Here’s what you’ll get:

• 90 eye shadows
• 60 lip glosses
• 9 eyeliners
• 6 brow powders
• 3 blushes
• 2 lip liners
• 4 brushes and applicators
• 1 how-to book

Attractively packaged in a multi-tiered container, you can keep in on your counter at home or in a desk drawer at the office.  Add is some mascara, and you’ll have everything you need.

This $400 dollar value is available to all Sephora Beauty Insiders for only $48, and includes free shipping.  If you’re not an insider, you’ll have to wait till its available to everyone else.

Photo credit: Sephora

Post from: The List Maven

Here are some ideas and recommendations for turning your bathroom into your own personal area for spa-like indulgences.

Laura Mercier Almond Coconut Collection
First step is to get your skin all scrubbed and soft with a delicious smelling bath & body kit like this one from Laura Mercier. It even comes with a candle for a little extra ambiance while you’re soaking.

Laura Mercier Almond Coconut Collection

Bliss Poetic Cosmetic Waxing Kit
If you’re brave and knowledgeable about at home waxing, I’ve always heard great things about this kit. Though my attempts to do this at home have always left me with a patch of smooth skin and a lot of left over wax that will never get used because I can’t bring myself to do it again, not everyone has my reservations.

Bliss Poetic Cosmetic Waxing Kit

Bliss Bikini Perfect Deluxe
If waxing isn’t your thing, Bliss also has a kit for trimming your bikini line without ripping the hair out of your skin. With multiple settings and attachments, you’re sure to find the combination right for you.

Bliss Bikini Perfect Deluxe

Clairsonic Skin Care Brush Cleanser
Step up your daily cleansing and exfoliating routine with the Clairsonic kit that has crazed female fans all over North America. Seriously, everyone I know who has it swears this is the best thing they ever did for their face.

Clairsonic Skin Care Brush Cleanser

Anastasia Brow Kit
A trip to see Anastasia in LA might set you back a couple grand, but that’s alright since you can take home the essential tools to clean up and redefine your eyebrows like a pro. Getting the shape right is one thing, but this kit also comes with the tools to make your eyebrows look polished and professionally done every morning.

Anastasia Brow Kit

Tweezerman Petite Manicure Set
It doesn’t take much to get your hands looking all spiffy and elegant. With some regular maintenance no one will no that you don’t actually make a habit of getting professional manicures every single week.

Tweezerman Petite Manicure Set

Fekkai Advanced HairCare – MORE Kit
Promotes a healthy scalp and improves your hairs natural volume and radiance with a patented “continuous-release niacin delivery system”. With four steps, and enough product to last you a couple months, your hair will get regular pampering instead of just the occasional deep treatment from a salon.

Frederic Fekkai Advanced Haircare - MORE Kit

Oscar Blandi Pronto Colore Root Touch-Up & Highlighting Pen
Ever been almost all set for a night out, only to realize your perfectly straight hair is making those roots, or stray gray hairs, stand out against your expensive hair color? Not to worry; this magical little pen will cover up these inconsistencies and get you through to your next hair appointment.

Pronto Colore Root Touch-Up & Highlighting Pen

Guerlain Terracotta Spray With SPF 10
A summer-y glow is achievable without hours spent damaging your skin in a tanning salon. Gerlain’s tanning spray formula won’t smudge or look orange on your skin like some of it’s less expensive counterparts might.

Guerlain Terracotta Spray With SPF 10

Sephora Favorites Litttle Black Bag
You better have plans that evening to show off your healthy “just went to the spa (in my own bathroom!)” glow. Tuck a few makeup essentials into this cute little sequin clutch so you keep looking fabulous all night long.

Sephora Favorites Little Black Bag

Images: Sephora

Post from: The List Maven

So, instead of being drawn into Sephora, where I will surely load up a basket with all kinds of new items to take home and try out, I’m browsing online – with credit cards safely stowed in the other room. There are a number of new products and makeup kits out on the market, which my heightened sense of ‘I WANT’ is lusting for…but I’ll hold back, be good, and remind myself that two drawers and a medicine cabinet full of makeup really is plenty…for now.

