SEPHORA VIB 20% OFF SALE: RECOMMENDATIONS

Holy moly, is it really November already? I can't believe that I've been away for so long! I had computer problems and needed to send my laptop to the doctor. Eight long, torturous weeks later, it came back and has been working well ever since. Right around that time, lots of big, exciting changes began to happen in my personal life. Lots. I'll explain everything in another post because after such a long hiatus, I want to get right down to business!

Like many of you, I was a little upset to learn that Sephora's 2012 Friends & Family sale was going to be considerably more literal this year than in the past. (Basically, it was open to the Sephora family and those who know the staff well.) After years of purchase after purchase, I would have thought that Sephora and I were, in fact, good friends. No matter, because as it turns out, Sephora thinks I'm very important. Super. After the amount of business I've given them over the years, they'd better!

So what am I getting at? Sephora's annual 20% off VIB sale hits stores and Sephora.com tomorrow and ends on November 12th. Not a VIB (Very Important Beauty) Insider? Unfortunately, you can't enjoy this deal, which bothers me immensely considering Sephora already cheaped out on the F&F sale this year. If you are a VIB, use the code "CELEBRATE" at checkout. And if you use Ebates, you get an additional 4% cash back. Not an Ebates member? Join now and thank me later.

I always use Friends & Family and the VIB sales to stock up on essentials and grab some holiday gifts, but I will do a blog post or video entirely devoted to gift ideas in a few weeks. In the mean time, I want to recommend some great products (only a handful of which I haven't tried) that you might typically shy away from given the initial price tag, but that may seem more reasonable with the sale and Ebates.

What I Might Get:

Beautyblender Set
     * Worth the hype?
First Aid Beauty Ultra Repair Cream
     * A winter weather staple
Josie Maran Moroccan Bazaar Argan Set
     * Staple (Argan Oil) + new products I want to try
Josie Maran Bear Naked Nail Wipes
     * Does natural nail polish remover actually work?
Josie Maran Argan Oil Moisturizing Stick
     * To soothe cracked, winterized skin
Make Up For Ever High Definition Foundation *OR*
Yves Saint Laurent Le Teint Touche Eclat Foundation
     * To get "perfect" skin

My Recommendations:

Benefit Sexy Little Stowaways Set
     * 10 travel-sized bestsellers
Clarisonic Skin Cleansing System
     * Holy Grail product and worth every penny
Clarisonic Brush Heads
     * Suggested replacement: every 90 days
Fresh Sugar Addiction Mini Lip Collection
     * 6 mini tube varieties of this bestselling lip balm
Ghd Classic Straightener/Styler
     * Curl, wave or straighten with ease
Guerlain Meteorites Powder
     * An iconic product; I haven't tried it
Josie Maran Argan Oil
     * One of my skincare staples
Lancome Bi-Facil Eye Makeup Remover
     * By far my favorite eye makeup remover
Lancome Hypnose Star Mascara Collection
     * All you need to define your eyes
Kate Somerville Exfolikate
     * Very expensive, but makes skin glow
Make Up For Ever Complexion Starter Kit
     * 4 items to make a flawless face
Nars Blush or Bronzer
     * Iconic powders
Obsessive Compulsive Cosmetics Lip Tar
     * Great lip stains; make sure to apply precisely
Philosophy Shower Gel
     * Candy Cane is my personal favorite
Philosophy Purity Made Simple Cleanser
     * Removes makeup with ease
Philosophy Turbo Booster C Powder
     * Mix with moisturizer to gradually even out your skin tone
REN Glycol Lactic Radiance Renewal Mask
     * Naturally resurface your skin (I've heard great things; on my wish-list)
Sephora by OPI Tinsel Town Collector's Set
     * 16 mini bottles for the nail polish junkie
Sephora Collection Premium I.T. Brush Set
     * For face and eyes; comes with a stand
Sephora Fragrance Sampler
     * Find your new favorite fragrance; great gift
Sephora Lash Stash
     * Find your new favorite mascara; great gift
Sultra 1" Bombshell Curling Iron
     * Makes tight curls or loose waves with ease; my favorite curling iron
Sultra Seductress Curl, Wave & Straight Iron
     * Easily straightens, curls or waves; varied heat settings
Urban Decay Naked 1 or 2 Palette
     * Iconic eyeshadow palettes for the girl who loves neutrals
Urban Decay Ocho Loco 24/7 Eye Liner Set
     * 8 waterproof eyeliners and fantastic double-barrel sharpener
Yves Saint Laurent Touche Eclat
     * Radiance in a tube; not meant to replace your concealer

