I bet this happens to you, too, but I miss so many awesome deals and announcements that come through as e-mails. Sometimes they get mistakenly dumped into my junk mail filter, especially when the titles sound overly advertorial: “Free and Heavily Discounted Makeup! Don’t Miss Your Special Chance!”
Sometimes I’m just not able to get to them before the deals have expired.
This morning, however, I managed to read a couple of the timely ones in time to pass them on. 🙂
Shu!
These are the last few days of Shu Uemura’s Art of Hair Sweepstakes. Click here to enter. The grand prize? A year’s worth of Shu hair products valued at $1,680 smackers! The deadline to enter is 11:59PM ET June 30.
Bobbi B
Looks like Bobbi Brown’s new Nudes Collection is almost here. Here’s a mini-PR snapshot. It looks pretty textbook Bobbi to me, but I respect how she stays true to her style. In her own words, “Nude makeup doesn’t mean monochromatic, barely-there makeup. It means makeup that’s right for your skin.” Expect to see it on counters in July (I’ll post a review soon).
A star is born
This one caught Tabs’ eye! Elle is looking for their next video star. Submit a video of your best/favorite makeup tips, and you might take home $250 in beauty swag. Each week Elle will give $250 to the person (or cat) who submits the most popular video tip of the week. Winners then have a chance at the $3,000 yearly grand prize.
If you submit a video to Elle, LET ME KNOW! We can mention your creation on the blog here and maybe help you become a star.
BEMATTE
In Sephora news, they’ve got a few ongoing deals good both in stores and online using coupon code BEMATTE at checkout. I’m interested in the free 10-day sample of Bare Escentuals’ Matte Foundation (free with any purchase). I might do it for the bonus baby kabuki brush.
Nailed!
I just looked down at my bare fingernails, le sigh… I need something to wear on ’em while I wait for Duri’s Fall/Winter 2009 Rags to Riches Collection of fairy tale colors (click here to visit the Duri site). I haven’t seen any pics yet, but the names are cracking me up: Silver Spoon, Dress to Impress, Social Ladder, Trophy Wife and Formula for Success? LOL! I wonder what Trophy Wife looks like… Each will retail for $5, and the first six arrive this September.
Bon voyage
Lisa Hoffman must know how difficult it is to pack beauty products. She’s got these little travel packets that let you take a little of each product from the line wherever you go, and for the price they aren’t half bad. I like the sound of the 24-Hour Skincare one, but there’s also one for spa baths and another for showers. All three sell for $9.99. I couldn’t find them online, but I’m sure the folks in their customer service department can track ’em down (info@lisahoffmanbeauty.com or toll free at 1-800-231-8311).
How’s it going today? It has been hot out here in Norcal this weekend, and our apartment doesn’t have AC! Even Tabs is uncomfortable. He’s sleeping next to his water bowl.
Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,
Karen
P.S. I’d like to apologize to those of you who e-mailed asking if there was something I could do to honor the passing of Farrah Fawcett and MJ, both historic style icons, but I was so overwhelmed by the news myself that I couldn’t think of anything worthy of them. I didn’t want to just throw something up and was too shocked to think straight. I may try after some time passes.
Christina says
Hey, Karen… I’m actually donating my hair in honor of Farrah, to either Locks of Love or Pantene Great Lengths. Could you ask your readers if they have experience with either organization?
I figure I can’t cure cancer, but maybe I can help someone who’s fighting it.
.-= Christina’s last blog post… Don’t Forget The Dishy 3 Tomorrow Night! =-.
Karen says
Hi Christina,
That’s so awesome that you’re doing that. I’ll give a shout out in a post…
Caitlin says
Hey there! I really like the video star link, cus they have some great tips on there! And all three of my kitties are stretched out as long as they can make themselves. Poor hot kitties. 🙁 Although I introduced one of them to the freezer, and he seemed VERY interested in the cold emanating from it…
Karen says
Hi Caitlin,
Awww, poor kitties! Before I left for dinner I found Tabs sprawled out on the bathroom floor… it’s the coolest spot in the house.
El Hub and I let him go out before we left for the Chinese restaurant. When we returned he was waiting right at the foot of our stairs for us. He’s such a sweet boy.
What are you doing tonight? It’s been a rough week so I’m just staying in, watching a movie and then probably reading.
