Nordstrom Anniversary Sale Beauty Exclusives

Nordstrom's annual Anniversary Sale is in full swing. Have you seen their Beauty Exclusives? They are off the chain! If you haven't had an opportunity yet to shop the sale (hurry...sale ends July 31), allow me to play personal shopper and make some recommendations.

Deborah Lippmann Get This Party Started Set, $42 ($58 value)
How could you NOT add this polish trio to your wish list? Get This Party Started is a set of three glitters, inspired by the overwhelming demand for Deborah Lippmann's best-selling Happy Birthday, a party in a bottle. The set includes Happy Birthday, along with two new variations of the glittery shade: Forget You, with a black base, and Candy Shop, with a bubblegum-pink base.

Bobbi Brown Bobbi Beauty Favorites, $80 ($160 value)
This set is a must-have for you beauties who love Bobbi Brown. It includes the Beach Shimmer Brick, Face Blender Brush, Full Size Extreme Party Mascara, Black Ink Long Wear Gel Eyeliner, Ultra Fine Eye Liner Brush, Shimmer Lip Gloss in Rose Gold and Creamy Lip Color in Toffee.

MAC Cine-Matics 'On-Screen' Pro Palette Eyeshadow Duo, $25 ($29 value)
I don't know any beauty lover who doesn't LOVE MAC eye shadows. These eight daring pairings are housed in an ultra-slim, stackable, easy-to-use palette. Great for your makeup kit and for travel.

MAC Cine-Matics 'Smoky Black' Makeup Lesson, $49.50 ($105 value)
Define the ultimate smoky eye with three sensational shadows - Carbon (M), Ambience (VP) and Bisque (M)—Zoom Lash Mascara in Zoomblack (0.14 oz.) and Technakohl Liner in Graphblack, a 275 SE Brush to smudge, a 212 SE to blend and step-by-step instructions. This kit is an incredible value and, I recommend you snatch it up immediately. Also available in Smoky Brown.

L'Occitane 'Shea Home & Away' Collection, $25 ($36 value)
Shea Butter Hand Cream is the #1 international best-seller from L'Occitane, and one of my personal favorites. Enriched with 20% shea butter, this super-creamy hand balm quickly penetrates to protect, nourish and regenerate dry skin. The scent is light, yet intoxicating. Smooth even the most hard-working hands with a blend of nourishing ingredients including almond oil, honey, coconut oil and antioxidant vitamin E. Keep the 5.2 oz. tube on your vanity at home and stash the 1 oz. tube in your purse so you're never without this little luxury.

MOR Essentials Hand & Body Lotion, $9.90 ($18 value)
Before the Anniversary Sale started, I was provided with an advance sample of MOR Hand & Body Lotion to review. The Honey Nectar lotion is one of the best fragrances I've ever smelled, and the formula is lightweight but deeply hydrates. I'm not a big honey fan, but the scent of the Honey Nectar moristurizer isn't so literal. It also features notes of brown sugar, candied almonds and warm vanilla milk. Unfortunately, the Honey Nectar lotion appears to be sold out online - but I recommend you track it down at your local Nordstrom store. The Hand & Body Lotion is also available in Neroli Clementine, Basil & Grape, Black Currant Iris and Sugar Rose Tiger Lily. Corresponding Hand & Body Washes are also Anniversary Sale Beauty Exclusives.

Clarisonic Mia, $149 ($189 value)
You've wanted a Clarisonic for, like, forever...and keep saying that you'll finally buy one if and when it goes on sale. Well, now's that time. Mia is the travel version of the original Clarisonic, so it has all of the benefits of the more expensive brush - like six times more makeup removal, better product absorbtion, smaller looking pores and fine lines. It also comes with a cute, pink travel bag. Available in Island Coral, Fuchsia, and Zebra print.

