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Shu Uemura Friends and Family Sale Starts Thursday

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Starting Thursday, grab Shu goodies at a great price with Shu’s Friends and Family online sale. After registering (which is free) on the site, enter promo code SHUSUMMER at checkout to get 20% off your entire purchase. Be sure to make haste, young one, for the sale ends June 29.

Think of all the money we’ll save!

Don’t forget to squirrel away some of your savings for fall. 😉

Shu shopping ideas

  • Accessible Luxury: Shu Uemura Knows Lashes Inside and Out
    “Genetics bestowed upon me wimpy, ho-hum lashes … and then made me so clumsy that I couldn’t apply false ones to save my life. Oh, the sweet eyelash irony! Enter the Shu Uemura lash bar, aka false eyelash nirvana, where the lashes are affordable and the appointment booking process couldn’t be easier. Whether you’re looking for a little lash extension, or you’re aching for crazy, over-the-top-lashes to overcompensate for many years of eyelash inadequacy (*ahem*), Shu’s got you covered.”

  • Shu Uemura Makeup Tutorial: Go Pastel for a Fresh Spring Eye
    “I’m not normally terribly attracted to pastel shades, but these colors are fun, easy to use and have great color payoff. I combined them with Shu’s Tri-Color Eye Pencils (also from the Rebirth collection) and got in touch with my blossoming inner color diva.”

  • Shu Uemura Rouge Unlimited Crystal Shine Lipstick Swatches and Pics
    “Falling in love with these $23 lippies was easy. They make my lips shine brighter than a glazed doughnut (mmm… doughnut) yet still feel feather-light on my lips. They pack tons of color, and there are a bunch of shades to choose from — 17 in all!”

  • Shu Uemura Phyto-Black Lift, Anti-aging Skin Care Collection
    “It’s easy to fall in love with all three products in Shu Uemura’s Phyto-Black Lift anti-aging skin care system. With sleek black packaging, a light floral scent and smooth textures, the products are a skin care junkie’s luxury dream come true.”

  • Shu Uemura Eyeshadow Swatches – Rebirth Spring 2008 Collection
    “Anyway I’m running around today but I couldn’t leave ya hanging, so here are a few lovely swatches for you on this lovely Wednesday.”

  • Lip Look: Shu Uemura Gloss Unlimited in RD 165N
    “The color makes me look like I just ate a whole bag of red Jolly Rancher candies, but I think it even looks brighter in the tube than it does on my lips. Gloss Unlimited RD 165N has a light orange scent and feels thinner than Clinique’s Cherry Bomb. Despite its consistency, Gloss Unlimited didn’t dry out my lips when I used it…”

  • Midnight Manicure with Shu Uemura Nail Polish
    “I’m on a Shu Uemura nail polish kick, and last night’s midnight manicure in Gold Beige may not have been the best use of time. Eh, who am I kidding?? Of course it was! I officially love these polishes and can’t wait to get more. Gold Beige dries fast, applies easily and looks great.”

Today was the longest day of work ever! The accountant stopped by the office to do the books for the end of the fiscal year and had to use my computer, so I had no internet or email all afternoon. Aggghhh! How did people *way* back in the early 90s survive office life before the Web? I felt so disconnected, like I was stranded on a desert island with nothing but coconuts. I got so desperate that I clutched feverishly to my CrackBerry until, of course, the battery died. The horror!

It’s off to dance class for me tonight. When I get home I have to wrap the present I got for my brother from Hawaii. Here’s the front of one of the shirts I picked up for him on Maui.

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LOL! This shirt is wrong on so many levels. That’s why I love it. Last time I checked, cats lacked opposable thumbs, but I guess somewhere along the way the cat in the middle learned how to play guitar.

And is the cat on the right wearing Borat’s swimsuit?
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Victoria’s Secret Semi-Annual Sale on Now, Island Infusion Body Mists $3.50

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I’m taking advantage of the air conditioning at the mall right now and stumbled upon a semi-annual sale at Victoria’s Secret. Lots of VS beauty products are marked down in-store from 50-75% (also good online, but only on bras and panties). I’m not sure how long the sale lasts, but check out these really cute Island Infusion body mists, a mere $3.50 each after the sale discount, wowza! They come in four scents: Moorea Passion Fruit, Tahitian Vanilla Flower, Bali Orchid and Capri Peach Blossom. I think I’m going to get Bali Orchid, a light, white floral that smells like soap and clean skin. [Continue reading…]

Dior Fall 2008: Impression Cuir Fall Pics and Full Product List

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It being almost summer and all, let’s take a moment to wax philosophic about an upcoming fall collection slated for a summertime release: Dior’s Fall 2008 Impression Cuir makeup collection. No matter what Dior calls it, this collection looks hot. Put on your water wings, grab some sweet tea (or gin and juice, haay!) and take a look.