CC says
Christina, I donated my hair to Pantene Great Lengths because they required 2 inches less of hair (mine was barely long enough to meet the minimum requirement). Locks of Love has been criticized in the past for not having transparent business practices (I’m not sure if that’s an issue for them anymore though). They also charge hair recipients a fee for the wig on a sliding scale based on the family income (check the official website and Wikipedia for more info). Although I’m sure the fee is small compared to the full cost of a wig – it was still a shock to me when I learned about it. Oh, and something else to consider: Locks of Love donates hair to alopecia and cancer patients, as well as those who have scalp burns and other medical conditions to those only under the age of 18, whereas Pantene Great Lengths donates just to cancer patients (through their partnership with the American Cancer Society), but I think Pantene doesn’t have an age restriction. Hope all this helps!
Karen says
Hi CC,
Thank you for all of this information. I’m sure it’ll help a lot of people! 🙂
ines says
hey karen,
the 25th was just a bad day all over the world! MJ/FF passed away, it’s korean war memorial day (which is what koreans like myself remember every year), two of my friends’ kitties passed away, and a friend’s mother’s friend was diagnosed that her cancer spread to her brain and heart and has three weeks to live, max. what a terrible day.
on a brighter note, i’m pretty interested in the new bobbi collection you mentioned – classic bobbi but i only use bobbi for the neutrals anyway. also, i won danse sport montreal pro-am american rhythm in all 8 categories!
ines
.-= ines’s last blog post… Update: Clarins Creme Delicieuse Auto-Bronzante – Day 2 =-.
Karen says
Hi Ines,
Congrats! 🙂 I bet it took a ton of hard work to sweep all those categories. How do you plan to reward yourself?
Maggie says
where can i get the code for the sephora BEMATTE in store purchases? thanks! 😉
.-= Maggie’s last blog post… Mermaids Under the Sea + Japan? =-.
Karen says
Hi Maggie,
The e-mail I received says you can just pick up the sample in store… I don’t think there’s a specific code.
Vampy Varnish says
Hey Karen,
Beautiful day huh? I was in SF today, went to the Conservatory of Flowers and the Japanese Tea Gardens, ate at Fog City, took some pics of insane houses in Pacific Heights and then wound up in your neck of the woods over in Marin. Hotter than HELL there! I got some MAC goodies today at the Nordies over there, yay! It’s still about 90 at my house, thank GOD I have A/C, my doggie is panting like crazy 🙁
.-= Vampy Varnish’s last blog post… Vampy Varnish Poll =-.
Karen says
Hi Vampy Varnish,
Lucky that you have A/C! It was cooking up in here this afternoon…
Did you go to the Corte Madera Nordies? That’s my fave MAC counter. 🙂
Marmar says
So disappointed about the news. I pulled out all my MJ vinyls to get funky with it in his honor.
It’s wretchedly hot here: even Felix is just kickin back. I finally got my big ‘ole box from MAC’s friends and family sale.. stupid UPS dude left it out in the sun ;___; The gel-blush actually had a film of liquid over it! (I popped it in the fridge for a while and it was okay.. but still!)
Thanks for all the great tips! I def entered the Shu contest!
.-= Marmar’s last blog post… animal abandonment is not okay. =-.
Karen says
Hi Marmar,
Oh, that’s awesome that you have MJ on vinyl. 🙂
Are you enjoying your haul? What’s your favorite thing from the bunch?
Marisol says
Thanks for posting these deals Karen. Sometimes I get too many emails like the ones you mentioned that I overlook them until it’s too late.
Karen says
Hi Marisol,
You’re welcome. Are you enjoying this hawt weather? It’s cookin’ up here in Marin county.
Kate & Zena says
Blech, you don’t have air conditioning? In CA? Yikes. I’d die from sheer heat exhaustion! We have our AC on here all summer as it’s so humid and hot here in IL!!! I’m very sensitive to extreme heat (blame it on Asthma and Epilepsy) so I’m constantly inside the house. Yet, I love the heat over the cold.
I have a huge allergy migraine/headache (I can’t decide which it is) at the moment as the pollen has decided to say, “Okay, it’s hot, it’s humid, it’s ucky, let’s procreate!!!” I don’t get allergies that often from my HG allergy meds, but I have been going to my inhaler, ibuprofen and Benedryl these past three days. It doesn’t help I have to go out in the stuff to walk Zena! I’ve been in dresses and skirts (le gasp! Me? In a skirt? Oh my. I’m becoming girlier it seems). I must look so weird walking Zena as I have to wear special running shoes with them or my CP flares like a S.O.B. but I don’t care. Health over beauty.
It seems everyone is torn up about MJ and FF passing away. I must be one of the few that aren’t as I wasn’t really around in their high times like you were. I think it’s because of the generation gap. I’m sending you an E-Kleenex box for you as I know how much you love MJ!