MAC Cine-Matics Face Brushes, $49.50 ($112 value)
Touch up your look with a fabulous foursome of short-handled face brushes packed in a stylish grey MAC bag with red trim. With Technicolor bristles, these are sure to take your close-ups to the next level. The set includes: 187 SE Duo Fiber Face Brush, 190 SE Foundation Brush, 168 SE Large Angled Contour Brush, 194 SE Concealer Brush, and a brush bag.

MAC Cine-Matics All-Over Brushes, $49.50 ($120 value)
Go from nominee to winner with a star-quality set of short-handled brushes for eyes and face. Packed in a chic zip bag, these five Technicolor talents are musts on red carpets and runways everywhere. The set includes: 129 SE Powder/Blush Brush, 227 SE Large Fluff Brush, 224 SE Tapered Blending Brush, 219 SE Pencil Brush, 266 SE Small Angle Brush, and a brush bag.

philosophy 'amazing grace' 3-piece super set, $70 ($137 value)
Feel like you're wearing a beautiful dress every day of the week. 'amazing grace' is philosophy's best-selling fragrance, designed to make a woman feel amazingly clean and beautifully feminine. The set includes 'amazing grace' perfumed shampoo, bath and shower gel (32 oz.); firming body emulsion (32 oz.) and body spritz (8 oz.). Layer the clean floral scent of 'amazing grace' as you cleanse in the shower or bath and, afterwards, as you moisturize your skin. Then surround yourself with a refreshing, perfumed body mist that lightly hydrates as it scents your skin for a full-body fragrance experience.

Hanae Mori Paris Butterfly Anniversary Set, $85 ($133 value)
If I didn't still have a full bottle of my beloved Hanae Mori Butterfly (it's my signature scent), I would be snagging this set. Butterfly is a rare blend of berries and flowers, with a distinctive tone of strawberries and almond, giving an impression of vanilla. This deluxe set contains the world-renowned Butterfly eau de parfum spray, take-anywhere shower gel and body cream (1.7 oz. each), as well as long-lasting, non-alcohol Butterfly deodorant (2.6 oz.). A 1.7 oz. bottle of Butterfly retails for more than the price of this set - so this is a real steal!

Prada 'Infusion d'Iris' Gift Set, $99 ($133 value)
Once again, I have a full bottle of this perfume (it's another one of my top 3 fragrances), so I won't be buying this set. On second thought, maybe I will. My mom is also a fan of this fragrance and I usually gift her with a similar set for Christmas - so perhaps I'll pick up her present extra early this year. Infusion d'Iris fuses tradition with idealism, creating a universe that every modern woman wants to be a part of. A floral citrus fragrance, Infusion d'Iris balances the clean fresh scent of the Iris Pallida with the subtlety of mandarin, creating a dream-like experience for the senses.

PHYTO 'Phytodéfrisant' Large Botanical Hair Relaxing Balm, $31 ($39 value)
You know that elusive, salon perfect blowout that you can never seem to replicate at home? Now you can, thanks to the folks at Phyto. Phytodéfrisant Botanical Relaxing Balm is a heat-activated straightening balm that hydrates, fights frizz, and leaves hair touchably soft and silky smooth. Suitable for all hair types, the product has a light, gel-like consistency that won’t weigh hair down. Apply a silver dollar-sized dollop to towel dried tresses, comb through, and blow dry for sleek, professional looking results. Phytodéfrisant is so fabulous that you might just bid your flat iron farewell.

Clinique Dramatically Different Moisturizing Gel - Large Size, $36 ($39 value)
I'm kind of kicking myself for just having bought a bottle of this a month ago. It's my go-to summer moisturizer because it's light, doesn't aggrivate my sensitive skin, and doesn't leave my oily skin looking greasy. The Dramatically Different Moisturizing Lotion is also on sale, so I'll pick that up in preparation for the colder months ahead.

Donna Karan 'Cashmere Mist' Deodorant Trio, $32 ($54 value)
Cashmere Mist Deodorant is the best smelling deodorant, possibly, ever. Have I actually smelled every deodorant that ever was? Um, no...but I highly doubt that they could top Cashmere Mist. $32 may sound pricey for three deodorants. But, trust me, they are worth every penny. Buck up now and thank me later.

