Neiman Marcus – THE BEAUTY EVENT Online now, in stores starting February 25. Take home an überchic denim bag, plus glamorous goodies* for all ages, with your cosmetics or fragrance purchase of $100 or more.

Goodies include:
• Clé de Peau Beauté Le Coton
• Le Métier de Beauté Vierge Anti-Aging Complex Tinted, Treatment Fluid Moisturizer, 2 mL
• Chantecaille Stress Repair Concentrate Eye Cream, .10 oz.
• Sisley-Paris Sisleya Global Anti-Age Cream, 4 mL
• Atelier Cologne Absolue, Orange Sanguine, 1.7 mL
• Van Cleef & Arpels Oriens Eau de Parfum, 2 mL or .06 oz.
• Glowelle Beauty Beauty Drink Mix Packet
• NM Exclusive Balenciaga Paris Eau de Parfum, 1.2 mL
• Dior Beauty Invitation for a L’Or de Vie offer
• La Mer Invitation for The Regenerating Serum gift

In stores February 25-March 7. Available online through March 8. Online offer expires 3/09/10 at 8:00 AM CT.

Happy Haulin’

Mix Maven

Hello Glossies,

Happy 15 year anniversary to NARS Cosmetics!! Thank you, Mr. Francois Nars for creating such a luxe beauty brand.

There are two NARS books that I want…must have!! *Looking around at Santa* lol

I want the NARS 15 x 15 Project. This book is a collection of 15 celebrities commemorating 15 years of NARS Cosmetics.  The colors are vibrant, makeup edgy, yet flawless, and the best thing is that profits from the sale of the books equally goes to the charities selected by the 15 celebs.  Definitely worth the price. My fave picture is the one with Marc Jacobs. I love  that he is  wearing the Dovima nail polish, which I have and love!!  He is also looks fab in the rouge lipstick and his eyelashes melts my heart. LOL

I must confess that I do not own a lot of beauty books.  (I love collecting interior design books!!) So when I saw, Makeup Your Mind on QVC, I knew that this book had to be apart of my collection.  The book “is a comprehensive compilation of Before and After photographs, each containing instructional acetate overlays, covering almost every face type, complexion, eye color, and facial feature.” I just love the overlay idea!!

Need more NARS reading material, run to the closest newsstand or bookstore on November 24, 2009 and check out the fantastic article in the upcoming December 2009 issue of Allure Magazine celebrating the man, the myth, the legend, Francois Nars and his 15 years of rocking the world of cosmetics.

Mix Maven

No, not the Swedish pop group who had hit songs like “The Sign” and “All That She Wants.” I am speaking of makeup artist extraordinaire, Toni Acey.

She is a sought-after celebrity make-up artist, based in Atlanta,  who did not imagine that she could even work as makeup artist.  Toni worked in corporate America for many years, as well as working as a model.  Toni found that the MAs either  were not qualified to do make-up for Women of Color (WOC), specifically African-American women.  So she took matters in her own hands and came to the shoots already made-up.   By doing so, industry professionals as well as close friends and family took notice and encouraged her she to get into the business.  Ms. Acey does not have formal training in make-up artistry, but she worked as a freelancer for MAC Cosmetics where she learned a lot through the MAC training programs.  She has continued to hone her craft and teaches airbrushing classes.  Ms. Acey is also well-known for  her signature “Wearable Art” body painting and “Celebrity “Knock-Off Makeovers.

Eight years ago, Toni was one of the first makeup artist to use airbrushing for glamour makeup.  Most artists in the entertainment industry used airbrushing, primarily, for special effects. Her go-to brands for airbrushing are Temptu and Air Makeup.  Toni enjoys the creativity of airbrushing because she can create one-of-a-kind foundations,  lipsticks,  and even blushes to fit her clients’ needs. She has many clients including  LisaRaye, Kenya Moore, Meagan Good, Karen Clarke-Sheard and Sheree from The Real Housewives of Atlanta.  They have all been very pleased with her work and seek her out time and time again.