Laura Mercier Oil Free Flawless Face Kit Oily skin be gone…Summer or not, I’m over you! Even just the promise of flawless, oil-free skin is enough to make this three step (and four brush) kit seem like a worthwhile investment for me.

Laura Mercier Oil Free Flawless Face Kit

Benefit Cosmetics Bight Lights Big City!
Just a few key essentials Benefit is known for and we could all stand to have tucked away in a drawer. The ‘That Girl’ face primer is a favorite among my friends and I’m totally thinking the little white leather travel mirror would love to live in my purse.

Benefit Cosmetics Bright Lights Big City!

Sugar Rosé Tinted Lip Treatment SPF 15
With SPF 15 and a pretty red hue, this is a step up from the Sugar lip treatment I already have from Fresh. It tastes delicious (which can be problematic when you’re biting the lips you’re trying to preserve and protect) and now has a little color too.

Fresh Sugar Rose Tinted Lip Treatment

bareMinerals Refillable Buffing Brush
Loose powder has opened up inside my purse one too many times…which is why I generally leave it at home, where it’s not really very useful at all. But this squashes the problem and finally makes loose powder travel friendly.

Bare Escentuals Refillable Buffing Brush

Lancome COLOR DESIGN Sensational Effects Eye Shadow
I’m smitten with these earthy shades, which tend to be what I would prefer day or night. A little shimmer goes a long way, but with the right color I feel comfortable being a bit more daring.

Lancome Color Design Sensational Effects

Best Of Korres Color Natural Wonders
Even though I’ve been a longtime fan of Korres face products, I haven’t tried there makeup yet. This looks like an excellent collection to get started. Given how much I adore their white tea face cleanser and pomegranate scrub, I would be willing to bet they know what theyr’e doing when it comes to makeup too.

Korres Color Natural Wonders

Post from: The List Maven

Here are two that I plan on using – and maybe you will too!

1. From DSW, one of my favorite shoe stores for fashion and value, is a $10 off coupon on any purchase over $50.  And any gal worth her salt can spend over $50 at a shoe store!  The coupon is valid online or in the stores, giving you two shopping options.  The promotion code is GETTEN, or you can print out the coupon and take it to the store with you.  I just bought a couple pair there last week (okay, it was three pair), but since I had my eye on a couple more, this is a great excuse to go back!  Expires April 20th.
2. The other coupon is from one of my favorite cosmetics stores, Sephora.  This coupon offers 15% off your entire purchase, and again can be used in the store or online.  The offer is for Beauty Insiders only, so if you’re not a member you’ll need to sign up.  Expires April 21st.

These are coupons I can put to good use!

Image credit:  SXC

Post from: The List Maven

Image: sxc.hu

Here are the ten things I recommend you keep in mind when you’re shopping for new foundation -

1. Know your skin type. If you have dry skin, opt for maybe a tinted moisturizer. If you’re dealing with acne, a heavier foundation is probably a good choice.

2. Know your budget. You can spend a lot of money on makeup. It’s best to find the right type of makeup for your skin…and your wallet. There’s no use spending lots of money on a bad choice if you could have spent a little more time testing out economical foundations.

3. Ask your friends. Everyone has an opinion about makeup. See what your friends have tried, what they liked and what they didn’t like. You may not always agree, but at least you will have a little anecdotal research for your final decision.

4. Think about the seasons. Right now I have that pasty glow of winter coming to an end. I’m fair, but I know that once summer comes around my skin will be a few shades darker from all that walking to/from work. However, buying makeup for what my skin will look like is a bad decision. Find the right shade now and err on the side of lighter than darker.

5. Say no to oil. Is there anyone out there that actually uses products that contain oil? Maybe it’s just my pimple prone skin that’s causing me to think this is a definite no-no, but I just can’t see a reason to ever go near something that didn’t prominently say “oil free”.

6. Use your hands. The back of your hand is the best area for testing foundation when you’re in the store. Consider how it looks and what it feels like before deciding if you have a top contender.