Have you ever watched The Tudors? I’m currently obsessed with the series. I’m watching the first season on DVD as I (regrettably) don’t get Showtime. It’s a bit historically inaccurate, but aren’t all shows based on history a bit inaccurate? I simply blank the history part out (I love learning more on the Victorian and Tudor eras, particularly on the fashion front). The show is so addicting. I’m addicted to it. I want Showtime now!!! Darned cable makes me pay a small fortune for premium channels like it though so phooey.
Maybe you should get Tabs a pool filled with ice so he doesn’t have to worry about water in liquid form. Hopefully it’ll cool down by you! We’re in the high 70’s (only with 59% or higher humidity. Ugh).
Karen says
Hi Kate & Zena,
Where I live it doesn’t really get super hot for most of the summer. For the most part it’s comfortable because I’m not too far inland… there are a few days like this one when it gets really toasty, though, when I wish we had AC.
The Tudors is a fab show! I watched the first season a few months ago and really enjoyed it. And isn’t it funny how TV/movies rewrite history to fit the screen? El Hub and I were watching Pearl Harbor the other day were amazed by some of the big things they left out.
Kate & Zena says
I’m on the third disc currently so I haven’t finished it completely. What I found really funny is that the real Henry Fitzroy lived to be 17 and died of consumption (tuberculosis) while the show’s Fitzroy dies a very young boy from sweating sickness. I about keeled over from laughter as it just seemed so ridiculous. I thought, “Poor Henry. You got killed at least a decade earlier from a disease you never had. There’s at least a decade of your being a ghost!”
The Anne in the show seems a little less ambitious and headstrong than the real life Anne (she was known for slapping Henry when he was with another woman while she was queen). I can’t wait to see how she develops and how, ultimately, the show handles her history-making execution.
There’s a point when you have to separate the show/movie from the actual history or book or you’ll spoil the show for yourself and make yourself a spoiled sport. I don’t know if you’ve ever read Wicked and then went to see the play hoping for some of the same themes there, but talk about a huuuuuuuuuuuuge difference! I was shocked at how different they were. I, personally, would have liked the play to be closer to the book but that’s my opinion. I’m definitely going to have to put the second season of The Tudors on my Netflix or Library list.
Karen says
Hi Kate & Zena,
I have to remember to put season two on my Netflix list. There are so many shows I want to watch on DVD though! There’s The Tudors, True Blood, The Sopranos (I’ve been watching the re-runs on cable)…
ines says
… maybe a little NARS or MAC is in the cards? to be honest that will be very bad for my bank account, seeing as competitive dancing is a very very expensive hobby for a starving student. at least my kitty will be here in a week or so!
at least i got a big plaque for my wall :D… and the videos/photos will be here in a week or so!
.-= ines’s last blog post… Update: Clarins Creme Delicieuse Auto-Bronzante – Day 2 =-.
Karen says
Hi Ines,
How exciting! I stopped by the pet store yesterday and the humane society was there with a few of their kitties. I wanted to get one so badly. They had a tiny little tabby they called Mr. Tabs! He was adorable.
redhead says
Hi Christina,
I think that’s beautiful idea. My sister donated her hair to Locks of Love, and what you do is you 1. Put your hair in a ponytail from where you want it cut, 2. The hairstylist will cut your hair and then adjust your style, 3. They will collect all the ponytails cut recently and then they have them made into human hair wigs and extensions for chemo patients who lost their hair. You have to have at least seven or eight inches ready to cut off, so if you like your hair long and cutting that much might mean shoulder or chin-length hair, don’t do it! 🙂 I want to cut mine because curly red hair is rare and I’m sure there’s a curly redheaded chemo patient waiting for a wig that would suit her. I do love my hair long, so I’m going to cut nine inches off when my hair is at my waist.
Kate & Zena says
I never was a Soprano’s fan. I think it may be because the very first episode I watched involved the mob boss throwing up and I was completely turned off. Every time I hear the opening theme on A&E , I just reach for the remote.
It’s not so much shows I have a list for but movies on Netflix. I usually get shows from my public library as nearly all check out for 3 weeks (same as books/cds) as opposed to the week for movies. The $1 late fine for those one weekers are killer.
Lydia says
I’ve dontated my hair to locks of love before! Its a good thing to do 🙂
.-= Lydia’s last blog post… News- Whats New In My Mark Store In The Sidebar…Introducing More Juice Gems… =-.