Weekly Beauty Bargains and Deals

                                              

Nordstrom and Yves Saint Laurent have great gift with purchase this week. Receive a YSL Heart Pouch and Mini Cosmetics Heart Pouch with a mini Everlong Mascara in Black, mini Long Lasting Eye Pencil in Black, mini Rouge Pure Lipstick SPF 8 in #34 Golden Copper, and mini Lip Liner Pencil in #6 Natural with your $150 Yves Saint Laurent purchase. Available online and in store while supplies last.

There are some amazing YSL products that Nicciknows recommends. The first is Touche Eclait ($40), the worlds most amazing brightening pen to wake your eyes and face up at any time! The second is the Everlong Lengthening Mascara ($27.50) and the Golden Gloss ($28) in Golden Ambre. The Perfect Touch Radiant Brush Foundation ($52) is totally amazing and innovative as well.

All items available at Nordstrom.com.

                                                      

Nordstrom and Lancome are enticing us to come and shop the last few days of Anniversary Sale with this fabulous gift.  Recieve a Play Gift including Le Rouge Absolu Replenishing & Reshaping LipColour in Bordeaux; Color Design Sensational Effects Eye Shadow Quartet in Daylight, Positive, Impress and Strut (0.5 oz.); Blush Subtil Delicate Oil-Free Powder Blush Duo in Shimmer Coral and Sheer Peach Organza (0.09 oz.); Définicils High Definition Mascara in Black (0.07 oz.); Cils Booster XL Super-Enhancing Mascara Base (0.07 oz.) and Primordiale Skin Recharge Visibly Smoothing & Renewing Moisturizer SPF 15 Sunscreen Cream (0.5 oz.), all in a Lancôme signature train case, with your $29.50 Lancôme purchase. Available until August 3, 2008 or while supplies last.

This is a hot gift! Definitely worth grabbing a Cils Booster XL Super Enhancing Mascara Base ($21.50) and a Lancome Hypnose mascara ($24). All items available at Norstrom.com.

                                              

Smashbox and Ulta are giving this adorable trio of eye shadows with every purchase. This is such a cute, wearable selection of shadows. Nicciknows recommends picking up the O-Glow and O-Glow Gloss kit ($39) which contains a cheek and lipgloss that work with your skin chemistry. They go on clear and then change color as they blend onto your skin, giving you the perfect shade! Available at Ulta.com.

Own "Prime" Real Estate

                                                 

At Nicciknows, we love products that work double duty. We found this fabulous, ultra-effective makeup primer, infused with vitamins, skin-perfecting pigments, advanced cushioning and anti-aging ingredients. So not only does it make you foundation go on smoothly and fill in any texture in the skin, from scars to fine lines and wrinkles; it also gives skin a dose of healthy botanicals. Boasting ingredients for environmental fre-radical protection and soothing and healing like Green tea leaf extract and grape seed extract and hyaluronic filling spheres to re-texturize and lock in moisture; the Arbonne Virtual Illusion makeup primer is perfect for all skin types.

We love that this product is fragrance free and it is super lighweight. Apply it after moisturizer and give it about 25 seconds to set before following with your favorite foundation. Available for $32.50 at Arbonne.com.

How to Go Au Natural (or at least fake it really well!)

                                                             

Dear Nicciknows,

I want to know what the secret is to "undone" looking makeup. I love Jennifer Aniston's look....how she looks very put together but not made up. I'm told  that in actuality, she does wear quite a bit of makeup. How does she do it so that it looks really pretty but super natural?

Every time I go to the makeup counter, I leave looking all "makeup-y" and I want to know how to avoid that. Please help!

Sincerely,

Au Natural

Dear Au Natural,

Great question! This is something I get asked all the time! The simple answer is to select products that reflect the colors and textures that naturally occur in skin. What this means is that your skin should look as much like your skin as possible. The best products to use to create this look are creams and gels, because blend onto the skin, giving it a natural looking radiance. Powders tend to look more unnatural on the skin, but if you prefer to use powders, I'd recommend misting your face afterward with a fortified face spray like Fix+ from MAC ($16 at Macys.com).