7. Be adventurous. I know you have a favorite brand. I do too! But sometimes that brand that does every single thing right…does foundation wrong. So don’t feel like you have to have a whole counter full of “the same”…you need to find the right type of foundation for you, not the right brand.

8. Ask for help. There is a reason stores have a staff waiting to help you. Yes…partially to convince you that more products are necessary…but also because these are the people armed with information about all the products in the store. If you’re ready for something new and don’t know where to start, your best bet is to start by talking to a rep before making any assumptions.

9. Resist packaging. It’s pretty…it promises all the right things…and it’s totally wrong for your skin. Don’t be swayed by packaging. It’s not the “pretty” label that will make your skin look beautiful and flawless. It’s the product.

10. Bring it back. If you made a bad choice and the foundation isn’t what you thought it was, bring it back to the store. You should always chose stores like Sephora for these kinds of purchases, since they will let you return semi-used products for a refund or exchange. Then…start at tip #1 to begin your search for new foundation again.

Post from: The List Maven

That’s a whole lot of value out of a simple gift card purchase!

I love thinking about how I’d spend huge sums of money at all my favorite stores if I had a gift card worth thousands of dollars.  It’s a tougher decision, however, if the gift card is for less, say. . . $100.  That’s large enough to get something good, but you are still going to have to be careful how you spend it.

I thought I’d start a Sunday feature talking about how I would spend a $100 gift card at some of my favorite stores.  Today I’m starting with one of my very favorite stores – Sephora.

Here’s how I’d spend $100 at Sephora:

• Medium Cosmetic Case from the Moroccan Sunrise Fuchsia Bag Collection – I need a new cosmetic case, and this pretty pink and gold bag open up large enough to hold all my essentials.  It will fit into a large tote, my carry on bag when working. or just look pretty and home on the counter.  Also available in white & gold and tangerine & gold.  ($22)
• Phenomen ‘Eyes Mascara – A new product on the mascara front, the round sphere at the tip of the wand promises to perfectly curl and separate lashes (in photo above).  Wouldn’t we all pay just about anything to have sexy bedroom eyelashes?!  By Givenchy exclusively for Sephora.  ($28)
• Body Scrub and Body Butter from Sephora’s Tangerine Grapefruit Body Collection.  This light citrus fragrance is fresh and clean, and perfect for every day wear.  I’d probably pack it for my travels, so I could always exfoliate and moisturize away all the dry skin caused by frequent travel.  ($12 scrub, $16 body butter)
• Sephora Brand FACE 25 Makeup Removing Wipes – Good for removing makeup from your face, eyes, and lips, this wipes are saturated with FACE Fluid Makeup Remover.  I love these for wiping off all my makeup at night before giving my skin a good cleansing.  Sure saves on stained washcloths and towels!  Best of all, they’re travel friendly and don’t count as a liquid or gel – a real bonus for me.  ($10 for package of 25)

That would take me to exactly $100, but one of the great things about Sephora is that you get to choose three free samples with your order.  I always use this opportunity to try out new products – so here’s what my three free choices would be:

• Tarte Clean Slate – make up primer
• Caudalie Contour Cream Eyes & Lips – gel cream for eyes and lips to help reduce lines and wrinkles
• Ralph Lauren Notorious – a sample of this oriental fragrance from a fashion icon.

Not a bad haul for $100!  Although it took some prioritizing and careful shopping to get a good combination of what I need and what I want.

How about you?  What would be on your Sephora must-buy list?

Post from: The List Maven

Okay…maybe I’m jumping ahead of myself here. But you can never be too prepared for what trends Spring will bring. This year, colorful berry and sorbet colored eye shadows will be a big hit. Forget about your natural hues (well, maybe hang onto those for a tamer day time look) and pick up some punchy new colors that will charge up your look.