Due for release this August, the collection features rich, romantic colors like burgundy, plum and copper and embossed animal-inspired textures — think crocodile and python. The makeup gods say dark lipstick will be big this fall, and I’m looking forward to Fantastic Plum Rouge Dior (pictured below). I think it’ll look great with my warm winter coat and knee-high boots.

The Dior Impression Cuir Fall Collection…

Eyeshadows

2-Colour Eyeshadow ($35)

  • Bronzy Look #695
  • Silver Look #775

5-Colour Eyeshadow ($54)

  • Earth Tones #673
  • Iridescent Leather #539

Dior Impression Cuir Palette ($55)

  • A trio of bronze, brown and beige eyeshadows

Eye Liner

Crayon Eyeliner ($25)

  • Iridescent Khaki #363

Lipgloss

Creme de Gloss ($25.50)

  • Cream Burgundy #735
  • Delicious Plum #875

Ultra-Gloss Reflect ($24.50)

  • Lace Beige #587
  • Lurex Plum #877

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Lipstick

Rouge Dior ($27)

  • Western Beige #423
  • Pink Drama #559
  • Fantastic Plum #874
  • Fiction Brown #619

Lip Liner

Dior Contour ($25)

  • Mythical Brown #713
  • Mysterious Plum #988

Powder

DiorSkin Poudre Shimmer ($24)

  • Copper Diamond #003

Blush

DiorBlush ($38)

  • Pink Copper #739

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Chanel Makeup Studios Make Going International as Easy as Placing a Call

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Yes, Virginia, there is Chanel Heaven, and thy name is the Chanel Makeup Studio.

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One of three Chanel Makeup Studios in the US (Honolulu, Hawaii; Costa Mesa, California; and Seattle, Washington), the Honolulu studio, located at Nordstrom in the Ala Moana shopping center, not only lets Chanel junkies play with the company’s full domestic makeup, fragrance and skin care lines but also allows them to get their Chanel-addicted hands on exclusive international products not normally carried by Chanel’s regular US counters.

Some European Chanel products currently available at the Ala Moana Chanel Makeup Studio

  • Chanel Irreellee Blush in Snow ($40)
  • Chanel Irreellee Blush in Sable ($40)
  • Chanel Les 4 Ombres De Chanel Quadra Eye Shadow in Beiges Velours ($55)
  • Rouge Allure Lipstick in Reve ($30)
  • Rouge Allure Lipstick in Discrete ($30)
  • Hydrabase lipstick in Sahara Beige ($30)
  • Glossimer in Muscat ($25)
  • Chanel Les Vernis Nail Color in Viollete ($20)

Non-Hawaii Chanel-aholics needn’t despair because nirvana is just a phone call (and a credit card) away. US residents may order Chanel’s international products by calling any of the three US Chanel Makeup Studios. Reach the Honolulu studio at (808) 953-6100. Ask for Sheila, the studio’s fabulous Chanel makeup artist, and tell her “Hi!” for me.
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The Lippmann Collection Nail Studio: A Manicure and Pedicure in Paradise

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I did a little post-birthday beauty indulging yesterday at the new Nordstrom store (only three months old) in Oahu’s massive Ala Moana shopping center. Visitors to Oahu often miss or skip Ala Moana, but it’s really quite impressive as malls go.

Beyond the beautiful layout, with open-air sections, koi ponds and indoor palm grottos, Ala Moana is a retail paradise. It houses more than 260 stores and restaurants (making it one of the largest malls in America) and includes a great mix of ultra-high end, Rodeo Drive-esque stores like Chanel, Prada and Tiffany; consumer-friendly shops like Old Navy, Gap, Sephora (aka, home away from home); and larger department stores like Macy’s, Neiman Marcus and Nordstrom.

Before coming out to Hawaii, I was told by a friend that the new Oahu Nordstrom store was the only one in the United States with a Lippmann Collection Nail Studio. Uh … when I heard that, I booked a manicure and pedicure with a quickness only known to animals in heat and hopelessly addicted beauty junkies.