We talked about beauty trends for the winter/holiday season.  Toni definitely loves to see all women wearing red lipstick, a throwback to old Hollywood glamour. She does recommend that golden tone women wear tomato reds, fair/light skinned women  can wear pretty much any shade of red, but they should stay from bordeaux, unless they are going for a goth look.  For darker skinned women, she loves loves bordeaux.  Red lip color, she believes, can work for  a daytime look, but it should be sheer.  Her must-have lip product is MAC Money Honey dazzleglass.

For the eyes, she loves Urban Decay eye liners and MAC pigments to create a bold, shimmery look for all the holiday parties we will be attending this season.  She loves Urban Decay eye liners because they can be easily smudged and set to wear as shadows.  For the cheeks, Toni raved about NARS blushes and as a fan myself, I definitely think they are must-haves for all beauty aficionados.

She had words of wisdom for all up-and-coming make-up artists ” Be the best that you can be. Be serious about your craft, treat it as a business, (continue) to learn about the craft by staying ahead of the trends.  Make sure to have  a website!”

I asked her about her future goals, she wants to do a follow-up to her book, Make-up FAQs,  to continue with her foundation, “Lipstick Theory” to assist  women’s charities, produce training DVDs and  create her own makeup and skincare line

She was a delight to interview and I will be looking out for all of her upcoming endeavors.  I do wish her all the success, she has a great spirit.

So check out her book and website, definitely will provide inspiration.

Mix Maven

Who is ready for the Holidays?? Well many retailers are and the great thing is that we do not have to wait for Black Friday to take advantage of these sales.

Urban Decay, one of my favorite beauty brands, is having its winter Family and Friends sale. Code FNFW1 to get 30% off your ENTIRE order – now 11/9 -  11/20 2009 on your favorite Urban Decay items.  I recommend the eye shadows, eye liners and mascaras.  Urban Decay always has new products, give them a try!! Great products.

Hautelook has Shu Uemura beauty products on sale for 39 hours starting 11 AM EST today.

I am sure there will be more sales to come and I will keep you posted.

Happy Haulin’,

Mix Maven

Asos.com has a special offer for International shoppers, 25% off (no minimum purchase).  The offer code is October09. The offer ends 10.21.2009 at Midnight (GMT). What more can we ask for, flat rate shipping and now 25% off??? Uhm well maybe shipping Barry M Nail Paints to the US!!!

Happy Haulin’

Mix Maven

Free Shipping for Orders $50 and over - code is BEAUTY

Deep Discounts @ Beauty Crunch!! Sale ends 12/22/2008!!

Happy Haulin’,

Mix Maven

I got the e-mail from Beauty.com, I had to check it out. Beauty.com is offering 20% off all products ON May 21, 2008 ONLY!!! (You have until 11:59 PST.) One restriction is that items purchased from Drugstore.com (partner site) will not receive the 20% discount.

You can find top beauty brands like Urban Decay, Stila, theBalm, Lorac and CARGO. You can also purchase skincare products, beauty tools and other related beauty needs.

Click on —-> Beauty.com to activate the 20% discount. The sale excludes such brands as Michael Kors, Sean Jean, Missoni, Tommy Hilfiger, Aramis, Lab Series, Mustang and Nars *gasp*

Beauty.com is great because each shipped orders earns you a 5% rebate to be used at the beginning of each quarter. The more you spend, the more you earn.

UPDATE - click on —-> to activate the 20% discount.

Have fun shopping,

Mix Maven

Hey MAC Lovers,

Did you get any or all of the DressCamp collection? To be honest, I am totally surprised at how quickly this collection sold out. I did get a chance to order the Face Palette because I am totally in love with the design of the packaging.

Since the collection will be in a couple of American stores (I believe 1 store in San Francisco and 1 store in NY Soho), will you order from the stores or pray that MAC online will restock as soon as possible? I read that some items have been seen on eBay for double and triple the original price.

Well, if you were fortunate enough to get something from DressCamp, have fun!

Mix Maven