Boy, do I wish that Sephora still sold Chanel and Mac makeup. (Am I dating myself?) I would stock up like crazy! *Sigh* Anyway, this list is not exhaustive, so feel free to add any product recommendations that you have in the comments section below. Happy shopping!

SHOE HAUL: NORDSTROM ANNIVERSARY SALE

Here's a more in-depth description and review of the shoes I purchased a few days ago at Nordstrom's Anniversary Sale. (The sale ends August 6th.) Don't you just love how the still shots for my YouTube videos always manage to catch me making a fish face or something close to it? One word: gorgeous! LOL You can see a quick peek of everything else that I got here. My fashion and beauty haul videos will be posted over the next few days, so check back soon for those updates!

Products Featured:

• Frye "Melissa Trapunto" Boot
• BP. "Rally" Bootie
• Ugg Australia "Fabrizia" Boot
• Sam Edelman "Petty" Bootie
• Indigo by Clarks "Heath Harrier" Bootie
• Brooks "Adrenaline GTS 12" Running Shoe

What I'm wearing:

• Eyes: Urban Decay Primer Potion, Urban Decay Half Baked and Last Call, Mac Blanc Type, Cover Girl Perfect Blend Black Eyeliner, Laura Mercier Full Blown Volume Lash Building Mascara in Black
• Cheeks: Too Faced Chocolate Soleil Matte Bronzing Powder, Tarte Amazonian Clay Blush 12-Hour Blush in Glisten
• Lips: Mac Ravishing
• Face: Mac Select Cover-up in NW 20, Garnier Anti-Dark-Circle Roller, Chanel Aqualumiere Foundation in Beige
• Nails: Zoya Elodie
• Shirt: Express
• Jeans: Forever 21

TEASER: NORDSTROM ANNIVERSARY SALE HAUL

Now that Nordstrom’s Anniversary Sale is in full swing and my wallet has dropped a solid 10 pounds – a situation where weight loss is really, really bad – I thought I’d tease you with my new goodies. (I seriously cannot wait to play dress up and show you what I come up with!) My lighting is terrible because it’s raining, but I think you can see well enough to get a general idea of what everything is. I have been really good about not shopping over the past few months, but I got a little carried away this time around! My shopping trips were spread out over a few days, so I didn't realize how much I had actually purchased until I started to put this post together. Yikes!

Right to Left, Back to Front: Arcona Triad Pads
Cle de Peau Concealer, Nars Joie de Vivre, Chanel Sable Emouvant
Chanel Vitalumiere Aqua, Chanel Giggle, Dior Amazonia, Chanel Vertigo

Right to Left, Back to Front:
Frye Melissa Trapunto, Ugg Fabrizia, BP. Rally
Brooks Adrenaline GTS 12, Sam Edelman Petty, Indigo by Clarks Heath Harrier
(The black Ugg Fabrizia boots are definitely going back. They're very uncomfortable!)

Frenchi Vanity Tweed Jacket, Halogen Collarless Tweed Jacket, Olivia Moon Ruched Sleeve Jacket

Joie Pearline Blouse, Halogen Pin Tuck Pleat Blouse, Twenty Leather Panel Tee

Halogen Pleat Front Check Skirt, June Rabbit Fur Vest, Hinge Fitted Leather Jacket

I’m either going to do a video or more detailed post that shows you the items in better detail. In the meantime, if you see something you like, get a move on to Nordstrom or the online store before it’s all gone! Keep an eye out for styling ideas and beauty reviews coming in the next few days. Don't forget to subscribe to my blog for updates!

Hope you all have a great weekend!

