on the beauty beat and a heads up…

illuminating cc cream
it cosmetics cc+ cream illumination foundation

Last year Karen introduced me to the It Cosmetics “Your Skin But Better” CC+ Cream, which I was very impressed with and still use regularly. I do find that although the finish is dewy when first applied, it tends to go more matte over a few hours, especially if the air is dry (hello, air-conditioning!). This newer “illumination” formula has a bit of shimmer and radiance for more “glow”, and seems to be a bit more moisturizing. (Karen gave me a sample and I’ve ordered a full size tube to try, will report back.)

long lasting lip gloss
Chantecaille “luminous” lip gloss

I’ve not been wearing much lip gloss in recent years despite liking how it feels and looks (if not over-applied). There seem to be two formulas, those that feel very moisturizing but disappear after 30 minutes, or those that last longer but are so sticky that I don’t dare go out in a breeze. Lately I’ve been quite happy with my Chantecaille Lip Chic lipstick for everyday wear, but a Sales Associate convinced me to try this gloss in “Fig” which looks like a cool brown in the tube. Of all the colors I wouldn’t have thought would work for me, that one would have been near the top of the list. But it looked great on (hitting that elusive “My Lips But Better” spot) and I didn’t feel the need to reapply for about 3 hours. It’s very moisturizing and not at all sticky. Great for those days you just need a little color and shine.

In other news….

how to get early access to Nordstrom anniversary sale

The Nordstrom Anniversary sale is just around the corner. I generally don’t get that excited about most sales, as so often it’s the same merchandise offered that we’ve been flipping through for weeks or months. But this sale features totally NEW fall merchandise, marked down at the start of the season for a limited time. I’ve found some GREAT stuff at this sale over the last few years, and it pays to shop early, as some of the most desirable pieces sell out fast. If you have a Nordstrom card, you’ll be able to start shopping on July 9th. If you don’t and would like to apply for one, go here. Being a cardholder potentially entitles you to lots of extra benefits, not the least of which are “Nordstrom Notes,” which are rewards in amounts of $20 and up you can apply to purchases, both in stores and online.

I’ll begin posting some of my picks from the sale on Thursday morning, and will update regularly. If you haven’t yet received a copy of the catalog in snail mail, you can peruse here.

nordstrom anniversary sale catalog 2015

 

Do you have any great summer beauty finds to share?

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10 Comments

  1. I haven’t tried IT Cosmetics yet but I love their rep who does demos on the home shopping channel. This cream looks like a winner.

  2. A word of caution on IT Cosmetics….I tried it after Susan posted it awhile back and was impressed with the application of the tinted moisturizer and the way the mascara went on; however, after only two days of wearing it, my cheeks and chin turned bright rosy red, itched and stung; my eyes puffed up, itched and watered whenever I had the mascara on. I researched the ingredients and came to realize that they use a lot of botanicals and that I may have had an allergic reaction to some of them. Seemed like a great product but if you have sensitivities you may want to try just a sample first. On the upside, I bought the products from my local ULTA and they gave me a full refund (I was wearing sunglasses and just a moisturizer – when I took my sunglasses off the clerk realized I was serious!) Anyway, I recovered a few days later and have returned to my tried and true cosmetic line.

  3. I’ve been using the Bare Minerals BareSkin serum foundation for the last two months and I love it! I’ve tried many BB and CC creams, and am tempted to try yours, but have never found one that provides enough coverage. I’m loving the Bare Minerals foundation because it has the most adjustable coverage of any foundation that I have ever used, and as a bonus, my skin is looking fabulous these days, even after I take my makeup off (I attribute this to the serum in the makeup as I have not otherwise altered my beauty routine).

    I was in Nordie’s the other day and was tempted by the sales lady to get a credit card in order to get early access to the sale…I’ll wait to see your picks and that may send me over the edge. I’m on a one-month clothes buying moratorium (I just cleaned out my closet and need some time to reassess) so I am secretly hoping there’s not anything TOO tempting on your page (but guessing there will be).

  4. I look forward to your Nordstrom Sale picks to see if I have missed something; you often feature items that I like and that fit my taste. I have to say that after looking forward to the anniversary sale catalog, which I received last week, I was very disappointed. It just did not have the wow! mark-that-page-factor I am used to. The Anniversary Sale catalog has been a grown up version of accessible fall/winter fashion shopping inspiration that, for me, is part of a tradition that extends back to the much anticipated back-to-school issue of Seventeen magazine, lol.

  5. Agree with the above poster….saw not one tempting thing in the Nordies’ catalog. I am hopeful there will be something exciting in the store, though!

  6. I always stock up on Philosophy’s Purity cleanser during this sale – it lasts all year. Then I look around, and always manage to find something, even if it’s just a scarf. I enjoy seeing the fall colors and fabrics, too. I like summer, but fall/winter clothes are my favorites!

  7. I tried the IT CC cream last summer and loved it. It is the first CC cream I’ve found with enough coverage for me. Thanks for letting us know about the new version.