So to get a truly au natural, perfect look, use a liquid or creme foundation with a tiny bit of setting powder over the top. Focus the setting powder in the oily areas of your face. For cheeks use a Vincent Longo Water Canvas Blush ($42.50 at Sephora.com) or a Tarte Cheekstain ($28 at Sephora.com) , blending it gently into the apples of the cheeks. For eyes use a bit of creme eyeshadow, placing a slightly darker shade on the lower lid and a lighter shade under the brow as a highlight. I love Nars Duo Cream Eyeshadow in Summer Time ($32 at Beauty.com). Keep eye liner light and as close to the eye as possible. You could rim the waterline of your eye with a soft pencil like Urban Decay 24/7 Glide-On Eye Pencil ($16 at Beauty.com) . Lips should be a soft naturally glossy shade like Benefit's The Lana Look Silky-Finish Lipstick in Sugar Cookie ($16 at Benefit Cosmetics).

Hope this helps!

xo,

Nicciknows

Healthy Defense

                                                      

It can be a struggle to find a daily use moisturizer with sunscreen that doesn't feel too heavy or cause breakouts...this Healthy Defense Daily Moisturizer SPF 45 Untinted is truly the answer. Dermatologist recommended (we love that), it feels great and does the trick. It uses the most modern Helioplex technology, which was developed by Neurogena to deliver very high, very broad, UV stable sun protection.

Available for just $12.99 at Drugstore.com, this is a Nicciknows must-have! 

Healthy Defense

                                                      

It can be a struggle to find a daily use moisturizer with sunscreen that doesn't feel too heavy or cause breakouts...this Healthy Defense Daily Moisturizer SPF 45 Untinted is truly the answer. Dermatologist recommended (we love that), it feels great and does the trick. It uses the most modern Helioplex technology, which was developed by Neurogena to deliver very high, very broad, UV stable sun protection.

Available for just $12.99 at Drugstore.com, this is a Nicciknows must-have! 

Healthy Defense

                                                      

It can be a struggle to find a daily use moisturizer with sunscreen that doesn't feel too heavy or cause breakouts...this Healthy Defense Daily Moisturizer SPF 45 Untinted is truly the answer. Dermatologist recommended (we love that), it feels great and does the trick. It uses the most modern Helioplex technology, which was developed by Neurogena to deliver very high, very broad, UV stable sun protection.

Available for just $12.99 at Drugstore.com, this is a Nicciknows must-have! 

Beauty Deals and Bargains for the Week

                                                      

Macys and Too Faced are offering this adorable clutch, while supplies last, along with free shipping with your $50 Too Faced purchase. To get to that $50 mark is very easy with this great line. Some Nicciknows favorites include the Liquid Lava Eye Pencil ($16.50). Its the perfect black eyeliner! Also the Lash Injection Mascara ($19.50), Glamour Gloss in Love Bites ($18) is amazing too! All items available at Macys.com.

                                       

Lancome and Dillards are offering an adorable Play Gift this week PLUS free shipping with any $29.50. One gift per person while supplies last. Receive a signature tote with matching companion bag as your gift with any $29.50 or more Lancome purchase. The tote includes:

• Definicils High Definition Mascara in Black
• Color Fever Lipstick Lasting Radiance in Wicked Brown
• Le Rouge Absolue Reshaping & Replenishing LipColour in Crushed Rose
• Color Design Eye Sensational Effects Eye Shadow Palette in Latte, Garnet Sensation, Mochaccino and New Black

Plus, customize your gift with your choice of serum: Primordiale Cell Defense Skin Perfecting Serum or Absolue Ultimate Bx Replenishing & Restructuring Serum.

To qualify for this gift, Nicciknows recommends picking up a Photogenic Skin-Illuminating Concealer SPF 15 ($27.50) as  well as of course, our favorite Cils Booster XL Super Enhancing Mascara Base ($21.50). All items available at Dillards.