STYLE ME: THE PERFECT SHOPPING SPREE OUTFIT

I stayed at my parents' house this past weekend to take care of Chloe, our 12-year-old Wheaten Terrier, while they were out of town. Despite my dog's age, she is still energetic and very playful! We went for a brisk hike Sunday morning before I left to run a few errands and severely harm my bank account at Nordstrom’s anniversary pre-sale. (I ordered some things online, too, so check back in a few days to see my new goodies and how I plan to style them.) Not wanting to miss out on any quality time with my awesome dog that I rarely see, I packed my overnight bag pretty quickly. Rather than take the time to plan an outfit or two, I just threw in some separates and hoped they would go together. Really smart, right? Out of the random assortment of clothes I brought, I thought these went together well enough and were perfect for a day primarily spent shopping. How so? Well...

Click on the photo for a closer look.

The purple shorts didn’t really serve a purpose other than to be adorable and colorful. I thought the muted shades of the flowy silk blouse grounded the shorts, despite the animal print. The top was thin enough to try on a blazer, sweater or jacket without having to venture into a fitting room. The white flip-flops slid right off, so I didn’t have to fumble with any buckles when changing shoes. This made the difficult task of finding the perfect fall boot a bit easier. (Side note, I found a few. They. Are. Fabulous.) I would have preferred a purse in a different shade (I find the black a bit jarring with the color palette), but I loved having my hands free while browsing. Plus, I like the bit of toughness that the silver studs provide. I threw on some silver chain-link earrings and my go-to watch to finish the look. I opted not to wear a necklace because I was concerned it might get tangled with the purse strap. (I'm totally lying. I actually forgot to pack a necklace, but that would have been true otherwise!) Overall, this was an easy pairing. What do you think?

What I'm Wearing:

• Blouse: Joie (I recently bought this at a consignment shop. I haggled the price down from $50 to $15. I love to negotiate!)
• Shorts: Mossimo Supply Co.
• Sandals: Stuart Weitzman
• Bag: Nine West
• Watch: Burberry
• Earrings: Judith Ripka – Sterling Collection

NAIL NEWS: MERMAID TO ORDER

There’s nothing like a fresh coat of nail polish on my fingers to make me feel instantly…well, polished! The right coat of varnish conveys my mood and pulls any ensemble together, even if it’s really casual. I like to try bolder, more vibrant colors in the summer (shocking, huh?) because the sun and sand tend to yellow paler hues into sickly-looking shades.

Speaking of the sun and sand, I’ve been trying to get to the beach as much as possible during my free time because I love, love, love the ocean.  Unfortunately, I haven’t been able to take too many day trips this summer because my weekends have been unusually busy. Undeterred, I decided to bring the beach vibe to me! Sephora by OPI’s “Mermaid to Order”  ($9.50 at Sephora) is the closest thing I can think of to having the beach in a bottle. The stunning metallic teal is aptly named and it’s so different from what I normally wear that I get happy every time I look at my fingers.

As such a bold and unique color, “Mermaid to Order” may not be one of my go-to nail polishes for a manicure, but I’ll definitely grab it here and there for a pedicure. The color lasts for about a week on my fingers (with a top coat) and two weeks on my toes with only minor tip wear, so I'm pretty pleased. My only real gripes with this shade are that it needs two coats for full opacity and I can see visible brush strokes when dry. Other than that, I adore this playful hue!

Natural light. With flash.

Natural light. No flash.

Sorry for the somewhat sloppy application. I distractedly painted my nails while watching “Firefly” on Netflix. It's Ed’s new TV obsession, even though we haven't finished the second season of "Game of Thrones" yet. (I don't know why considering it is intensely riveting!)

STYLE ME: A PATRIOTIC OUTFIT OF THE DAY

Oh my goodness, has it really been five months since my last post? Unacceptable! I'm so sorry that I have been M.I.A. for such a long time. Moving, a new (and incredibly adorable) nephew, work, studying and gorgeous weather have all kept me from writing and filming new videos ... but not anymore! I am going to devote some time every day to making BeachBlondeBeauty an improved experience for all. Check back soon for a new layout, posts and videos because the hiatus is over. I am back!