Phyto Friends and Family Summer Sale

Show your hair that you care...and check out the Phyto Friends & Family Summer Sale. While you're there, be sure to stock up on some of these Spoiled Pretty-approved products:

• Phyto 9 daily ultra nourishing botanical cream
• Phytomist instant hydrating conditioner
• Phytodéfrisant botanical hair relaxing balm
• PhytoSpecific Vital Force Shampoo restructuring shampoo
• PhytoSpecific Vital Force Cream Bath restructuring mask
• PhytoSpecific Moisturizing Styling Balm styling cream
• PhytoSpecific Relaxer

What To Use When Your Hair Is Tore Up, From The Split Ends Up

The label for PhytoSpecific’s Vital Force Shampoo and Conditioner indicates that the products are meant for “Curly, Frizzy, or Relaxed Hair.” To be more accurate, the packaging should say: “If your hair is tore up, from the split ends up, open up your wallet.”

The shampoo and conditioner don’t smell very good; the smell isn’t awful, but it’s definitely not something that’s going to engender deep breathing or orgasmic outbursts - like in the old skool Herbal Essences commercials. But the fragrance is a non-issue for me, because the products work so fabulously.

The Vital Force Shampoo hydrates and deeply nourishes very dry, damaged, and brittle hair. Since I started using it, I’ve noticed that my hair feels more moisturized and less brittle - and my hair breakage has decreased significantly.

The Vital Force Crème Bath is a conditioner with high concentrations of shea butter, jojoba oil and sesame oil - which penetrate the hair’s cuticle to deposit vitamins and nutrients that tore up hair is craving. The conditioner’s gummy texture is unlike anything I’ve ever experienced…I’ve been using it for a month, and I still marvel every time I get in the shower. But once you rub it between your hands, it transforms into a creamy consistency that glides through hair.

Usually when I apply conditioner, I’m too lazy to comb it through; but the Vital Force Crème Bath is so amazing that I make sure to always work it through with a wide-tooth comb - to ensure that no strand misses out on its gummy goodness.

PhytoSpecific Vital Force Shampoo and Crème Bath conditioner are available at Sephora and beauty.com.

Buy This Immediately: PhytoSpecific Extreme Shine Spray

I want you to listen very carefully. I’m only going to say this once. Open up your wallet and take out $26. Take said bills to Sephora and exchange them for PhytoSpecific’s Extreme Shine Spray. I don’t care if the kids gotta eat. Who cares if the electric bill is past due? This is imperative, people. PhytoSpecific Extreme Shine Spray will make your hair gleam so bright, you won’t need no stinkin’ lights!

As I’ve said before, my hair is the black hole of shine. Over the years, I’ve amassed an arsenal of shine serums, creams, and sprays to compensate for my mane’s embarrassing dullness. But while they imparted shine, it was always pretty apparent that the sheen was a result of product placement - and not good genetics.

Fortunately, and thanks to PhytoSpecific, I don’t have that problem anymore. Extreme Shine Spray subtly coats hair with botanical extracts without weighing it down. Exotic karanja oil nourishes and protects, while comforting chamomile and sage work to tone and impart dazzling radiance. It’s formulated without parabens, sulfates, synthetic dyes, petro-chemicals and phthalates; so it enriches the look and condition of your hair.

If you’ve got lackluster locks, you MUST invest in PhytoSpecific Extreme Shine Spray. Just a few sprays of this finishing mist will have you believing in miracles. You’ll be blinded by the shine, and bowled over at how believable and effortless it appears.

I am so excited by this product that I wish I could gift each and every one of you with a sample. That’s how amazing it is…I just wanna share the shine. If I had an Oprah-esque bank account, this is the point where my elves would emerge and pass out gift bags filled with my new favorite thing. I’d be all, “And you get an Extreme Shine Spray, and you get and an Extreme Shine Spray, and you get an Extreme Shine Spray.”

