Scents of Spring

                                                          

I'm not afraid to tell you that normally, I am a vanilla girl through and through, vanilla mixed with anything, it's guaranteed that I will adore it.  That's why when I borrowed this from little cousin Geena the other day, I wasn't expecting to fall in love with it! Bath and Body Works Signature Collection Body Lotion in Japanese Cherry Blossom is absolutely intoxicating! I came to find out that it does have some of the fabulous vanilla that I love so much. Boasting Japanese Cherry Blossom, vanilla rice, oriental woods and delicate Mimosa petals, the lotion is only $8.50. This scent is so delicious and Spring-y that I'm guessing you'll want the whole collection! Available at Bath and Body Works.

A Cult Classic

                                                    

Smith's Rosebud Salve is a staple beauty secret for makeup artists, celebrities and savvy consumers alike! At $6, its worth having one in all of your handbags, your nightstand and at your desk. It's a great gift for a bride to give her bridesmaids as well! Formulated with cotton seed and essential oils, it has a soft rosepetal scent that is sublimely delicate. One of the other things that I love about this product is that it's recommended for use on chapped skin, diaper rash, detergent burns and rough cuticles. The cute packaging is a tribute to its long history, the company has been around since 1895! Available at Sephora.

Show Your Cheeky Side with Benetint

                                                      

I've tried other things in the past but this "original" cheek stain, which has been a star product of Benefit Cosmetics since the beginning; has always been a staple. Makeup artists (myself included!) LOVE Benetint ($28 at Sephora) for it's undeniably rosy color and long wear. It literally stays on ALL DAY. The first two ingredients listed on the bottle are water and rose water....it doesn't get more natural then that! Since its so concentrated, this bottle will last you forever too. TIP: Benetint is a GREAT secret weapon to put on before bed with a special someone who you want to look cute for! Enjoy!

Courtney Cox, a "Friend" on Fire!

                                  

This former "Friends" star is looking like her gorgeous, glamorous self with these dramatic lashes balanced out with the soft pink cheeks and lips.  Also, the choice of a rose-colored blush makes her already piercing blue eyes, stand out even more.

Let me tell you how to get the look.  You'll want to keep the skin very natural, use a light foundation like Armani Luminous Silk foundation ($55 at Giorgio Armani.com) or Boots No. 7 Stay Perfect Foundation ($13.99 at Target). Eyeshadow is not too heavy and more on the cool, silvery side. To get this look take Stila Eyeshadow Pan in Chinois ($18 at Sephora) all over the eyelid all the way up to the brow. Then follow with a soft, shimmery silver like Nars Single Eyeshadow in Bombshell ($22 at Sephora). Take this shadow and use it as a liner along the bottom lashline too! Next a smoky black pencil along the top lashline. For this, use Too Faced Lava Matte Eyeliner in Black ($16.50 at Sephora). Get those dramatic lashes with a heavy duty mascara like Borghese Superiore State of the Art Mascara ($18.50 at Bloomingdale's).

Next you'll want to use a cream cheek color to give that subtle, bright radiance. Take MAC Blushcreme in Posey ($17.50 at Nordstrom) and apply it onto the apples of the cheek blending it with fingertips or a foundation brush. Lips are lined with MAC Lip Pencil in Soar ($12.50 at Nordstrom) and filled in with Chanel Creme Gloss Lumiere in Pink Truffle ($32 at Bloomingdale's) which has color and shine! Enjoy!

Beauty Deals and Gift for the Week

This week is fruitful with gifts from our favorite retailers so it's a great time to stock up on all your must-haves. Gifts with purchase are great way to experiment with products and colors that you might not otherwise purchase. So I encourage you to pick up the gift and to try each of the products even if you feel it may not be "you." It's a great exercise in stepping out of the box!

                                                    

Bloomingdales and Origins have a great gift this week. With any $25 Origins purchase, recieve their Top 5 samples in a gift set. These are Peace of Mind Relief (.1 oz), A Perfect World White Tea Skin Guardian (.17 oz), Ginger Souffle Whipped Body Creme (.5 oz), Modern Friction Natures Gentle Dermabrasion (.17 oz) and A Perfect World Antioxidant Moisturizer with White Tea (.17 oz). Available while supplies last.

