Napoleon Perdis at Ulta in Southern CA!

Hello, Gorgeous! Can I just say that I am so excited to share my day with you!? Whilst New York's makeup lovers were counting down to the pre-launch of Urban Decay's Book of Shadows III in Times Square, I was on the edge of my West Coast seat tracking the calendar to this lovely Saturday for an entirely different event!

Today was The Napoleon Perdis event at Ulta in Burbank, California, and my calendar was marked! Not only was the beauty event manned by the artistic talent of 12 members of Napoleon Perdis' creative team, it was also graced by Mr. Perdis, himself! Upon checking in to the event I knew I was in a sub-forum of heaven! The store was all hustle and bustle with beautifully makeup(ed) guys and gals, clad in black and sporting NP's signature tee. In rows of twos were other lucky ladies getting made up all pretty-like while the perfect attitude-y, feel-gorgeous soundtrack blasted from speakers above.

Tim, my makeup artist, applied shadows from the Napoleon Perdis Prismatic Eyeshadow Quad (Fire) $35.00

The members of Napoleon Perdis' creative team set to work blushing our cheeks, dusting shadows on our peepers and glossing our lips. Meanwhile, Mr. Perdis circled the room, visiting each station to curl and mascara lashes here, add a bit of warmth there, and perfect each look with his fine-tuned eye. One of the first interactions I took note of today was NP listening intently and placing his hand on a guest's shoulder as she spoke. Genuine and approachable, Napoleon Perdis' down-to-earth persona made him impressive beyond his success as a make-up artist and his prestige-cosmetic-based empire.

When I explained to Mr. Perdis that I had learned of the event via his Twitter(@NapoleonPerdis), he asked me if I(@Society_Gal) was the one he had responded to about the event - and yes, I was! I couldn't believe that A) it was really him Tweeting and B) that he remembered ME?!

It isn't called the Glossy Posse for no reason, honey!

Though this looks like a staring contest, Mr. Perdis is actually inspecting the progress mid-makeover.

The tan Aussie is making this Mexican, Filipino, Irish girl look a bit pale!

The day went off exceptionally and I am so pleased to have been able to meet Napoleon Perdis! He was truly such a kind person and the experience was just lovely! It was one of those days when you smile as you relive it in your mind just before falling asleep...and that's just what I'll do!

Nighty night!

xoxox

Load up on CARGO at Sephora!

You have probably noticed that CARGO is being discontinued in-store at Sephora... however, did you happen to notice that many items from the brand are still available on the store's website? Not only can you still snag several of CARGO's popular cosmetics, the items are deeply discounted! Shop the selection at Sephora.com while supplies last and save yourself an average of 75% off the original retail price!

CARGO TexasLash Mascara $5 at Sephora.com

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Above: CARGO's TexasLash is one of the few available that creates tubes around the lashes and removes easily with warm water! This mascara is currently sold at Ulta for $20 but is only $5 at Sephora.com while supplies last!

xoxox

::NEWS FLASH!:: URBAN DECAY BOOK of SHADOWS VOLIII

If you are an Urban Decay lover, like myself, you will most likely be as excited about this announcement as I was; Urban Decay is releasing Book of Shadows Vol. III soon and photos are available!

Urban Decay Book of Shadows Vol. III $54.00

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The product is expected to launch on Urban Decay's website in early September and will be available to purchase from other retailers beginning October 1. Mark your calendars - this NYC themed palette is bound to sell out at record speeds! The product will be also available at Ulta, Sephora, Macy's (with Sephora) AND even more exciting:

For those who live in New York or plan on visiting in late August, you have a SPECIAL OPPORTUNITY to get your mitts on this palette! Sephora at Times Square will have 1000 palettes to sell on a first come, first served basis on August 28, 2010. The store will limit your purchase to three - how about including one of those for me?! :)

xoxox

What is in a face wash?

"That which we call a cleanser by any other name would cleanse as thoroughly..."

So I'm no Will Shakes (I believe that would be his name equivalent these days), and perhaps the inquiry is less philosophic, but nonetheless...what is in a face wash?

Are you paying close attention to the labels on your face products? I'm fairly certain that the vast majority, which has included me at times, chooses the most recognizable product and waives the right to remain informed of ingredients. Are you using a cleanser (or other face products) that contain parabens (methyl, propyl, butyl, ethyl - most prevalent), mineral oil, pigments or lanolin? The aforementioned ingredients are often cause for irritation and breakouts, but are still found in cleansers and other products offered by leading brands.

If you have sensitive skin or are prone to breakouts, as I am, raise your awareness and prevent skin irritation by considering these simple steps to improving the performance of your skincare regimen:

1. READ REVIEWS - Before making your purchase, read reviews of the product-in-question on Ulta.com or Sephora.com. Often you can weed out products that may cause irritation by learning from another reviewer's experience.

2. TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THE INGREDIENT DISCLOSURE. Do online research to stay informed of which ingredients you will benefit from, which are unnecessary for your skin type, and which should be black-listed from your beauty arsenal. You have to wonder about cleansers with a kazillion ingredients that you can't pronounce - what are those materials doing for or TO your skin?