Unfortunately, I can’t roll like that…yet. So until the money train pulls into the Spoiled Pretty station, you’ll have to reach into your own wallet (bills be damned) and buy your own can.

The PhytoSpecific line is also sold at Beauty.com.

Get Gifted At Saks

Ageless Beauty 101 is in session at Saks Fifth Avenue. From now until March 8, stop in to learn about your favorite beauty brands and take home deluxe gifts with purchase. Click here to browse the catalogue.

Here is a sampling of the deals and steals available at Saks*:

BLISS Deluxe samples of Vanilla and Bergamot Body Buff, Vanilla and Bergamot Bubbling Bath and Shower Gel and Foot Patrol Exfoliating Foot Cream, with your $75 purchase.

BOBBI BROWN Pink Truffle Collection includes full-size Pink Truffle Pot Rouge and mini Sandy Beige Shimmer Lip Gloss, with your $100 purchase.

CLE DE PEAU BEAUTE Cosmetic pouch includes deluxe samples of La Crème, Revitalizing Emulsion and Eye Contour Essence, with your $300 purchase.

CLINIQUE Deluxe samples of Colour Surge Butter Shine Lipstick, Quickliner for Lips, Long Last Lipstick, Take The Day Off Makeup Remover and a white lipstick case, with your $50 purchase.

DIOR Black saddle pouch includes mini samples of L’Or de Vie Crème and Lip & Eye Palette, wit your $125 purchase.

FEKKAI Deluxe sample of Glossing Cream, with your $75 purchase.

FRESH Gift box includes deluxe samples of Rose Face Mask, Soy Face Cleanse and Umbrian Clay Face Treatment, with your $125 purchase. Gift box plus a deluxe sample of Sugar Face Polish, with your $150 purchase.

FREEZE 24/7 Mini miracle kit includes deluxe samples of Anti-Wrinkle Cream, Anti-Aging Eye Serum, IceCream Double Scoop Intensive Anti-Aging Moisturizer and IceCrystals Anti-Aging Prep and Polis, with your $150.

GUERLAIN Discovery kit includes mini samples of Maxi Lash Mascara, Kiss Kiss Lip Gloss in No 570, Super Aqua Toner, Orchidee Imperiale Cream and Insolence Eau de Toilette, with your $175 purchase.

KIEHL’S SINCE 1851 Deluxe samples of Crème de Corps Soy Milk and Honey Scrub Crème de Corps Nurturing Body Wash and Abyssine+ Cream, with your $75.

LANCOME Signature train case includes Clor Design Lipcolor, Color Design Eye Shadow Quartet, Star Bronzer Poudre Soliel, Definicils Pro, Cils Booster XL, Blow Sensuelle and Absolute Premium bx, with your $75 purchase.

MOLTON BROWN Deluxe samples of Heavenly Gingerlily Body Cream or Shower Gel, with your $65 purchase.

PHYTO Deluxe sample of Phytodefrisant, with your purchase of any two products.

TRISH MCEVOY ink Rose Collection includes full-size Pink Rose Lip Color, travel sizes of Deep Nude Lip Liner, Sexy Lip Gloss, #9 Blackberry & Vanilla Musk fragrance, Beauty Booster Cream, Beauty Booster Serum and a blue logo cosmetic bag, with your $125 purchase.

*One per customer, while supplies last. Samples may vary. In-store only.

Primetime Emmys 2007 - A Retrospective

It’s the day after the 2007 Primetime Emmys…so without further ado, I bring you the obligatory red carpet recap.

Dude, Where’s My Makeup?

