Bobbi's inspiration for her beautiful new Fall Collection:

“These shades were inspired by the covers of beautiful vintage books. Infused with hints of purple, grey and brown, mauve makeup is a cool neutral that’s very wearable.”

The new Mauve collection is gorgeous. Of course, the star product of the new line-up is the Mauve Face Palette. On counters today, the palette contains three Eye Shadows, one Blush, a Creamy Lip Color, a Lip Sheer and a Lip Color. The shades are all new, exclusives, only to the palette:  Navajo Eye Shadow, Vintage Eye Shadow, Chocolate Mauve Eye Shadow, Mauve Blush, Dusty Mauve Creamy Lip Color, Mauve Lip Sheer and Vintage Mauve Lip Color.

The rest of the Bobbi Brown Fall Mauve Collection:
Lip Color - Heather Mauve and Pale Mauve
Shimmer Lip Gloss - Black Pearl and Iced Mauve
Lip Gloss - Mauve
Long-Wear Gel Eye Liner - Black Mauve Shimmer Ink
Mini Brush Set - a must-have to apply the Face Palette products, the case includes blush, shadow and liner brushes

Though only July 1st and I am getting my Summer makeup routine down, I cannot wait to play with all the new Fall shades. These look especially beautiful. I am not so much of a purple person (it looks so wrong on me), but being more muted with gray and taupe, I am sure I can wear this collection well.
 

I can't believe that is time for Nordstrom's Anniversary Sale Beauty Exclusives already. It seems like just yesterday that I gushed about what I wanted from the exclusive sale last Summer. Anyway, it is here again and start saving or shopping now. Pre-orders for these beauties are being accepted now.

Really - July 18th through August 3rd, shoppers nationwide will rise with the sun and rush to their nearest Nordstrom.  What is the best way to guarantee a successful shopping mission and get the beauties you desire?  The answer, like I said, is to pre-order.

There are more than five pages with great exclusive products, specials sizes and sets available. There is so much to love, but I really have my eye on a few select items.

First the MAC Colour Forms collection. I am not exactly sure which pieces that I will scoop up yet, but I have my eye on more than a few things from the annual addition exclusive to Nordstrom: 

Plus I am sure that I will need this Cocoa Mauve Collection from Bobbi Brown:

And I am longing for this beautiful Lancôme palette, the Color Design Beauty Icon Warm Eye & Cheek Palette:

When I get more time I will be looking a bit closer at more of the exclusives, and I will let you know even more of my selections. What are you longing for?
 

"plan you summer spa vacation on spas of america"

Late to the game as always, I never tried anything from Shu Uemura until late last year. I cannot fathom how I have not lived with some of his beauties, especially because he opened his first boutique back in 1983. Yes, 25 years ago.

In those 25 years, each year Shu Uemura has created a limited edition Boutique Birthday collection. This years collection, which is also the 2008 Summer collection, is absolutely 100% gorgeous - in true Shu tradition. The core values of nature, science and art come to life in this collection. Three 100% natural origin fragrances that are formulated with Despea Water, as well as some beautiful makeup products that are packaged in the designs of Tokyo-based artist Gwenael Nicolas are the highlights.

Look at these gorgeous eyeshadow palettes! $65 each, they are a bit on the expensive side, but just looking at the collectible palettes and the gorgeous shadows they contain make me want them nonetheless. My pick is the Fleur de Source palette with it's bevy of blue shades.

25TH BTB LIMITED EDITION, FLEUR DE ROSE PALETTE

25TH BTB LIMITED EDITION, FLEUR DE SOURCE PALETTE

25TH BTB LIMITED EDITION, FLEUR DE TERRE PALETTE

Which palette would you like on your vanity? 

The Eau de Toilette's sound just as divine. There are three of these as well, in the same names: Fleur de Rose, Fleur de Source and Fleur de Terre.

25TH BTB LIMITED EDITION, FLEUR DE ROSE, EAU DE TOILETTE Sophisticated floral 100% natural origin fragrance with fresh floral amber note. 

25TH BTB LIMITED EDITION, FLEUR DE SOURCE, EAU DE TOILETTE Pure, serene and refreshing cool feeling in a 100% natural origin fragrance with a floral spicy note. 

25TH BTB LIMITED EDITION, FLEUR DE TERRE, EAU DE TOILETTE Energizing, luminous 100% natural origin fragrance with a fresh floral woody note. 

Shop online soon as you will know that this limited edition collection will not last very long. 

"plan you summer spa vacation on spas of america"

Do we dare to talk more about the Fall collections? Really, it is barely Summer, but I suppose we can cool down a bit with looking at some beauties for Fall. This Fall, Prescriptives will dare us to go soft and neutral or alluring and dramatic with Prescriptives’ Fall 2008 Color Collection. 

Daring, a textured on-trend color collection of sapphire and amethyst jewel tones, features an intriguing range of shades.  Eyes take the spotlight with warm browns, rich sapphire and amethyst tones.  Cheeks are natural in soft shades of cherry and pink.  Lips are muted in subtle tones of champagne and rose. Beautiful!

The Daring Collection rundown:

Fall Dimensions Eye Color Quad ($42) - This specially designed multi-dimensional compact is available in each of Prescriptives’ four Color Families. These pre-filled palettes contain a selection of trendy shades to create a natural, intensified or dramatic look. Each shadow is embossed with a unique design.

