson's Leather, Eddie Bauer and Adidas as well. The prices were definitely in line with what one could expect from an outlet mall so that was nice as well. Overall we were really happy with the deals / sales that were being offered and we saved quite a bit.

Be sure to check back - I'm super excited to show you everything that I got.

UPCOMING SEPHORA VIB ROUGE EVENT - AUG 3rd, 2014

Start making those shopping lists! Sephora is hosting a special 2 hour VIB Rouge event this Sunday, August 3rd, 2014. Shop during the closed-door party or if you can't make the event then shop anytime from Aug 3rd to Aug 10th to earn 4 times the beauty points. Not a VIB Rouge member? No worries, during this week-long event VIB insiders will earn triple points and Beauty Insiders will earn double the points. 

VIB Rouge Members please be sure to RSVP for the VIB Rouge event by Aug 1st and check with your local Sephora store because they will have different times for the event depending on their specific location.

Here is the RSVP link: SEPHORA VIB ROUGE EVENT RSVP

For those VIB Rouge members attending this exclusive event, a special makeup bag full of samples will be available for those making a $35 or more purchase. This kinda sucks that we have to make a purchase just to receive the makeup bag. Don't get me wrong - I appreciate Sephora hosting a VIB Rouge event and I know I will rack up a ton of points - but seriously? We have already spent well over 1K to become VIB Rouge members and now we have to make a $35 purchase just to get the makeup bag. It just seems a bit extreme is all I'm saying. Anyway, keep reading for the disclosures below.

DISCLOSURES (fine print)

*Select Sephora stores will have different hours; only select Sephora inside JCPenney stores will have closed-door shopping events. Check this site for participating stores and exact times. Sephora locations in Canada will be holding this event on Wednesday August 6th from 7-9pm. Click here to RSVP to a location in Canada.

**Qualified VIB Rouge will earn quadruple points, VIBs will earn triple points and Beauty Insiders will earn double points on merchandise purchases made Sunday August 3, 2014 thru Sunday August 10, 2014 at 11:59pm PDT. This offer is subject to termination by Sephora in its discretion at any time.Bonus points will be automatically credited to your BI Accounts the same day of purchase. Points not earned on sales tax, shipping, Sephora gift cards, eGift certificates and prior purchases. This offer is subject to termination by Sephora in its discretion at any time.

† Sephora Cosmetic Bag with samples and Rouge Tote Bag are only available in Sephora stores during the VIB Rouge Reception with any merchandise purchase of $35 USD or more. Limit of one of each offer per VIB Rouge client, non-transferable. Guests of VIB Rouge that are Beauty insiders are also eligible to redeem the Sephora Makeup Bag with samples with any merchandise purchase of $35 USD or more, limit one per client. Valid while supplies last, quantities are limited, sample bag assortment may vary. Not valid on previous purchases, or purchases of eGift certificates and gift cards. Sephora employees are not eligible for offers. No returns or exchanges. These offers are subject to change, alteration or termination by Sephora in its sole discretion at any time.

CURRENTLY CRAVING / ON MY WISHLIST / DEALS AND SALES

GIORGIO ARMANI -

Today is the last day for the Giorgio Armani Friends and Family event. Get 20% off with code FAMILY14 once you spend $75 or more. For an added bonus spend $125 or more and get 5 deluxe samples. One of the items I've been loving from this brand are the Rouge Ecstasy lipsticks. I currently have 508 Daybreak (check out my review here) so I totally took advantage of this offer and picked up a few more lip products. I also wanted a few more Cheek Fabric blushes, I have 506 (check out my review here) so I was going to purchase 503 and 507 but unfortunately they are waitlist only right now. Anyway I'll probably get those later when they are back in stock. Another great item to add to the shopping list are the Fluid Sheers. I have a few of those and they last a really, really long time (I'll post the review links below) and the same goes for the Maestro Fusion blushes too. The last two items I wanted to purchase are a few of the single eyeshadows and a couple of the eyeshadow quad compacts. I haven't tried either one before so these are definitely at the top of my shopping list.

GIORGIO ARMANI FLUID SHEER 8 SPRING 2013 COLLECTION - SWATCHES and REVIEW

GIORGIO ARMANI FLUID SHEER 9 SPRING 2013 COLLECTION - SWATCHES and REVIEW

400 GIORGIO ARMANI MAESTRO FUSION BLUSH - SWATCHES AND REVIEW 

500 GIORGIO ARMANI MAESTRO FUSION BLUSH - SWATCHES AND REVIEW 

NARS -

Another new product I'm really excited about are the Nars Dual-Intensity eyeshadows. OMG, they look gorgeous! There are twelve shades to choose from, they retail for about $29 and they contain .05 oz of product. These are shimmer eyeshadows that can be applied dry or wet depending on your personal preference. The eyeshadows are already available for purchase on the Nars.com website but if you need to see it and swatch it in person then they should start popping up in stores starting tomorrow, July 1st. 

