Sephora Fall 09

If you haven't seen the catalog yet... oh boy. It is filled with some great ideas for Fall. I can't say it's all original I mean a Cat eye is a Cat eye is a... well Cat eye, but I guess it's always fun to revisit a favorite. Some of the items I've been excited about are those color tipped brushes. I mean just to have one. And I bet you can all guess which color I'm aiming for... yep the deep purple!! So, I was out and about yesterday... and I got to the mall. 3 things to say about that trip I finally saw in person the MAC's ColorCraft collection and well let's just say there is no Haul video coming on Youtube. Next thing Sephora did not have any of those funky brushes in-store for me to look at. 3rd I asked really in jest, my Sephora is sort of small, if they had any of the Lauren Luke stuff... the SA looked at me like I had 3 heads!!! I can't understand how people don't use all the wealth of knowledge that is YOUTUBE. I'm not saying you have to do videos... but Youtube is not a new website. It is in the news at least 4 times a day. Teachers, Students, Government, Fashion Designers, Makeup Artist, Newscasters, Talk shows and the list goes on use Youtube. Why can't a simple SA in the Sephora get a clue and look into it. And I know you are all like why is JES so mad? When I worked in retail... I was an Assistant Manger, I'm not saying I brought home my work all the time. But I knew the trends, looked up things, talked to people and tried to keep ahead of it all. But most of all I surely did not look like a deer in headlights when asked about a PRODUCT LINE newly LAUNCHED within my company!!!! I really dislike knowing more than the SA. Just so you know this female was about my age, so she wasn't a kid looking to make some summer money nor was she a Great Grandma not into computers (not saying Great Grandma's can't do computers). She didn't even ask me who it was, what it was, or offered to check the website. I mean come on. She really needs some Customer service 101!! I bet if I said Illamasqua her head would have spun.
Ok I think I went off on a tangent... I hope you are all still with me. Back to the Sephora catalog. Did anyone see on page 18 the crescent moon shapes at the bottom of the nail beds? Anyone try it yet? Let's see some pictures. Also matte nail polishes are back... remember around 99 they were in (wait was it 99 or 96?) That matte look lasted all of 2 months if I remember correctly at least in my area. I think I'll pass on investing any money in top coats or matte polishes UNTIL about the early holiday time, by that time the drugstores will have comparable options for me.


The next thing I saw was on page 4 brows! I'm guessing with the cooler weather my forehead will need more warmth!! Another trend I'm not going crazy about... I might fill in a tad more but nothing crazy. So if you see me with huge fro like brows point me to this post!!! I asked CandieCC about this on her online radio interview a few days ago. I think she was in agreement with me... to thick is not for her either! You guys know I love the brows, I believe they are a big part of the total makeup look. I was able to try another Brow pencil by Tarte here's my review.

And in closing... if you have the catalog in front of you right now.... did you see the glove on top of her head? Will that be the trend also... I have to say... in this picture it works. No clue tho if the average lady could pull this off.

~JES

ZOYA... ohh boya!

Ok so at the wonderful Beauty Bloggers meet up on July 25th, I got introduced to ZOYA nail polishes! Ok let me backtrack a bit...

As most of you know I am a mother of 2 wonderful, but crazy boys... a 27 month old and a 12 month old. They love nothing more than making a mess and hurting themselves! So painting my nails and having to wait for them to dry... is just not something I can do a lot UNLESS my hubby is home to take care of the boys for 2 hours(drying time). Ok so now back to the ZOYA. On Saturday we had the pleasure of getting manicures from Jacqueline Saulsbery, a celeb manicurist, who works with ZOYA. I picked this spring green color Midori and LOVED IT(here's a pic)!!! So we got some great products in our Goodie bag and one was a ZOYA Minicure kit... almost like a "try me" kit. I started after the baby went to bed and by the time his short nap was over I was DRY and NO bubbles!!! Do a happy dance!!

In the Minicure kit: 1oz ZOYA remover, .25 oz ZOYA Anchor, .25 oz ZOYA Nail Lacquer, .25 oz ZOYA Armor, and .25 oz ZOYA Hurry Up(with a little dropper).

So a little about each! The remover is a 3 in 1 remover. It is a light acetone polish remover, nail cleaner, and 1 step in the nail prep. I'm not going to lie to you... it still smells like regular nail polish remover, but with a touch of citrus(maybe it's me)! As I just did my nails on Friday night to go the event I didn't have to do a manicure. Plus, like I said I had the Midori still on(perfect I might add) so I just went right on to the next step which was the basecoat called Anchor. This step and product helps "adhere color to the nail by forming a bond between the nail plate and polish.*" Just one light coat of the Anchor is needed. Then on to the color, in the kit Shiloh comes with. As I just checked the website for the link I have to say the color on the website looks more pinky red and the in real life bottle reminds me of a candied apple with shimmer. I did 2 coats just to test out how long 2 coats would take. I could have done only one coat... this stuff is creamy in a good way. Next step for me.... the blow dryer I had to... I heard my son stirring. So I dried step 3 for about 5 mins each. Then sealed the color with 1 coat of thick Armor, the topcoat and UV block. Also the Armor gives the polish "a flexible, long-wearing protective finish*" I also dried this step for about 4 mins. Next the best part of this kit... the Hurry Up drops! No scent with this liquid that you drop on the base of the nails and it dries, prevents bubbling, and pops the color of the polish. I am not sure if the drops work with other brands I will have to update you about that.

Over all the process including drying time 45mins and that's finishing with BONE DRY... ready to pick the baby nails! Go check out ZOYA.... now I know why Brittany(Clumps Of Mascara) has a collection of this brand. I think my next step is to pick up one of their samplers... maybe this one.

~JES

*I quoted this info from the web site and packaging. http://www.zoya.com/

Billy B look product list

Face:
MAC Studio Sculpt Concealer
MAC Studio Fix Fluid
L'Oreal True Match powder

Eyes:
MAC Bamboo paint
Revlon Hot Cocoa e/s
ULTA Sandstone e/s
MAC Era e/s
NYX Black Bean pencil
MAC Blue Green pigment
MAC Humid e/s
MAC Bio-Green e/s

Cheeks:
Joan Rivers Sheer Nude highlighter
MAC Format blush
MAC LoveCrush blush

Lips:
Smashbox Glamour lipgloss
MAC Prize Shine chromeglass

Harmon Sales for the month of April

Harmon stores are only in NY, NJ, and CT.

I believe you can order online BUT they NEVER show the sales online... so I'm not sure.

Here are the coupons for April 2009.

You can use Bed, Bath, and Beyond coupons (ie. $5 off $20 and 20% off) there also. And come on people combo those vendor coupons from your the Sunday newspapers.

Harmon is just like CVS, Rite Aid, and Walgreens (and maybe a touch of ULTA). I think one of the only difference I've found is that they run their sales for a MONTH. While most places run sales for 1 week. There are pros and cons to doing this.... you can think about a product longer before having to run in for the sale. Con if you are waiting for POSH brushes to have a coupon ( like me.... RUT RUH) you(I) have to to wait a WHOLE month to see if they put it on sale next month.

And you know us makeup freaks hate waiting....

p.s. Harmon will ship international orders.

~JES
this is what I picked up... today(I'm a no - buy... except Kit shopping)