• NEW Silver Lining – LIMITED EDITION, NEW Purple Haze - LIMITED EDITION, Buttermilk, Brownie (Y/O)
• NEW Cobalt - LIMITED EDITION, Pongee, Relic, Malt Sparkle (R/O)
• NEW Orchid – LIMITED EDITION, Chiffon, Plum Smoke, Fig (R)
• NEW Sparkling Rosé – LIMITED EDITION, NEW Blue Moon - LIMITED EDITION, NEW Black Tea – LIMITED EDITION, Rose Powder (B/R)

Fall Dimensions for Cheeks and Eyes ($35) - This specially designed multi-dimensional all over face and eye powder compact will add dimension to any look. Swirl all three complementary shades together or use any shade on the eyes for a luminous and custom effect.

Sparkle Eye Pencil ($17.50) - This easy to apply eye pencil provides intense color payoff with a sparkling finish. The formula contains large pearlized pigment particles for a dramatic, sparkly effect along with fine glitter particles that add a soft shimmer and dimension.

• NEW Midnight Sparks – LIMITED EDITION
• NEW Plum Sparks – LIMITED EDITION

Lash Envy Volumizing Mascara ($19.50) - This innovative formula transforms skimpy lashes into dramatically thick, enviable lashes with Prescriptives’ breakthrough Volumatrix Polymer that instantly boosts lash volume by up to 200 percent. Introducing two new shades for added drama.

• NEW Midnight – LIMITED EDITION
• NEW Plum – LIMITED EDITION

Colorscope Cheek Color ($17.50) - A super smooth powder formula with concentrated pigments that remains color-true from pan to cheek.

• NEW Pink Horizon (R/O)
• NEW Cherry Blossom (R)

"catch up up on your summer reading with some great spa books over on spas of america"

This collection from Clinique is truly what Summer is all about. Fresh. Floral. Light. Pink. This is the Air-Kissed Colour Collection.

The stand out of this collection is the brand new, limited edition Colour Surge Eye Shadow Trio. In Kiss of Pinks, eyes are awash in soft radiance and glow in the prettiest of pink shades. 

Also in the collection is the gorgeous Fresh Bloom Allover Colour this one in Peony, and two new Long Last Glosswear Lip Gloss in Whisper and Air Kiss (need to pick this one up- stat).

Clinique provided some great tips on how to wear this soft Air-Kissed look. Start with a  dusting of Fresh Bloom Allover Colour in Peony on apples of cheeks, forehead and temples for sun-kissed shimmer. Using the Eye Shadow Trio for day, brush the lightest shade from the lashline to the brow, and define your lashline with darkest color. For night, add drama with the medium shade on lid, then deepen lashline and the crease with the darkest shade. And as a final touch for both day or night, use the NEW Lash Power Mascara Long Wearing Formula in Black Onyx. On lips, the sheer glimmer of NEW Long Last Glosswear SPF 15 in Air Kiss is the perfect daytime look. At night, turn up the intensity by lining and filling in lips with Quickliner for Lips in Baby Buff, then smoothe on the gloss over that for lasting shine.

Air-Kissed Colours is on your favorite Clinique counter now, as well as Clinique.com.

"spa on a budget with some suggestions on spa of america"

Cool Heat. Gosh, do we need some right now! Thanks to MAC Cosmetics we can look both hot and cool with their gorgeous new collection out today.

Summers' chillest look - yes, it is hot. So hot it is cool.  The Cool Heat collection boasts 5 slimshine lipsticks, 7 eye shadows, and two skin-cooling fragrances. 

SLIMSHINE - $14.50
Tropic Glow -  Blue pink with silver pearl (frost)
By Degrees -  Neutral brown pink (frost)
Gentle Summer -  Light clean yellow pink with white pearl (frost)
High 90’s - Clean pink orange (frost)
Swelter -  Sheer clean red (frost)

EYE SHADOW - $14.00
Solar White -  Frosty muted white gold (frost)
Warming Trend - Frosty light taupe (veluxe pearl)
Warm Chill - Frosty seafoam green with gold pearl (frost)
Gulf Stream - Frosty mid-tone blue green with green pearl (frost)
Cool Heat - Frosty teal with multi-dimensional pearl (frost)
Climate Blue -  Mid-tone violet blue with pink pearl (velvet)
Blue Flame -  Dirty metallic navy blue (veluxe pearl)

CREATIONS - $22.50
Hue: Tuquatic
Keynotes: Lotus Leaves, Corsican Cedrat, Anemone, Orris and Blue Cedar
Hue: Turquatic Heat 
Keynotes: Cedrat saturated with the clear effervescence of Mineral Water, Lotus Flower, Opulent Orris, Jasmine and Tiare Soul.

Pick up these beauties at your favorite MAC counter or online at maccosmetics.com.
 

Life should always be this sweet...

With the most sweet Strawberry-Kiwi flavor and the much needed SPF, these Tendertones Lip Balm from MAC will have your lips super soft, super sweet, and protected this Summer.

In a range of 10 beautiful Summery shades, there is at least one or two of these that should be on your lips.

Tread Gently Soft lime green with yellow pearl
E -Z Baby Sheer milky pink
Honey Bare Rosy blue pink with white and gold pearl
Hot n’ Saucy Soft cherry red
Sweet & Nice Sheer red grape with red pearl
Take A Hint Sheer peach with white pearl
Hush, Hush Sheer gold with yellow gold pearl
Sweet Tooth Sheer coral with white pearl
Pucker Sheer berry with red pearl
Deep Sigh Sheer grape brown with red pearl

Surprisingly, especially when just looking at it in the pot, Tread Gently is my favorite shade. It looks pretty on it's own, but so gorgeous over a bright pink lippie.  

Check these out and let me know which ones you scoop up. They are just $14.50 at MAC Cosmetics, of course.