mall of America

Kiehl’s Since 1851 used the recent Earth Day to launch a new Recyle and be Rewarded! program and a Limited Edition Rare Earth Deep Pore Cleansing Masque series in store.

The Limited Edition Label Art series by “Friends of Kiehl’s,” features designs by socially conscious influencers where 100% of the net proceeds will benefit Recycle Across America.  the featured partners include Florence Welch, Mark Ruffalo, Rosario Dawson and Spike Lee. The product – Rare Earth Deep Pore Cleansing Masque – is amazing. It is made with fairly-traded Amazonian White Clay from the Marajo Island. An ingredient found at the basin of Brazil’s Amazon River, White Clay, also known as “magic earth,” is an ingredient known for its skin detoxification properties.

Recycle and Be Rewarded! is a program where you can return your empty Kiehl’s bottles, tubes and jars for recycling, in exchange for product. How it works:

1. Pick up your Recycle and Be rewarded! card in-store. For each product you return, you will receive a stamp.
2. Once you reach 3 stamps, you receive a complimentary tube of Lip Balm #1.
3. Once you reach 5  stamps, you’ll get to choose an item from the Official Kiehl’s Travel Collection.
4. Once you reach 10 stamps, you’ll get to choose any single product with a value of $25 or less, excluding Flagship Exclusive Items or charitable products.

Join us at Nordstrom at Mall of America for Armani/Clarins’ Facial Weekend!

April 27^th and 28^th

 Stop by Nordstrom Clarins and Armani counters this weekend and enjoy complimentary makeup tips, gifts and refreshments all day long!

Techniques such as cleansing your face without stripping the pH balance or damaging delicate skin are instrumental in keeping your skin fresh and healthy. Allow the Clarins’ experts to share skin-safe tips and treat you to a sample or two Armani specialists will teach the latest and greatest tricks in applying cosmetics to help you achieve that hot-off-the-runway look and trend-forecasting what we can expect to pop up in the world of color. We got a sneak preview of the event (and the goodies!) and it really is a-ma-zing, you won’t want to miss out!

Clarins and Armani will also offer  fabulous gifts-with-purchase this weekend. Whether you choose products from Armani, Clarins or a combination, you’ll still receive a special gift from both! And what’s better than free gifts?

Print out this page and bring it to an Armani or Clarins specialist during the event this weekend  (or if you’re like me and don’t have a printer, just flash them the post on your mobile device) and you’ll receive an extra special complimentary gift set from us to you (no purchase necessary)!

I was 21 and a dear friend just had a baby. She was having a really hard time bouncing back, mainly due to some serious stretch mark damage that spanned beyond her stomach to her thighs and calves. Getting ready to go out was a big challenge for her because she was so self-conscious about her legs and finding the right outfit to go with her new body.  And then it changed. She came over to get ready and it was the first time in a long time she was ready before me. She had a darling outfit on with a skirt and exclaimed, “I found the most amazing product for my legs – Sally Hansen Airbrush Legs.” I couldn’t believe it. Her stretch marks had virtually disappeared and her legs looked flawless. If it did this to her legs, I obviously had to try it on my own. While I don’t have stretch marks, I do have a lot of scars and flaws on my legs from years of being a tomboy;-). As expected, I was delighted by the results of this fabulous product and it has become a staple of my beauty arsenal.

When I love something I evangelize the daylights out of it. I’ve been sharing this beauty secret for years. I always get a few questions, so here’s the skinny:

• What color should I get? There are several color variations of this product. I find – and even when I am tan – that Light Glow is the best. If I’m really tan, I’ll use Medium Glow, but it’s pretty rare. If you have more ethnic skin, there are several darker variations:-).
• Does it rub off on clothes? No! I have worn a white skirt and not had any problems. I have, however, had a few gal pals report back that it’s rubbed off, but they mix it with lotion.
• How do you apply? I apply it by either spraying in my hand or directly on my legs in patches and rubbing in. I fell that it’s best to spray in my hands and rub in. There’s more distribution control this way. Note: Some of my pals mix with lotion to get some lighter coverage. I have not done this, as I like the full effect.
• Where do I find this fabulous product? Did you know Sears at Mall of America has an entire beauty section on Level 2? They carry several drugstore-eske makeup lines, nail polish and more. You can find Sally Hansen Airbrush Legs there for $13.

Would love to hear your thoughts?