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Lippmann polishes, designed by celebrity nail manicurist Deborah Lippmann, are recognized for their durability and color. With Nordstrom’s help, Lippmann created the Lippmann Collection Nail Studio (referred to as The Lippmann Nail Bar by the Nordie’s staff). She got her start after makeup guru Bobbi Brown discovered her polishes, which are known as much for their fun names (Lippmann is also an accomplished jazz singer and names her polish colors after song titles like Tiny Dancer) as they are for their strength and quality.

Since Lippmann began in the business by catering to on-the-go starlets, several of her nail treatment products can be used quickly and without water. The studio is also known for its waterless manicure.

While I had “some work done” at the nail bar, Aimee (pronounced eye-me), the store’s Lippmann counter manager and manicurist, filled me in on the philosophy behind the Lippmann services.

A Lippmann manicure is less painful than a typical mani/pedi treatment. Cuticles aren’t cut, hands and toes are soaked in large bowls of warm water rather than spa tubs with jets, and the nails are only filed in one direction to prevent breakage. It’s more of a holistic approach to nail care. A Lippmann manicure focuses on improving the health of your nails over time. During a mani/pedi, the nail technician asks you about your personal nail care habits and will also recommend treatments and techniques that you can apply at home.

Six Degrees of Mariah Carey

The singer is currently on Oahu to shoot a new video. The first thing Aimee said when I sat down for my manicure was that she was currently on-call to do Mariah’s nails and might have to leave at any second. Consequently, all I could think of during my manicure was, “I’m with Mariah Carey’s manicurist, holy frickin’ crap!”

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The Lippmann Nail Bar offers several different nail treatments. I really wanted to indulge myself, so I went for the Star Treatment Manicure and Pedicure, which includes an exfoliating scrub, as well as a hand-and-foot massage.

Partial menu of services…

Star Treatment Manicure ($40)
Nail and cuticle care, scrub with heated mitts, hand massage, polish (55 minutes)

Star Treatment Pedicure ($60)
Nail and cuticle care, foot soak, exfoliation of callused skin, exfoliating scrub to knee (oy! I’m so glad I shaved my legs), foot massage, polish (60 minutes)

Studio Manicure ($30)
Nail and cuticle care, hand massage, polish (50 minutes)

Studio Pedicure ($50)
Nail and cuticle care, exoliation of calloused skin, foot massage, polish (50 minutes)

Aimee helped me pick out shades for my hands (Tiny Dancer, a pale pink) and my toes (It’s Delovely, a bright coral) and described several of Lippmann’s famous nail treatments.

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I really enjoyed both the manicure and the pedicure, but the pedicure took the cake. You’re treated like queen for a day, reclining in a comfortable, squishy chair while your toes get pampered and painted.
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Most Popular Posts of the Week: June 2-8

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The strangest thing just happened. The sun is out, but it just poured down rain for a few minutes. It was the hardest rain I’ve seen in a while… Maybe it’ll sweep away the chickens, ha!

  • MAC Cosmetics Face of the Day: Hot Pink and Silver
    “It’s standard operating procedure for me to wake up on Mondays feeling grouchy, so to celebrate this minor miracle I decided to go big and bold with a full face inspired by the hot pink lip I wore a few days ago in this cosmopolitan-inspired lip look.”

  • Face of the Day: Simple Smokey Eye with Chanel Winter Nights Quad
    “As far as complete looks are concerned, this one is quick and easy to do. I used shades from the Chanel Winter Nights Quad, a versatile set with four basic, but pretty shades of pink, peachy gold, green and light brown. The look works well for the office or for things like family functions or semi-formals.”

  • Stila Sun SPF 15 Bronzing Powder: Here Comes the Sun
    “Normally, when I apply foundation it evens out my skin color and tone. That’s a good thing, but sometimes foundation creates too much uniformity, aka mannequin skin. Bronzer helps spice up the canvas produced by foundation alone.”

  • Ojon Rub-Out Dry Cleanser: Shower in a Bottle
    “I chose to go with the minimal makeup, but my questionable decision didn’t subject the general population to stinky Karen hair. Nope! I used one of my favorite secret short cuts for time strapped mornings: dry shampoo. It’s an absorbent spray-on powder you apply to your roots to cut down on oil and grease. It can’t replace a cleansing hair wash, but it helps in a pinch.”