To get this gift, Nicciknows suggests picking up the Origins Organics Silkening Body Spritz Certified 95% Organic ($25) and Origins Dr. Andrew Weil for Origins Conditioning Lip Balm with Turmeric ($15). All available at Bloomingdale's.

                                                         

Prescriptives is offering this gift of a full-size Colorscope Lipcolor and samples of False Lashes Plush Mascara in Plushblack and Lash Building Mascara Basecoat in a cute cosmetic bag with any $50 Prescriptives purchase at Bloomingdales. This offer available while supplies last.

Some Prescriptives must-haves to qualify you for this gift are Prescriptives Magic Liquid Powder Transluscent ($35). This powder instantly cools and diffuses light to minimize the look of lines, pores and wrinkles. One of my all-time favorite eye creams is Prescriptives Intensive Rebuilding Eye Cream ($65). A little goes a long way with this cream and it is fantastically moisturizing with the latest technology for firming and rejuvenating the delicate eye area. Bloomindale's.

                                                            

This is really cool. Estee Lauder is doing a Total Choice gift for Bloomingdales while supplies last. You get to create your own gift set with any Estee Lauder purchase of $37.50 or more. Choose between two different lipsticks, lipglosses, eyeshadow palettes (8 shadows per palette!). Also choose one out of three fragrances, moisturizers, and repair products. This gift is a $100 value!

To qualify for the gift, the new Estee Lauder Tuberose Gardenia Eau de Parfum spray is stunning ($65-$120) and I also recommend Double Wear Stay-in-Place Shadow Base ($15) and Double Wear Stay-in-Place Lip Duo ($24). All items available at Bloomingdale's.

                                                            

Recieve deluxe samples of Coriander Hand & Body Lotion and Bath & Shower Liquid Body Cleanser with any $75 Kiehl's purchase at Nordstrom. Available online only and while supplies last.

To qualify for this I recommend that Kiehl's Abyssine Cream SPF 23 ($45). Abyssine is a survival molecule which thrives under extreme conditions in hypothermal ocean vents which makes it great for the skin, which also needs to thrive under extreme conditions. Also, Kiehl's Creme de Corps is truly one of the best body moisturizers that I have ever tried ($26.50 for 8.4 oz). All items available at Nordstrom.com.

A Flawless Delivery

                                                   

      

Dear Nicciknows,

I am an actress and I have a big audition on Friday. I had some laser resurfacing done at my dermatologist last week and there are patches of peeling skin almost like scabs on my face. My normal foundation isn't cutting it.  What can I use to cover it?

Thank you,

A Smooth Audition

Hi Ms. Smooth Audition,

Never fear, we'll get you all camouflaged for your audition. The product you need is Laura Geller's Spackle Trio ($30 at Sephora.com). Take the face Spackle and apply over the peeling areas, being careful not to blend or rub too much. This way you'll avoid stimulating the peeling. By gently pressing the Spackle onto the peeling/scabbing areas, you'll cover the texture and allow your foundation to sit on top rather then setting into the texture of your recent procedure. After you have applied a generous amount of Spackle to the areas, go ahead and follow with your foundation but still avoid blending or rubbing too much over those areas. That's all it takes! Remember that it will always be more noticeable to you then it is to anyone else.

Watch out Angelina and Charlize! Good luck and "break a leg" as they say!

Best,

Nicciknows

I "WHISH" Every Woman Knew About this Product

                                             

This unique and excellent invention is truly revolutionary! The Papaya Coconut Shave Savour from Whish is quick-drying, full of essential oils and moisturizers, smells amazing! It is infused with natural anti-septics such as aloe, sage leaf and lemon extract, which help to sooth and heal minor nicks and cuts. The two unique ingredients are papaya oil, which is a natural source of vitamins A and C and helps to restore skin and coconut oil, a deep moisturizer that keeps your skin soft all day long.