 

NORDSTROM -

Over the weekend I made a quick trip to Nordstrom for some sandals. I needed a cute pair for the upcoming July 4th weekend only I didn't have any luck finding anything I really liked. So after I got back home I checked online and I found these: MICHAEL Michael Kors 'Gage' Flip Flops. How cute are they! They come in two different colors: Vanilla and Brown and they were only around $59. Another bonus is the thick sole (I just hate a flat shoe) and they look so comfy! I'm super excited to be getting these! Now I just need to find a new purse to go with them! Haha! 

NORDSTROM BUY 2 GET 1 FREE MASCARA MADNESS - MAY 24TH 2014 / PREORDER NOW!

About two weeks ago I stopped in at Nordstrom to check out the new Spring and Summer makeup collections. While I was there I found out that Nordstrom is already taking pre-orders for their HUGE Mascara Madness event. Last year they hosted the event twice - once in May and then again in November. This year Nordstrom will host the event In May - this one day only event will be held all day on May 24th, 2014.

For those who are unfamiliar with this event - Nordstrom allows shoppers to purchase (in store and online) two mascaras and then receive a third mascara for free. Last year there were no limits on the number of mascaras pre-ordered (I pre-ordered 9 of the Chanel Le Volume mascaras during the November event) and you were able to purchase from across multiple brands. Just remember the lowest priced mascara will be the freebie so keep that in mind while shopping.

When you pre-order for the promotion you are guaranteed your mascaras and you will not be billed for them until a day or two before the event. If you decide to wait and make a purchase on the day of the event then quantities will be limited and your favorite brand might already be sold out. The same applies for making a purchase online as well. Additionally, online purchases will only apply to select brands while in-store and pre-orders will apply to all cosmetic brands.

So don’t miss out on this exclusive Nordstrom opportunity! Hurry in and get your pre-order before your favorite brand is sold out!

There are some exclusions - the B2G1 free promotion does not apply to lash primer or enhancing products (i.e. lash plumping serum). **Please note** All information listed in this post (including the exclusions) are subject to change. I will be sure to update this post immediately should that occur.

SEPHORA 15% OFF DISCOUNT CODES - LET'S GET SHOPPING!

Sephora is offering all beauty members 15% off your entire purchase (in store and online) and it can be used multiple times! Please see below for the specific dates and codes pertaining to your particular beauty level.

If you are a BI (Beauty Insider) then starting April 4th use code: TICKET at checkout to receive 15% off your entire purchase. The multi-use code will be good until April 10th.

If you are a VIB (Very Important Beauty) then starting April 3rd use code: VIBTICKET at checkout to receive 15% off your entire purchase. The multi-use code will be good until April 11th.

If you are a VIB Rouge (Very Important Beauty Rouge) then starting Mar 30th use code: ROUGETICKET at checkout to receive 15% off your entire purchase. The multi-use code will be good until April 11th.

506 GIORGIO ARMANI CHEEK FABRIC BLUSH - SWATCHES AND REVIEW

For my birthday I wanted to splurge on some Giorgio Armani cosmetics. It also helped that they were offering an extra 15% off any online purchase (see my post here). So I picked out one of the new Giorgio Armani cheek fabric blushes in 506. The cheek fabric blushes are supposed to apply rather sheer and soft with buildable color. Also the color range has been extended to include a few vibrant shades that will appeal to a larger audience. The Giorgio Armani Cheek fabric blushes are currently priced at $46.00 USD for .14oz of product and there are a total of eight to choose from.

506 is a neutral rosy pink blush with buildable color. It does apply rather sheer and the blush felt densely packed (not hard but not overly powdery) when swatched. The blush doesn't contain any sparkle or micro glitter but at times it tends to lend a slight sheen to the cheek (almost like a glow from within) when the light catches your face at certain angles. The wear time was a solid 10 hours with little to no fading. I was really impressed with the quality of the 506 Cheek Fabric blush - it truly exceeded my expectations. I will definitely be purchasing more in the near future. Overall the Giorgio Armani cheek fabric blushes are a high quality blush that are a great investment piece to have in your makeup collection.

GET A CODE FOR 15% OFF ONLINE AT GIORGIO ARMANI - DEALS / SALES

Subscribers / Members to the Giorgio Armani website can get 15% off any Giorgio Armani order. Need a code then click here to get your exclusive members only code for 15% off any order. The 15% off is good until March 24th so hurry and get your shop on!

Receive free shipping with any purchase of $75 or more.

ULTA FRIENDS AND FAMILY EXCLUSIVE OFFER!

Thanks to Kathy aka Kathy @MakeupDetective for the heads up!

It's here -- Ulta Friends and Family exclusive offer!

I love a good sale, even more so when it involves beauty products! Ulta is offering a one time use 20% off coupon on your entire purchase for just about anyone with an e-mail address. It can be used online or in-store and the coupon is valid starting Sunday, January 12th through Saturday, January 18th. Sounds pretty good to me so count me in!

