BellaSugar

Getting Your Brows Done in Public: Pretty Good, Actually

BellaSugar — Wed, 10 Jun 2009 14:00:20 -0700

My eyebrows were a pair of unruly beasts, and no at-home tweezing could tame them. And unfortunately, my regular brow-maintenance person has raised her prices to a not-so-affordable $50 a pop. So last night, I trekked to Nordstrom to try out the Anastasia Brow Studio in the beauty department. There are many locations nationwide, but I'd never thought of going to one because, well, you're getting your brows done in the middle of a cosmetics department. (I like a little privacy.) Still, the $30 price was much easier to swallow, and there's a reason that Anastasia is known as the brow expert - so why not take a chance, live a little?

First thing's first: Yes, it is a little awkward to have your eyebrows shaped while shoppers mill about. (Someone's sad-looking boyfriend, stranded while his lady shopped, looked very confused by the brow-waxing process.) But after I got over that, it was smooth sailing. My esthetician expertly waxed, plucked, shaped, and highlighted my brows until they looked magazine perfect. I was mildly surprised that she, a pro, used Anastasia's brow stencils to guide her, but they worked so well that I am now going to use them to maintain the arch at home. Score one for Nordstrom.

If you want to see the end result, read more.

There's no "before" shot, but suffice it to say that I sported the eyebrow equivalent of Daniel Higgs's beard.

Nordstrom Lets You Visit Toledo

BellaSugar — Tue, 07 Apr 2009 07:01:49 -0700

Ruben Toledo is an illustrator and painter whose work appears in style magazines and art museums alike. He's also one of the fashion world's most celebrated artists (and not just because his wife, Isabel Toledo, is one of Michelle Obama's favorite designers), counting Nordstrom as one of his clients. Last year, he created murals for a set used in the store's advertising; this year, he's bringing his work one step closer to shoppers with this makeup bag.

The bag is a gift with purchase when you spend $100 in Nordstrom's beauty department, while supplies last. Inside are 13 samples from brands ranging from Kate Somerville to Bare Escentuals. I'm normally lukewarm on the whole GWP thing, but as a fan of Toledo's work, I can't help but think this is kinda cool.

FYI: Nordstrom and E.L.F. Aren't a Couple

BellaSugar — Wed, 18 Jun 2008 13:00:32 -0700

Some of you might have received an email alerting you to a partnership between Nordstrom and Eyes Lip Face cosmetics (E.L.F. for short). The message goes something like this: E.L.F. has been featured on Oprah, Nordstrom just bought the line, and they're having a big ol' clearance (all products marked down to a dollar!) to make room for new makeup.

Trouble is, it's not true. Nordstrom has released a statement calling the emails fraudulent:

We have learned that some of our customers received emails from an unauthorized and unknown source regarding the website eyeslipsface.com. We want you to know that Nordstrom and Nordstrom.com are not affiliated with eyeslipsface.com or the E.L.F. product line, nor with any email regarding that website or product line. Nordstrom does not sell E.L.F. products.

For what it's worth, E.L.F. products are only a dollar in the first place. So if you want to shop, have at it - just think twice before you press that forward button in your email.

Bella Bargain: Free Body & Soul Lip Glow, Nordstrom Treats

BellaSugar — Tue, 15 Jan 2008 15:00:02 -0800

I love freebies, and through the end of the month, you can get a pretty good one from Body & Soul. Purchase one face product through Jan. 31, and you'll receive a free, full-size Champagne Lip Glow (a $16.50 value). It's a pretty, pinky-beige gloss, and like all Body & Soul products, it comes in beautiful vintage-inspired packaging.

And if you're shopping for a big haul, you might want to know that Nordstrom.com is doling out some good samples with a $100 purchase. Drop a Benjamin (does anyone even use that slang anymore?) and you can get a floral makeup bag filled with trial-sized products from Erno Laszlo, Smashbox, Z. Bigatti, Marc Jacobs Daisy, Lancôme, L'Occitane, Clarins, Kinerase, Clinique, and more. Not too shabby.

Nordstrom's Anniversary Pre-Sale Event is Here

BellaSugar — Mon, 25 Jun 2007 13:38:00 -0700

Hey hey everybody! The day has finally come when you can begin placing your orders for Nordstrom's Anniversary Pre-Sale Event! Get excited, because more than 100 beauty brands are featuring exclusive items.

As a reminder, you can place your orders starting today, but your credit card won't be charged and product won't be delivered until July 20th, the day that the in-store-sale begins. I've been gearing up all week for this, but don't worry if you've missed a day or two. Below you can see my list of top six picks. Enjoy!

Coming Soon: Bliss Happy "Hand"-iversary Set

BellaSugar — Sun, 24 Jun 2007 10:38:57 -0700

I hope you've been enjoying this preview of items from the Nordstrom Anniversary Pre-Sale, which begins on Monday. I love that this Bliss Happy "Hand"-iversary Glamour Gloves and Glamour Glove Gel Set is a really sweet deal. Normally, these items would cost $70 separately, but during this event they cost $52!