  • Get the Look for Less: Sonia Kashuk Eye Shadow Duo in Double Whammy
    “I think the green in Double Whammy looks a lot like Sprout — they could practically be eyeshadow twins! The blue shade doesn’t exactly match Parrot — it’s more royal blue than turquoise — but it’s still a very pretty color that can be used to duplicate many of the same looks.”

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Neutrogena Fresh Cooling Body Mist Sunblock: Crazy Cool

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Aloha nui loa, girls! 🙂 Greetings from the island of Oahu. The day is young, but, as I’m sure you know, it’s never too early to think about sunscreen. On the agenda for this morning: a trip to downtown Honolulu (the biggest city on the island), to watch the 92nd annual Kamehameha Day Floral Parade. My camera is locked and loaded!

Even though it’s early in the morning here, I’m glad I brought along my can of Neutrogena Fresh Cooling Mist Sunblock SPF 30 ($9). The sun here feels stronger than it feels back in San Francisco. Even through partly cloudy skies it can cause bad sunburns, even on someone with brown skin. An aerosol, spray-on sunblock, Fresh Cooling Mist Sunblock SPF 30 is one of my favorite sunblocks. It’s lightweight and portable, waterproof and non-comedogenic.

Stepping off the plane yesterday was like stepping into a steam room. It was 88 degrees and humid outside, and today should be about the same. Knowing what to expect upon touchdown, I ducked into the bathroom on the plane shortly before landing to spray Fresh Cooling Mist Sunblock onto my arms and legs. The formula leaves a cooling sensation on my skin, which also helps to wake me up after a flight through different time zones.

While I often bring this sunblock with me on sightseeing trips, I won’t rely on it if I’ll be spending an entire day at the beach. I use it to supplement lotion sunblocks. If I were going to be out in the sun and water all day long I would go through a can of Fresh Cooling Mist in no time. It may be waterproof, but it doesn’t have the staying power that most lotion SPFs have. But when you’re stepping outside the door and want quick sun protection on your exposed parts in 10 seconds or less, you can’t go wrong with a small bottle of Fresh Cooling Mist.

Snag Neutrogena Fresh Cooling Sunblock SPF 30 at your favorite drugstore or find it online.

Neutrogena Fresh Cooling Body Mist Sunblock SPF 30

Price: $9
Use: For quick sun protection in a cooling spray
Makeup and Beauty Blog Rating: A

From the airport yesterday I ended up at the legendary Duke’s restaurant in Waikiki, named after a giant of the surfing world, for a quick drink on the beach. Like everything in the Waikiki neighborhood of downtown Honolulu, Dukes caters to tourists. Be that as it may, they’ve got one hell of a view.

Some highlights of Duke Kahanamoku’s remarkable life 1890-1968

1890 Born in Honolulu on August 24 to Duke and Julia, full-blooded Hawaiians and descendants of royalty.

1912 Won 2 Olympic Medals in Stockholm — a Gold while setting the world record for the 100 meter freestyle and a Silver with the U.S. freestyle relay team.

1920 Won 2 more Gold Medals for Swimming in the Antwerp Olympics for the 100 meter freestyle and on the U.S. freestyle relay team. Recommended surfing as an Olympic event.

1922-30 Lived in Los Angeles and played parts in 28 Hollywood movies.

1925 Heroic board rescue of eight drowning men at Newport Beach, CA.

1929 Rode a monster wave for more than a mile at Waikiki beach (likely the longest ride in modern times).

1966 Inducted in the Surfing Hall of Fame, becoming the first person to be inducted into both the Swimming and Surfing Halls of Fame.

1968 Died in Honolulu on January 22, followed by a Waikiki Beachboy funeral.


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Tweens and Makeup: How Young Is too Young?

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Women’s Wear Daily (subscription only) and The NPD Group recently looked at the spending habits of young girls and found that tweens — girls between the ages of 8-12 — are spending $500 million a year annually on beauty products, with body sprays being the most popular items among girls of that age.

Holy crap, that’s a lot of allowance money!

“Also popular among tweens are body washes, cleansers and gels, as well
as lip products such as glosses and balms. Skin care is second to
fragrance in terms of usage among tweens, with more than 50 percent of
tweens having used skin care products, according to NPD, which added
that nearly 40 percent of tweens say they have used color cosmetics.”

I was about 13 when I started getting interested in beauty products, but Mom wouldn’t let me wear makeup until I turned 14. I didn’t get an allowance, but once when I tried to negotiate a $5 fee for cleaning my room my mom replied, “Can I start charging you for cooking your food, doing your laundry and tucking you in?” Ouch! Denied!

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