Rebecca Romijn looks like a beauty bandit snuck into her house and stole everything but her pastel makeup. Smart thief…I would have left it too. I really like Rebecca – she seems to be down to earth and unpretentious, but she’s a former model...so she, of all people, should know what looks good (and what doesn’t) in pictures. I would recommend a slightly stronger lip for Rebecca, such as Clinique Colour Surge Butter Shine Lipstick in Poppy Love. If I were her makeup artist, I would also coat her lashes with a few coats of Lancome Hypnose Custom Volume Mascara and use Benefit’s Gilded Eyeliner on the inside of lower lids to make her eyes pop.

Scarlet Fever

Like a timeless black dress, red lips never go out of style. So it should come as no surprise that we were seeing red last night, as more than a few starlets decided to match their lip color with that of the carpet.

Hot mama-to-be Christina Aguilera, and Katherine Heigl channeled old Hollywood - smartly pairing bold lips with lengthy lashes. I kinda wish Christina would have shown us a softer, less sultry side - but this is Mrs. Bratman's signature look...and she's gonna rock it 'til the wheels fall off.

As for Miss Heigl, "Congratulations" are an order. First she gets engaged, now she's an Emmy winner. She's come a long way since My Father the Hero.

To find a red that's wearable, use your complexion as a clue to finding your perfect hue. Blue-based reds give pale skin a boost - try Maybelline New York Moisture Extreme Lipcolor in Candied Apple. Gals with medium skin should choose orangey reds, like Nars Lipstick in Heat Wave. Ladies with dark skin can wear any red, as long as it's bright enough to show up. MAC Lip Pencil in Brick and Lipstick in Lady Bug is a winning combination for me.

Choosing Sides

Did I miss the memo? Did all of the attendees call each other on Saturday and coordinate their hairdos? I thought the point of these shindigs was to outdo the next girl, not be her carbon copy. Rashida Jones' makeup is beautiful, but her "side updo" falls flat...the bangs and side wisps look a little deflated and defeated.

Kate Walsh's do isn't exactly a don't - but between the red hair, lips, dress, and nails...it's just too much. So who am I siding with in the battle of the side updos? I'm crowning Heidi Klum the champ. The perfection that is Project Runway may have gone unacknowledged, but Heidi looked every bit the winner last night.

Not only did she choose the right makeup, she created her makeup! The collection is called the Heidi Klum Very Sexy Makeup Collection and will be available at Victoria's Secret in October. For more on the makeup Heidi wore, visit BellaSugar.com.

Life on the E List

Kathy Griffin is now an Emmy winner - but unfortunately, my favorite crazy comedienne has seen better days. First things first, Kathy - grow out those bangs...a nice side-swept bang would look so nice on you! And I would trade that nude lip for a soft rose-gold - try Clarins Lip Colour Tint in 19 Wild Berry.



Uh-Oh

Sandra, are you even wearing makeup? News flash: even the natural look requires makeup. Your Bottega Veneta dress, however, was gorgeous.



Pump Up the Volume

One of the series I'm most excited to return this fall is Heroes. So it pains me to be critical of Ali Larter, whose character is so fun to watch every week. Her skin looks flawless, and you can tell from her expression, that she's genuinely enjoying herself and excited to be there. But her hair is neither here nor there...looking at this and subsequent photos, it's clear that Ali's limp locks could use a little lift. A product like Phytovolume Actif Maximizing Volume Spray would add body to her fine hair.

The Sopranos

Who hit high notes last night? In my humble opinion, Eva Longoria looked anything but desperate - and set the bar high. She didn't pull any punches...instead opting for a look we've all seen before, but one that always delivers. As Rupert Everett says in My Best Friend's Wedding, "Love the bag, love the shoes, love everything!"

Honorable mention is awarded to both America Fererra and Hayden Panettiere. In a sea of reds and neutrals, it was so refreshing to see America in cerulean. And although her hair may have looked a little prom-ish from the front - trust me, her 'do was fierce.



Hayden didn't win high fashion marks with me, as her Marc Bouwer gown swallowed her petite frame. But her skin was youthfully dewy, her eyes sparkled, and she had this lit-from-with glow to her. Some of the vets could learn a few things from this newbie...when it comes to putting her best face forward, she's wise beyond her years.