Be sure to read the disclosures below because there are several name brand companies that are excluded from this offer (oh, how I hate exclusions!)

Click on the link now for the ULTA coupon offer: ULTA FRIENDS and FAMILY

DISCLOSURES:
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24 IT-GIRL PURPLE GIVENCHY LE PRISME POWDER BLUSH - SWATCHES AND REVIEW

GIVENCHY LE PRISME IT-GIRL PURPLE is a soft and finely milled matte powder blush. It contains four colors: (top left) a light pinkish peach, (top right) a bright pink, (bottom left) a pale medium pink, and (bottom right) a pale lavender. The quad or "quator" are designed so that the top right shade is used as the reference shade for when all four are mixed together. The blush does contains a higher pigmentation concentration so an extremely light touch / hand is needed during application. The color intensity can be controlled or adjusted based on how much color is picked up from each of the sections. So if you want a lighter blush color then the focus would be more on the lighter shades. The same applies if you want a more bold look then the focus would be heavier on the brighter shades. When used as a highlight it leaves a nice flush of pink which awakens tired looking skin and as a blush it is a gorgeous bold pink.

It-Girl Purple blush is available for purchase in-store and online at Sephora.com and online at Barneys.com and at GivenchyBeauty.com. It currently retails for $44.00 USD and it contains .24 oz of product. This is the first blush that I have purchased from the Givenchy line and I was really impressed. The average wear time for the blush was 10-12 hours with minimal fading and even then it still looked fresh. Would I consider this a "must have" holy grail product - most definitely! I like having four colors to blend separately or all together with them housed in one easy to carry compact. Also, the enclosed applicator brush, housed in its own separate drawer, is an added luxury as well. Now compared to regular MAC blushes, which are $21 ea for .21 oz. of product, this blush is at the higher end of the price range. However, when it comes to comparing pigmentation, the IT-Girl Purple blush is by far the winner which makes the higher price worth it.

MAC HAUTECORE MATTE LIPSTICK - SWATCHES AND REVIEW

On Black Friday, MAC cosmetics launched it's first matte true black lipstick in HauteCore. This limited edition lipstick was only available on Black Friday although a few lucky MAC cosmetic subscribers were able to pre-order this beautiful lipstick on Thanksgiving day - several hours before the online only midnight launch. No worries though if you weren't able to purchase the lipstick on Black Friday, the Hautecore lipstick will be relaunched in Punk Couture another MAC collection available late December (around the 26th).

Hautecore lipstick is a fun and bold statement making lipstick - one that should be worn with confidence. It is described as a matte lipstick but applies like a cream and I noticed a slight sheen as well. During the application process I would recommend using a lip brush to prevent any unnecessary black smudges around the lip and chin area. If you are wanting to use a lip liner for a more seamless application I would suggest a deep blackberry or a deepened plum lip liner.

The Hautecore lipstick contains .1 oz. of product and it retails for $15.00 USD.

DANI BUXOM FULL-ON LIP POLISH - SWATCHES AND REVIEW

Buxom full-on lip polish in DANI is a semi-sheer berry pink lip gloss. It is non-sticky and leaves the lips soft and smooth. The gloss does have a slight sweet candy scent but it is not overpowering. I prefer a gloss to have a scent similar to this much more so than a floral scent. The gloss is available in-store and online at Sephora.com. Most major department stores carry the brand as well. It currently retails for $19.00 USD and it contains .15 fl oz of product.

The Buxom line of glosses are my Holy Grail lip product and I will either wear them alone or atop the Chanel Rouge Coco shine lipsticks. They typically last 3 to 4 hours wear time on my lips. On rare occasions I have experienced a slight stickiness with a few of the glosses but the majority are non-sticky. It is important to note that during the application process there is a slight tingling (minty-feeling) and the glosses have been known to plump up the lips ever so slightly. Also, the glosses are very moisturizing and leave the lips soft and smooth.

THE FACE 1 MARC JACOBS LIQUID FOUNDATION BRUSH - REVIEW

The Face 1 is a Marc Jacobs liquid foundation makeup brush. The brush bristles are made up of synthetic fibers and the extremely large top was designed to give an airbrushed finish to the face. The ends of the brush bristles are tapered which prevents streaking or smudges during the application process. The FACE 1 brush currently retails for $48.00 USD and is sold exclusively in-store and online at Sephora.

While this is a nice brush to have in your collection - it's definitely not a "must-have". The weight of the brush feels rather cumbersome and continuous pro-longed use will almost certainly tire out the hand. During the application of my foundation I found the over-sized top just way too large and not very effective especially when using a thicker foundation formula. The tapered bristles didn't pick up enough product and what product it did pick up was mainly centered in the middle of the brush - maybe if the brush bristles were more dense it might have worked better for me. I even tried using the brush with my Guerlain meteorites but the brush bristles were way to soft to really pick up any product. Then I tried using the brush with my loose face powders and I did achieve better results but overall, in my opinion, the FACE 1 makeup brush just doesn't live up to all the hype.