Here are eight gorgeous options from Sephora:

From left to right: Dior 5-Colour Eyeshadow in Pink $56; Duwop Duet Eyeshadow in Delilah $17; Bare Escentuals Bare Pleasures Eye Colors $48; Laura Geller Baked Marble Eyeshadow in Starburst $23; Sephora Colorful Story Palette $35; Too Faced Liquif-Eye Shadow Collection $35; Urban Decay Deluxe Shadow Box $38; Guerlain Ombre Eclat Eyeshadow Palette $58

Images: Newscom and Sephora

Post from: The List Maven

I switch purse an awful lot, and sometimes only have a coin purse-sized wristlet in the evening.  But when I have a true bag, these are the 5 essential items that you’ll find in it:

• Key ring.  Practical, I know, but I’ve got to have my keys wherever I go.  I have a beautiful engraved custom key ring from Tiffany’s (something like this airplane and globe key ring), and there are only two keys on it so it doesn’t take up much room.
• Loose Powder.  I have my powder in a refillable powder brush that I got from Sephora.  It has a a high quality brush that very lightly provides loose powder that is contained in an internal well beneath the head of the brush.  You can buff (if you’re using a mineral make up), or just sweep on a little pick me up, without worrying that you’ll be too heavy handed.  Great for an instant face brightener!
• iPhone.  I have the first generation iPhone and wonder how I ever lived without one.  Phone, camera, mini-computer, calculator, music provider and more – all rolled up in one perfect little package.  I keep it a pretty pink sleeve as well for a girly-geek look.  I take back all the disparaging remarks that I made about this gem before I owned one!  (iPhone 3G shown in photo.)
• Camera.  Received as a gift a couple years ago, I carry my Canon Powershot SD500 with me all the time.  If I have a large purse, I slip it into a carrying case and add an extra battery and memory card.  If I don’t have a lot of room, it’s just the camera.
• Lipstick/gloss. My current favorite is a lipstick and gloss combination from MAC Cosmetics that I purchased while traveling in Europe.  It is, unfortunately, not available here in the United States, so I’m either going to have to head back to Paris or find something new.  MAC has a great set of lip colors and options, and you can’t wrong with any of them.

Those are the essentials, the must-haves, in any bag that I’m carrying!

How about you?  What are your must haves?  What’s always in your bag, no matter which one you’re using?

Post from: The List Maven

Since today is the last shopping day before Christmas, here are my Top 5 last minute Beauty & Style shopping locations.  (HINT:  This is where you should go shopping if your recipient is a reader of this blog!)

1. Sephora – Whether in their stores or online, you’ll find all sorts of high end goodies in addition to their reasonably priced store brand.
2. Nordstrom – Excellent selection in all departments, and great customer service.
3. Sak’s – You probably won’t have time, but I could spend hours and hours in their cosmetic section.  And many of their clothing departments, too.  And don’t even get me started on the shoes.
4. Ulta – They carry many of the mid-range cosmetics, hair products, and perfumes.  They also carry a large selection of drug store brands.
5. Lush – Natural and handmade, a visit to Lush is like being a kid in a candy shop.  Everything smells soooooo good!  My favorites are the bath bombs and handmade soap.  Have them cut off a slab that’s just your size.  The Rock Star soap is one of my favorites, with a yummy vanilla-berry (sort of bubble gum like) scent.

I have a whole lot more than five favorite stores for shopping, but if you’re waiting till the last minute, you’ll just get confused with anymore on the list.

So what are you waiting for?  GO!

Photo credit: LUSH

Post from: The List Maven

Shu Uemura
Rouge Unlimited Lipstick $23 from Shu Uemura
Premiering a high-tech, high-pigment lipstick for unlimited color variation and exclusive lip colors. Empowered brightness and vividness of color. This red is “the” perfect red for any skin tone. It’s an orange-y red, but is given a blue undertone that makes it work to make teeth appear whiter, and skin appear brighter. It’s great!

Fusion Beauty
“After Hours” Bling Fusion – $49 from Sephora
LipFusion’s award-winning lip plump is now available in a new limited-edition, crystal-covered tube. BlingFusion uses LipFusion’s revolutionary patented dehydrated collagen microspheres to absorb into the lips, seek out the body’s natural water, and then immediately re-hydrate to plump and smooth. Lips look and feel fuller, smoother, and sexier for up to 24 hours. It also features LipFusion’s smile-whitening formula, helping to make teeth look brighter than ever!

Post from: The List Maven