Swell Beauty & Swell Gadgets

So many mascaras, so little time.... Need some makeup guidance?  Sephora has a new iPad app that should do the trick....

Determine the right mascara for you using the Sephora iPad App!The interactive Sephora Mascara Guide exclusively available through the new Sephora iPad app, allows you to shop, compare, read reviews and zoom in on the each unique wand component to help you analyze which mascara is best for you!  The Sephora App for iPad is free to download from the iTunes App Store at www.itunes.com/appstore.

There really is an app for anything...

Swell Smells: Miss Pucci & Marc Jacobs Daisy

I am going to be totally honest here - I'm writing about this purely because I like the bottle. I wish I could see it in person, hold it in my hand, because I'm so intrigued. Is it flat-ish? Is it heavy?

So much goes into the making of a fragrance - no detail is overlooked - and when it comes to bottles, well they can be a powerful selling point. The prettiest bottle I have is a silver version of Marc Jacobs Daisy. I love to shoot it because I can catch a good reflection off of it - lots of fun. In the case of Daisy, you get a whole rang of flankers, too -  pins, necklaces, special edition bottles. Great idea - a collector is going to want all the different versions and someone who might not otherwise try Daisy might be drawn to one of the other versions and think, hhmm I think I need this in a big bottle....

The Miss Pucci is all new modern-version of a Pucci scent and it's available exclusively at Sephora.

Fragrance notes: Sicilian Lemon, Turkish Rose, Comoros Ylang-Ylang, Tunisian Orange Blossom, Arabian Jasmine, Texas Cedar, Florentine Iris, Musk

Do you have a favorite perfume bottle?

Image credits: Sephora and Chase Your Bliss Photography

Swell Shopping: Urban Decay Shadow 75% Off

Check out this Weekly Special makeup deal from Sephora.com ....


Urban Decay Loose Pigments, which usually retail for $20, but are currently $5 for a limited time. Wow. Big discount.

Loose Pigments are intensely colored mineral eyeshadows. They can be used in a variety of ways and are available in 4 shades; Baked, a rich bronze, Shag, a pale bronze (looks sort of mocha-like online), Smog, a medium brown, and a white shadow called Yeyo. These shadows are rated at 3.8 out of 5 stars.

The Loose Pigment formula is actually mineral makeup, made from pearlized powders derived from minerals. No dyes or synthetic pigments are used. The coolest advantage over other brands' loose pigments? No messy pots! The spill-proof tube uses a special internal funnel to keep pigment inside until you're ready to use it. The cap features an ergonomic flared handle and a built-in premium brush. Dip the brush into the color to apply, or tap out a little color and use your own brushes.

Image credit: Sephora.com

Swell Smells: Kat Von D & Adora

It looks like Kat Von D has a new fragrance in addition to her new man, (in case you haven't heard, she's dating recent Sandra Bullock ex, Jesse James. Whoop de doo...... Gossip, gossip, gossip...).

I like the bottle, but the top notes are a little fruit-heavy for my nose. Although, I do love the base notes of Patchouli, Musk, and Amber Wood. Sephora shoppers give Kat Von D's Adora 4.5 out of 5 stars. If you've had a chance to smell it, I'd love to hear your opinion.

Adora means "Beloved One" in Latin. For Kat, Adora reflects the next chapter in her personal evolution—an introspective renaissance discovered through deep layers, stories, and scars. She's a romantic soul with an edgy exterior. Adora is a sensual and passionate perfume journey—unexpected and provocative. This scent reveals a stirring glimpse into an enigmatic life…tortured, beautiful, and brutally honest. At the top, crushed juicy notes of lychée and boysenberry intertwine with thyme and a crisp shot of cassis. The heart fuses the distinct sweetness of hyacinth with jasmine to create floral notes, enhanced by freshly peeled mango. At the base, patchouli finds her spiritual matches with sheer musk and amber wood.

It's only available at Sephora. The rollerball Parfum is $16 and the 1.7 oz Eau de Parfum is $55.

Adora fragrance notes: Lychée, Boysenberry, Thyme, Cassis, Hyacinth, Jasmine, Mango Flesh, Patchouli, Sheer Musk, Amber Wood

Image credit: Sephora.com

Swell Shopping: FREE Beauty Products

I live in a college town. This weekend shopping has been a serious undertaking - the parking lots are packed, the aisles are packed, it's best to get in and out early.  Or better yet, shop online from the comfort of your own home. Aah, that's the way to do it. 

How about some FREE beauty products?? I've got some FREE Stuff coming right up.......


*Sephora:

Get a sample of Clinique's new Repairwear Laser Focus Wrinkle & UV Damage Corrector free with purchase at Sephora. To recieve your free anti-aging product, use the code REPAIRWEAR at checkout.

FREE Ren Blemish Cleanser. Use code CLAYCLEANSE at checkout.

FREE Strivectin Facial Cream. Use code SCULPT at checkout.

FREE deluxe-size sample of Aquolina Pink Sugar scented Body Mousse. Use code PINKSUGAR at checkout.