I've got to, um, hand it to Bliss for creating this ultimate at-home pampering experience. Do you have any idea just how cool these gloves are? To start, they are lined with grapeseed and ceramide which self-activates to exfoliate, soothe and hydrate the skin. Just slip the gloves on, relax for 20 minutes and your hands are much softer.

Once you are finished, apply the light and lovely orange scented glove gel to keep your paws feeling soft and to help minimize the look of age spots. This set is good for about 50 treatments; that's about one small slice of heaven per week for a whole year!

If you think this is cool, don't forget to check out the rest of BellaSugar's Nordstrom Anniversary Pre-Sale picks.

Coming Soon: Vera Wang Princess Gift Set

BellaSugar — Sat, 23 Jun 2007 12:28:24 -0700

When I saw this Vera Wang Princess Gift Set ($58) that has been created especially for Nordstrom Anniversary Pre-Sale Event I totally flipped. Not only is the 1.7 oz bottle of Eau de Toilette an awesome gift, but the huge lavender rhinestone heart key chain/compact filled with 30 elixir capsules is outer-limits cute!

If I love it, imagine how a teenager would feel about it. The key chain/compact is ridiculously girly, fun and flirty-and it's functional, so you can keep anything (well, anything tiny) inside the heart.

Each of the capsules is intended for individual use, so when you are out and about and want to freshen up, all you do is tear it open, tap the fragrance on your pressure points and then trash it! And I thought this perfume and lip gloss duo was the be-all and end-all. Pick this up now to get you in the mood for Vera's upcoming cheap-chic collection for Kohl's!

Coming Soon: Metallic Makeup Bags from Nordstrom's Anniversary Sale

BellaSugar — Fri, 22 Jun 2007 05:00:42 -0700

We just can't get away from metallics (not that I'm complaining). First we thought it was just a spring trend, but then it carried through to summer and now we see it again for fall. So if you are going to tote around a metallic handbag, why not carry a metallic makeup case as well? Here's a peek at three great ones from Nordstrom's Anniversary Pre-Sale Event. And don't forget to check out my first beauty pick from the pre-sale here.

This Shu Uemura Silver Cosmetics Bag ($65) is a chic and compact zippered pouch packed with the company's best-selling eyelash curler (which is reason enough to buy this set), and three full-sized products including a black mascara, a red lipstick and a silvery-taupe powder eye shadow.

For three more metallic makeup bags from Nordstrom's Anniversary Sale, read more

The Laura Mercier Nordstrom Anniversary Set ($65) includes a shimmery crème brulee soufflé body crème, a plumping lip gloss in latte, a mini coral red quad face powder and a mini finishing makeup brush-all of which come in a deep bronze metallic cosmetic bag. What a deal!

Smashbox After Party Beauty and Brush Kits ($38, or $58) come inside a gorgeous and soft ultra suede and leatherette metallic makeup case. It has three different compartments (the center has a zipper closure and the sides have a snap closure). I've been using mine for a week now and I love it!

Coming Soon: MAC Novel Twist Collection

BellaSugar — Thu, 21 Jun 2007 07:00:06 -0700

Every year, MAC comes out with a really cool limited edition set for the Nordstrom Anniversary Pre-Sale Event. Last year, they made some wicked mini purple makeup brushes, and this time they have created an entire line called MAC Limited Edition Novel Twist Collection. The mini makeup brushes are charcoal gray, and the black boucle cases sport colorful aqua or baby-pink threading.

The collection includes three Lipglass lip glosses ($14 each), two powder blushes ($17.50 each), two beauty powders ($22 each), four lip palettes with three lipsticks in pink, plum, tan and coral variations ($22.50 each), two eye palettes with four unique shades in cool and warm tones ($36 each) a pearlizer plus a brush and a bag ($24.50) and two brush sets in basic or pro styles ($48 each).

Also, remember that the colors are exclusive to Nordstrom for this special sale. If you're a MAC fan, this collection is a must-have!

Coming Soon: Smashbox After Party Beauty and Brush Kits

BellaSugar — Wed, 20 Jun 2007 06:00:00 -0700

As promised, here's the first look at some of the new goodies that you can pre-order at Nordstrom's Anniversary Pre-Sale. I fell in love with this nine-piece After Party Beauty Kit ($58) and four-piece After Party Brush Kit ($38). Both provide the perfect amount and combination of cosmetics and mini-brushes for a polished look. If you don't already have a set, I can't stress the importance of investing in a good set of makeup brushes enough. Having quality tools of the trade will greatly improve the way your makeup looks.

To read about what's inside these pretty makeup bags, read more

The After Party Beauty Kit comes in a really cute pewter metallic bag filled with - three eye shadows, a cream eye liner duo, black mascara, lip enhancing gloss, a blush/soft lights powder duo (for color and highlighting) and its famous photo finish foundation primer. The After Party Brush Kit includes a concealer brush (#4), an eye cream eye liner brush (#9), an eye definer brush (#15) as well as a blush brush (#16). If you've been looking for an all-in-one kit, either of these will give you everything you need. And considering the quality, the price is quite reasonable.