I loved the way this product smelled and felt so much that I used it all over my body as a moisturizing gel. All day, I've been getting "you smell so amazing" compliments. I will be using this product regularly from now on! It is AMAZING ladies! Whish body also has amazing "Shave Crave" shaving cremes and body brushes to die for! Get the "Shave Savour" for $32 at Whish body.com. Enjoy!!

Alterna, Caviar for Hair

                

Alterna have repackaged and improved upon their best-selling Caviar Anti-Aging Moisture shampoo and conditioner. Both contain a targeted system of nutrients and enzymes which provide elasticity, improves moisture levels and fights the aging process of hair! They are also sulfate free and protect hair color from fading. The new Caviar formula has the added ingredient of Seasilk for increased softness.

This shampoo and conditioner made my hair feel soft, healthy and full. It is AMAZING and worth every penny. If you tend to have an oily scalp, use the conditioner just on the ends of your hair.

TIP: If the price point is a bit out of budget for you, try using it every other shampoo to make it last longer! Shampoo is $30 and conditioner is $32, both available at Beauty.com.

Tarte's Cheeky Cocktail Infusion

                                                  

We have always love Tarte's unique cheek stains but this is a fantastic improvement on an already amazing product! Tarte's Natural Swirl Cheek Stain ($28 at Sephora) is a combination of two universal cheek stain colors infused with their proprietary T5 Super Fruit Complex. This T5 Super Fruit Complex is a proprietary blend of the 5 most active superfruits of the moment; goji, acai, maracuja, acerola and pomegranate. These vitamin-filled, anti-oxidant rich fruits are known to deliver refining, anti-aging and skin-restorative benefits. So not only do you look youthful, glowing and fresh; your skin also gets a great dose of health! This is a must have for all skin tones and skin types! 

Beauty Deals and Bargains for the Week

Hello Beauty Mavens!

Below you will find this weeks beauty deals and bargains. Lancome seems to be going wild with different gifts at all our favorite retailers!

                                                         

Lancome and Nordstrom are offering an exclusive gift of a signature train case and three coordinating companion bags with a $39.50 or more Lancome purchase. The gift includes Definicils High Definition Mascara in Black, Cils Booster XL Super-Enhancing Mascara Base, a full-size lipstick, an eyeshadow quad, a water-proof eye colour base, a micro-lift lifting cream and a Bi-Facil eye makeup remover.

This is a great gift and such a cute and useful train case! To get the gift, take a look at the Macquicomplete Complete Coverage concealer ($26.50), and the ever adorable Juicy Tubes in Dreamsicle and Sweet Sunshine (each $18). Offer is online and in-stores while supplies last. Nordstrom

   

                                                       

Bloomingdales has a great Lancome gift with any $35 Lancome purchase online or in stores. This one includes a Definicils mascara, a full-sized lipstick, an eyeshadow quad, a Macquicomplet concealer, a lifting cream, an eye serum and cute makeup bag! Available while supplies last at Bloomingdales.

To get the gift, take a look at the Macquicomplete Complete Coverage concealer ($26.50), and the ever adorable Juicy Tubes in Dreamsicle and Sweet Sunshine (each $18). Offer is online and in-stores while supplies last.

                                             

Macy's has this great little mini-gift of the Lancome must-haves with any $35 purchase while supplies last! Don't forget to enter the promo code Beauty at checkout on macys.com to make sure you get your gift! Everyone can use this great bonus of a Cils Booster XL Super Enhancing Mascara Base, Definicils m ascara and a Bi-Facil eye makeup remover. Macys.com

                                           

Visit Estee Lauder at Macy's to get this generous gift with any $26.50 Estee Lauder purchase. AND if you spend $65 with Estee Lauder, you get free shipping as well! The gift includes a choice of Warm or Cool and two full-size lipsticks, an eyeshadow duo, artists eye pencil and mascara. You also get a moisturizer  and two cute bags! Macys.com.

To get this gift, pick up a Advanced Night Repair Eye Recovery Complex ($48)! You will love this!