3. PURCHASE FOR YOUR SKIN TYPE - ONE CLEANSER DOESN'T FIT ALL. Though your best friend or next door neighbor may love a particular product, also consider her skin concerns and type. Choose a product that best suits your needs.

4. BE REALISTIC WITH EXPECTATIONS. Though we'd all love to see results overnight, this doesn't always happen. Allow about a week and a half for breakouts to begin clearing after having changed your skincare regimen.

5. CONSIDER THE VARIABLES. While ingredients in your makeup, wash, moisturizer and other face products may be the pore-clogging cause of breakouts, blemishes may also be attributed to stress, diet & lack of hydration, and medications (think B.C. and we're not talking British Columbia, ladies). When making changes to your skincare & prep routine, make one swap per week so that trouble-makers are easier to spot (and therefore unspot your face).

xoxox

Lacquers to Inspire Your Summer Adventures!

Accessories are no longer limited to bangles, baubles, and belts - polish your summer style with, eh, well, polish. Ulta is currently featuring a buy 2 get 1 free sale on Essie varnishes, which sounds like a lacquer-licious opportunity to pick out your new summer musts!

Essie Nail Polish in One of A Kind $8

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Wear with: swimsuits to the beach for a playful pop of color; a single-hued maxi dress in an un-fussy fabric for a trendy, yet low-key look; a belted romper, flushed cheek, and gladiator sandals; military style cargo pants or shorts, rope wedges or espadrilles, and a blousy, of-the-shoulder-tee for cocktails with the girls. *Try any of the above with beachy waves or a loose bun fastened at the nape of the neck and top with your favorite summer sunnies!

Essie Nail Polish in Shop Til I Drop $8

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Wear with: neutrals and linen; a pair of light-wash jeans, a loose white tee, a grey or navy cardigan and large, statement jewelry in gold and peach tones. *Follow the jewelry links to examples a la Forever21 - don't be turned off by the name - you don't have to be a youngster to shop the site and you'll be surprised by the inexpensive and wearable pieces they offer! Shop the Forever21 jewelry here - the internet is an anonymous way to glimpse the goodies!

Essie Nail Polish in Funny Face $8

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Wear with: navy garments (navy is pink's black); a reserved grey sheath dress, polished pony, simple shadow, glossy pink lip, and a pair of peep-toe pumps to a business-casual summer function. *Remember that bright polish is an accessory in itself, skip the loud earrings or brightly patterned bag.

Essie Nail Polish in Pink Glove Service $8

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Wear with: greys, navy, aubergine & white; think classic and dainty; opt for soft florals or ruffles; perfect for a trip to South Coast Plaza with your ladies or a family function with the kids; an excellent option for matching mani-pedi as the color is office-friendly; when donning a soft shade of lacquer, glam-up your locks without worry of appearing like you've just tried WAY to hard - nobody likes fuss-overload!

Essie Nail Polish in Sandy Beach $8

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Wear with: a button-front shirt dress and leggings; an LBD and bright lip; white chunky heels or others that make their own statement and need a non-invasive pedi to keep it classy. *When you've piled on prints, bracelets, or shadow in any hue other than a standard smoky, keep your polish in the nude family so that your look isn't at odds with itself. Keep in mind that you will naturally gesture with your hands near your hair and face throughout the day, so check your mani against your makeup to see if it's at odds with the image you're after!

xoxox

Essence: An Inexpensive Route to Test-Driving Trends

Consider your makeup collection to be your Cosmetic Closet; classic, investment pieces mixed with mid-range functional items and a sprinkle of trendy splurges that may or may not hold your interest until next week. While it makes sense to spend a pretty penny on beauty products that define your personalized regimen, it is difficult to justify $$$ dough on of-the-moment musts.

Now, Darling, I do encourage taking a dip into this summer's hot trends - the changing of the seasons and out-with-the-old mentality offer an opportunity to regroup and reinvent yourself! Avoid heading straight to the counters for trendy items that may potentially end up in the bottom of your cosmetic case or in the abysmal space between your car seat and the center console. Instead, visit your nearby Ulta and try your trends without a monetary commitment with Essence's excellent stand-ins at a fraction of the cost!

The Purrfect Cat Eye - Winged Liner

Essence Eyeliner Pen in Black $2.49

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Essence Liquid Eyeliner in Black $2.49

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Purple Peepers - Lavender & Purple Shadow

Essence Eyeshadow in Go Glam 16 and Disco Diva 19 $1.99

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Ocean(colored) Liner - Navy Lines and Lids

Essence Kajal Eye Pencil in Nightfever 13 $0.99

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Bold & Brazen Brows

Essence Eyebrow Designer Pencil $1.49

(Available in three shades)

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Happy shopping, Sweet'ems!

xoxox

Product Review: Smashbox Emulsion Lip Exfoliant

With the changing seasons and puzzling weather patterns, my lips have found themselves in a bit of a slump. My puckers have always been a bit high-maintenance-seeming, often dry thus compromising the performance of my lip products. It's now the beginning of June and I literally found myself a bit frightened by mother nature earlier; sitting in a hotel room just off Bourbon Street as the television lost signal and whipping wind rolled in from who knows where. I'm no meteorologist but the enormous grey cloud advancing ominously coupled with whistling wind seemed to be cause to worry a bit. Warm to rainy to windy weather, lather, rinse, repeat. Perhaps the only pattern to the weather pattern is the lack there-of these days! ...which, I believe, has its own classification which I cannot recall...