Do you agree? Think I'm snarky cuz I'm jealous? Who do you think took top honors? Leave a comment below.

Does Your Do Make the Cut?

The right haircut can transform your face by complimenting your best features and camouflaging imperfections. It can even reveal assets you never knew you had. Read on to see if your do makes the cut.

Show the world you love your nose: Pin-straight hair will mirror the bridge of your nose. A center part, because it is on the same vertical line as your nose, will focus attention on it. To help smooth hair and tame flyaways, protect hair from the heat of flat irons, use a thermal protectant. On August 21, the first 250 people to sign up on Allure.com will win Fekkai Coiff Defense UV Protectant (retail value: $25).

Take attention away from your nose: The key is to get a softer cut. A feathery bang will do the trick. And a side part takes attention away from the center of your face. For a sleek blowout like SJP's, use a ionic hair dryer, which eliminates frizz, creates sleekness, and improves shine. On August 24, the first ten visitors to sign up on Allure.com will win a T3 Bespoke Labs Featherweight Hair Dryer.

Accentuate your cheekbones: Have your hair cut in layers that form a U-shape from the end of your eyebrows to right below your cheekbones, with side-swept bangs. If your hair is feeling overprocessed, use a treatment that provides intense moisturizate and deep conditioning. C.O. Bigelow's Protein-Enriched Conditioner penetrates easily to soften, detangle, and control frizz.


Bring out your eyes: The tension from a tight ponytail gives your eyes a slight lift, and pulling your hair back from your face puts attention on your eyes. Heavy shine serums can make hair look greasy. So use a lightweight product, such as Fekkai Glossing Cream, to add glossiness without heaviness.


Soften a strong jaw: The bob is really popular right now, and the blunt edges will downplay your jawline. A layered cut that's shorter in the back will make the lower half of your face look sleeker. Use a flat iron to achieve Rihanna's coif, but don't forget to start with some heat relief. John Frieda's Frizz Ease Hair Thermal Protection Serum adds moisture and protects strands.


Add fullness to a narrow face: A side part creates a diagonal line that will move the eye horizontally, creating the illusion of a wider face. To achieve Nicole's chic bob, use a round, metal brush while blow-drying your hair, which will also give you extra lift at the roots. Score a Goody So Smooth Ceramic Round Brush on August 21 when Allure.com gives away 500 of them (retail value: $7.99).

Streamline a round face: A side part with a cut that covers the temples will help contour your face. If your locks are on the limp side, try Bumble & Bumble Thickening Spray - a moderate hold setting spray that builds body and gives lift, control, and helps define curl.



Get a swan-like neck: Pull your hair off your neck into a chignon or partial updo. Volume at the crown creates a long vertical line that extends to your neck. For extra body, use a volumizer like Phyto Phytvolume Actif Spray. On August 20, the first 75 people to sign up on Allure.com will win the volumizer (retail value: $28).


Minimize a large forehead: A long, sideswept bang that starts at the outer corner of your eye and covers the top half of your face will do wonders. For shiny, bouncy hair like Catherine Zeta Jones, try Molton Brown Depth Charge Seednoir Prewash Hair-Therapy. This deep action pre-shampoo treatment oil blend consists of a unique blend of essential oils to revitalize and prevent dehydration and restore shine, suppleness and body to even the most dry and damaged hair. Log on to Allure.com on August 30 for your chance to win a bottle (retail value: $30).


Elongate a short forehead: Tell your stylist to cut a fringe that begins about an inch to an inch and a half above the hairline. Taking the bangs further back gives you the illusion of having a longer forehead. For hair with a high-gloss shine like Naomi, use a silicone product like BioSilk Silk Therapy. Biosilk is a leave-in replenishing and reconstructing treatment that is ideal for all hair types. It repairs split ends, protects from heat and UV rays, and imparts incredible shine.