You know those people who try to keep up with the trends? I’m totally one of “those” people. I pour over monthly magazines and catalogs to see what’s hot and try desperately to incorporate it into my wardrobe or beauty routine. I have loved the bright lip trend since its debut but never thought I could do it until my recent visit the MAC Cosmetics store. I stopped in to pick up my regular neutral and after a conversation with the make-up artist, she convinced me to try Speed Dial. Low and behold, it was the perfect shade of pink – not too bright, not too soft.

P.S. While the cost is $14.50, I got mine for free. How? MAC has an awesome recycling program called Back to MAC. If you bring in any six items of primary packaging from products they sell that you have used up, you get a free lipstick!

Innovative nail art is stealing the show as this year’s must-have accessory (see: Zooey Deschanel’s tuxedo nails)! We’ve seen it all from simple stripes and polka dots to intricate catwalk inspired motifs.

Like most of you, we couldn’t help but adopt this trend with a twist. I found this colorful iPhone case at J.Crew (Level 2, South) and didn’t think twice before purchasing it. What better of a design to emulate in my first beauty focus post? I hope this easy step-by-step how-to will help you channel your creative side, too

Featured polishes:

Navy blue @ Urban Outfitters (Level 1, West). $20 for 6-piece Nail Set.

Light teal @ Urban Outfitters (Level 1, West). $20 for 6-piece Nail Set.

“Tart Deco” by Essie @ Sears (NE Court). $8.50.

Check out the Spring Preview of Aveda’s Sea Blossoms Makeup Collection and the hottest looks for the season at Mall of America this Sunday, Feb. 19 from 12 – 4 p.m.  in Nordstom Court.

Aveda’s Global Makeup Artist Janell Geason will demonstrate the collection and looks as guests receive complimentary makeup applications from Aveda makeup artists.

Guests will also be able to enter for a chance to win a full makeup application with Janell Geason herself.

Progressions Salon and Aveda Pure-fessional Terri Varty will showcase season hair color trends while event guests receive complimentary hair color consultations by Progressions Salon’s top professional colorists.

Contact Aveda Mall of America for more information.

Here’s a sneak peek at the collection (we’re swooning over it!)

I am totally digging on the idea of this DiorShow Heat Curl lash curler from Sephora. Dior has great beauty products and when I heard about the fact that this product was inspired by a tool that they use backstage at fashion shows, I knew I had to check it out. Turns out, it’s pretty cool.

Every year, my parents ask me to create a holiday wish list so that they have ideas on what to get me for Christmas. Recently, my Mom started a tradition where they will get me a few things off my list but then she tries to find something to surprise me with. Last year, she got me this fresh Sugar exfoliating and moisturizing lip balm from Sephora and it was a huge hit! I use it every morning and evening after I brush my teeth, leaving my lips soft and smooth. If you’re looking, this is a great stocking stuffer for the ladies in your life!

I am loving the new Bare Escentuals bareMinerals Ready Eyeshadows. Truthfully, I always liked the concept of the Bare Escentuals mineral eye shadows, but I found applying the loose shadows to be rather messy.  Enter bareMinerals Ready Eyeshadow Palettes (available at the Bare Escentuals store). Finally a solid option for the famous Bare Escentuals mineral shadows (insert happy dance here). This brand new line offers an amazing array of colors and you won’t believe the rich pigmentation in these shadows.  They come in either a duo for $20 or a quad for $30.  I purchased the duo in Escape, a nude cream and brown suede combo. I found the shadows to be uber smooth – so soft and velvety it’s like applying a cream to your lids.  The shadows blend easily, leaving you with color that lasts all day (add the Bare Escentuals Prime Time Eyelid primer to the mix, and you’ll be set for a good 12 hours). The best part is that these shadows are good for your skin.  They include mineral complexes that deliver antiaging benefits like depuffing and antioxidant protection. Overall a great addition to the Bare Escentuals product line.

Unless you were living under a rock last week, you couldn’t miss the photos of Lindsay Lohan’s court appearance. Poor Linds. Not only did she get into trouble for violating her probation, she also had a major make-up mishap. I mean, we all WANT sculpted cheekbones, but Lindsay went a little overboard. She looked like a cross between “Dynasty” and “Rocky Horror Picture Show.”

A better way to go might have been to use MAC’s Sculpting Powder Pro Palette ($16.50 at MAC). This specially tinted powder is used to enhance your natural cheekbones and sculpt contours into the face. It’s the perfect shade, creating a natural looking shadow effect. I use a small powder brush to lightly brush this into the hollows of my cheekbones. The key here is natural – this should not look like Navajo war paint (sorry, Lindsay). This product leaves a sheer, matte finish and is great for all skin tones.