                                                      

Nordstrom and Lancome are enticing us to come and shop the Anniversary Sale this week with this fabulous gift.  Recieve a Play Gift including Le Rouge Absolu Replenishing & Reshaping LipColour in Bordeaux; Color Design Sensational Effects Eye Shadow Quartet in Daylight, Positive, Impress and Strut (0.5 oz.); Blush Subtil Delicate Oil-Free Powder Blush Duo in Shimmer Coral and Sheer Peach Organza (0.09 oz.); Définicils High Definition Mascara in Black (0.07 oz.); Cils Booster XL Super-Enhancing Mascara Base (0.07 oz.) and Primordiale Skin Recharge Visibly Smoothing & Renewing Moisturizer SPF 15 Sunscreen Cream (0.5 oz.), all in a Lancôme signature train case, with your $29.50 Lancôme purchase. Available until August 3, 2008 or while supplies last.

This is a hot gift! Definitely worth grabbing a Cils Booster XL Super Enhancing Mascara Base ($21.50) and a Lancome Hypnose mascara ($24). All items available at Norstrom.com.

                                                         

Nordstrom and Estee Lauder aren't letting us down either with this amazing gift. Receive three patent color-block pouches filled with Hydra Bright Skin-Tone Perfecting Moisturizer (0.5 oz.); a deluxe eyeshadow compact with nine Pure Color EyeShadow shades; Estée Lauder Signature Hydra Lustre Lipstick in Rich Rose; double-ended, long-wear duo which includes Double Wear Stay-in-Place Concealer in Light Medium (0.08 oz.) plus Double Wear Zero-Smudge Lengthening Mascara in Black (0.08 oz.); and Estée Lauder Sensuous Eau de Parfum spray vial (0.05 oz.) with your $29.50 Estée Lauder purchase.

Available online and in store until August 3, 2008 or while supplies last. Nicciknows recommends grabbing some items from the new Chocolate Decedance Collection like the Pure Color Long Lasting Lipstick in Caramel Swirl ($22) and the Pure Color Nail Laquer in Bronze Goddess ($18). All items available at Nordstrom.com.

An Eye for Perfection

                                              

Sue Devitt's Eye Intensifier Pencils are amazing. Incredibly silky in texture, the formula is both highly pigmented and long wearing. On the other side of the pencil there is a smudger which is perfect for blending out hard edges to create a soft, smoky eye.

The wide range of colors include Tanzania and Gold Reef (both perfect for popping blue and green eyes) and and Zaire, a beautiful shimmering plum that looks amazing on brown eyes. You'll try one and want the whole collection! Available for $22 at Beauty.com.

The Dream of Eye Cream

                                                   

Dear Nicciknows,

Can you tell me what you think is one of the best eyecreams on the market- I'm talking for the early signs of crows feet, sensitive skin and dehydration? I need recommendations within a reasonable budget :-)

Always love your advice,

Darling from Down Under

Dear Darling from Down Under,

I am personally using (and loving) Clinique's All About Eyes Rich right now and I'm sure its the answer to all of your eye cream prayers! Not only does it feel super moisturizing; but it actually diminishes the look of undereye circles, shadows, puffs and fine lines immediately and over time. It helps boost natural collagen production and de-puffs with calming botanicals.

At $27.50 (Clinique.com), its a great price point too! To apply, pat it on gently around the eye area, morning and night.

Enjoy!

xo,

Nicciknows

High Definition=High Perfection

                                               

This new HD (High Definition) Powder is truly cutting edge. This transluscent finishing powder utilizes all of the most modern technology to meet the demands of new digital imagery. Makeup artists the world over are using this product because not only is a perfecting powder for camera and film, its also amazing for every day use.

It delivers a soft-focus finish and is ultra fine. Add to that the face that its is pure 100% Mineral Silica and is talc free and paraben free, and you have a Nicciknows must have! Available for just $30 at Sephora. We LOVE this powder!!!