If your lips are in need of a pick-me-up to soften and rejuvenate their appearance, and help combat the ever-changing weather, try:

Smashbox Emulsion Lip Exfoliant $18

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Why: Just as your face needs to be exfoliated regularly to keep your skin fresh, your lips require TLC also (Tender Lip Care). The Smashbox Emulsion Lip Exfoliant includes peppermint, sugar, shea butter, jojoba and antioxidants that will make a luscious impact within the first couple of uses. Peppermint and sugar are most noticeable so you don't have to worry about terrible smells or tastes. Rub a small amount against lips a couple of times weekly for best results - your lip products will love you for it!

Purchase Smashbox's Emulsion Lip Exfoliant from Ulta here!

Note: If you find that your lipsticks and glosses are creating a line along your inner lip, up your daily water consumption! The line is a sign of dehydration that will stop pestering your kissers once you've starting drinking more H2O.

xoxox

Product Review: Peter Thomas Roth Skincare

One to love. One to like. One to pass up.

Lover's Lane: Peter Thomas Roth's Anti-Aging Cleansing Gel $35

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Peter Thomas Roth's Anti-Aging Cleansing Gel is the ultimate 'clean feeling' cleanser. Among its perks are: about half the standard amount will do the job; the cleansing gel not only gives results, it also makes you 'feel' like it's been effective by working into a nice foamy lather; leaves skin noticeably brighter in just a couple of weeks; formulated with Salicylic Acid to fight breakouts; formulated with Glycolic Acid to fight the signs of aging; it is suitable for all skin types except sensitive. This is the absolute best cleanser I have ever tried and regardless of age - 16 to 116, the Anti-Aging properties will brighten your skin to a healthy glow.

You can purchase Peter Thomas Roth's Anti-Aging Cleansing Gel from www.Ulta.com or from www.Sephora.com.

Didn't quite make it to Lover's Lane but still courting: Peter Thomas Roth's Gentle Foaming Cleanser $32

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Peter Thomas Roth's Gentle Foaming Cleanser is a soft, gentle option for all skin types. This product can be used as a makeup remover pre cleanser of your choice, but it is not my preference for cleansing when used alone. The product is gentle enough that it will not dry your skin, but as it is so gentle it doesn't provide the clean feeling the Anti-Aging Cleansing Gel does. If you wear minimal makeup and are looking for a cleanser that will work for sensitive skin, this product is worth trying. However, if you are similar to me in that you like a classic sudsy cleanser, you will be better suited for the Anti-Aging Cleansing Gel above.

You can purchase Peter Thomas Roth's Gentle Foaming Cleanser from www.Ulta.com or from www.Sephora.com.

We tried to make it work, but in the end, went our separate ways: Peter Thomas Roth's Botanical Buffing Beads $36

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The Botanical Buffing Beads may be ideal if you have very sensitive skin or are prone to dryness. My husband likes that it feels refreshing, but I find it too gentle to be effective. The buffing beads are minimal and my face felt nowhere near exfoliated after use. While I am able to justify spending $35 for the Anti-Aging Cleansing Gel, Peter Thomas Roth's Botanical Buffing Beads showed no results warranting a $36 purchase for my skin type.

Whether you end up loving, liking or leaving a product, my suggestion is always this: if you have the opportunity, try it before you buy it! Pop into an Ulta where testers are available and ask about a small sample.

Later, Lovely!

xoxox

Rain Rain Go Away!!

Savannah has found itself amidst tornadic storm warnings and rain that can't seem to decide if it'd like to drizzle or deluge, thus alternating between the two. The air is thick with humidity and my hair is not loving it. Wish I would have planned better this morning! In a hurry, I ran out the door without my secret weapon to protect me from the rain and frizzle from the drizzle. So, let me dispense a piece of information that may potentially help you through your tornadic storm warnings and other hair hinderences; Kenra hairspray (available at ULTA and other salon-type retailers) is the BEST hairspray I have ever used. As a matter of fact, this little tid bit is just another reason I can be thankful for my Mom-her worldly wisdom and product knowledge is unsurpassed! She introduced me to Kenra's Volume Hairspray 25 and I have yet to find anything that will work the wonders it does. No hairspray compares. Not only does it have extra-hold ability, it doesn't create the helmet-head effect and will not turn white if you accidentally hold it too close to your head! At $22.00 a bottle, it is not necessarily a bargain, but it isn't break the bank status either; the bottle will last a few months and it will be your new best hairspray friend.

BOTTOM LINE: KENRA's 25 HAIRSPRAY is the ONLY HAIRSPRAY YOU'LL EVER NEED TO BUY.

Later Lovelies!

xoxox