*ULTA:

Get 2 FREE deluxe samples of bareMinerals Bare Escentuals products. Choose from a matte or original deluxe foundation, plus a Rare Minerals Moisturizer with purchase of a any Bare Escentuals product.

The FREE Weekender bag offer is still going on, as well.

Image credit: Sephora

Swell Skin: Self Tanner & Cellulite Smoother

Earlier this Summer I tried the two-step Cellulite smoothing system from St. Ives. It works better than anything I've tried before, but I've had a hard time finding the first step, the gel, around town. I've been assured that it's available at places like Drugstore.com, so I'll be checking that out.


In the meantime, I say this new combo self-tanner/cellulite smoother from Tarte today..

CelluFIGHT™ Anti-Cellulite Self-Tanner is a Weekly Special at Sephora right now. It's on sale for $15 for 5 ounces. It's usually $40. It doesn't have a huge amount of stars - only 3 out of 5, but it's a "natural" product with no glycols, gluten, dye, talc, MEA, DEA, TEA, formaldehyde donors, or fragrance. Also free from parabens, sulfates, petrochemicals, phthalates, GMOs, or triclosan.

It's supposed to give you a healthy glow while toning and smoothing your skin. I wonder if the lack of stars is due to people with super high expectations? No moisturizer is magic - a smoothing effect is pretty than nothing, in many cases.

CelluFIGHT™ is formulated with skinTIGHT™ complex, a proprietary anticellulite complex that firms and tones skin while improving elasticity. Plant and bionutrient extracts boost cellular metabolism, shedding excess fat tissue, and caffeine helps stimulate blood flow, immediately reducing "the orange-peel" effect on problem areas such as waist, hips, thighs, and buttocks. This anticellulite, natural self-tanner contains clinically proven antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties that prevent the long-term buildup of fat tissue under the skin.

Image credit: Sephora.com

Swell Style: Havana Nights Polish

My daughter, Bailey, and I were screen-shopping at Sephora this evening when we found the Sephora by OPI collection called Havana Nights. Have you seen it? So cute! Bay really likes the bronzey Rumba Romance, but I'm torn between the light jade Read My Palm, and the Teal We Meet Again. Jade was the It Color for Fall/Winter and it shows no sign of slowing down. I think it would look so cute paired with sandals.

Another idea would be to match a couple of colors for a mani/pedi. For example, Caliente Coral on the fingers and Rumba Romance on the toes. Or Havana Dreams on the toes and Caribbean Cocktail on the fingers. They would coordinate without being matchy-matchy.  What do you think? 

PS - For some cute sandals to go with the polish, take a look here.



Image credit: Sephora.com

Swell Makeup: Get The Look

I'm back! This morning, I went to the Dr where I received a boat-load of antibiotics, a breathing treatment, and a shot in the butt. By this afternoon, I started to feel a bit human again. Finally. Life is so much better when you can actually breath. Bronchitis sucks.


So, lets get to it....

Have you seen some of the latest It Looks at Sephora? They have a whole section called Get The Look where they give you the product info and the instructions to recreate looks that are sure to be hot this Summer.

Some of the looks are on the avant-garde side, (see Icy Blues), but with a slight bit of tweaking (as in, apply with a lighter hand), they all can be worn fairly easily, by a wide range of ages and skin tones.

For example, the Turquoise Liner look is a fresh Summer look that consists of bright, turquoise blue lined eyes and an orange lip.

It's perfect for a women in her 20s-30s, but a gal in her (early!) 40s, like me, would maybe remove or shorten the long tail of liner at the corners and thin out the bottom liner for a cleaner, more subtle pop of turquoise. (With knowledge and maturity comes the acceptance of that adage - Less Is More).

Now, on the other hand, Dinner in Paris, I'd leave it completely as-is. Smokey steel-gray eye, bold brow, sculpted cheek, barely pink lip - gorgeous!


You can find these Get The Look, looks here,  plus a whole lot more.


Image credit: Sephora

Makeup Inspired by Malibu Barbie

In celebration of Barbie's 50th Birthday, Stila has a series of limited-edition Barbie inspired makeup palettes. The kits are available online at Sephora.com

I like this one, featuring the look worn by my very first Barbie - the 1971 Malibu Barbie. I loved this doll and later her friend, I believe her name was PJ, joined us while we spent hours together playing. I've never understood the Barbie-haters. I never felt that I had to look like Barbie, but as a California Girl, I did think that she was the perfect bronzed beauty with the frosty eye shadow and cool pale lilac-colored sunglasses. They were sewn into her head. I wish I still had that doll.

Here's the product description from Sephora:

Stila Barbie Loves Stila Paint Can - 1971 Malibu Doll contains aqua eyeshadow and
pink lips for a sunny, beach look that symbolizes the fresh, natural beauty of
the 1970s. The three-pan palette contains eyeshadows, a bronzing powder, and
pinky-peach lip glaze so you can create the iconic look with just one kit at
your fingertips.

Image credit: Sephora.com