Anyway, today is America's Independence Day and the weather couldn't be hotter. After getting a later start on the morning than expected (I didn't know I could sleep past 8:30 anymore), Ed and I decided to relax at a barbecue instead of fighting beach traffic. I threw on an easy outfit that I snazzed up with a belt and fedora. Being the patriotic girl that I am, I had to sport some red, white and blue. In order to avoid looking over-accessorized, I opted not to wear a necklace. What do you think?

Click on the photo for a closer look.

What I'm wearing:

• Sandals: XOXO
• Skirt: CAbi
• Tank Top: Abercrombie & Fitch
• Belt: H&M
• Fedora: Target
• Bag: MICHAEL Michael Kors
• Bangles: Amrita Singh
• Nails: Butter London "Macbeth"

DIOR GARDEN PARTY: GARDEN PASTELS REVIEW

Despite the release of a spring collection in January being somewhat cruel and taunting, the romantic pastel shades in Dior’s new Garden Party collection were just the pick-me-up I needed. Upon opening any of the pieces from the launch, I feel like I’m suddenly enclosed in a lush rose garden. I can almost feel the warmth of the sun and smell the sweet floral-scented air.  (Too bad it’s actually a cold snowy evening.) One of my favorite products from the collection is the Garden Pastels (#441) eyeshadow quint. The colors are pigmented, long-wearing and work together beautifully.  In short, it is the total opposite of the holiday Couture Golds dud.

In natural light. No flash.

PACKAGING: Garden Pastels comes in Dior’s traditional navy blue lacquered eyeshadow case that is about the size of the palm of my hand. When opened, the palette contains a full mirror, 5 rose-embossed eyeshadows, and 2 double-ended sponge applicators. Everything comes housed inside a navy blue velvet pouch.

PRICE: $59 for 5 eyeshadows (0.16 ounces of product) and 2 doubled-ended sponge tip applicators.

EYESHADOWS: I was a little apprehensive about buying another Dior palette after my disastrous encounter with the holiday Couture Golds quint, but I’m so glad I picked up Garden Pastels! Even without a primer, the eyeshadows are buttery smooth and pigmented; however, I find the color is most intense when I use the applicators.  When I use a brush, the eyeshadows apply slightly more sheerly, but they layer nicely and blend beautifully into each other. If you want to create a really dramatic look, I suggest using a colored base and layering the Dior eyeshadows on top because although pigmented, the colors are on the lighter side. Each eyeshadow is impressive in terms of texture, wear and color payoff – there are no duds here!

In full sun. No flash.

The shades included in this selection are quite shimmery and colorful, so they’re not for the faint of heart. That being said, I think they can be muted so that even neutrals-lovers will feel comfortable using this palette. I have blue eyes and think this looks nice on me, but I imagine these colors will look especially gorgeous on people with brown eyes. The colors in this palette remind me of the Giorgio Armani Spring Luce d'Oro Eye quad in #1, although I haven't seen the Armani palette in person to be able to say for sure.

            Spring Green: Shimmery spring green. Despite the shimmer, it doesn’t feel gritty.

            White: Shimmery white with a hint of green iridescent sheen. Smooth texture and good
            color payoff. (This reminds me of Mac's Vanilla pigment.)

            Pale Yellow: Shimmery buttercup yellow. Good color payoff and grit-free.

            Teal: Shimmery teal with hints of gold. Quite pigmented with a smooth texture.

            Pale Pink: Shimmery pale petal pink. Smooth texture, and decent pigmentation. (It’s  
            somewhat sheer compared to the other shades, but it still builds well.)

SWATCHES:

In full sun. No flash.
Green, White, Pale Yellow, Teal, Pale Pink

APPLICATORS: Although sponge tip applicators usually have a bad reputation for being flimsy and useless, I actually love the ones that Dior produces. Garden Pastels has two double-ended applicators, each with an eyeshadow and eyeliner side. The thicker end is useful for packing on color to the lid, crease or brow. The longer, thinner end is excellent for lining the upper and lower lashes.

OVERALL VERDICT: At $59, Garden Pastels is definitely an investment; however, I think it is money well-spent. The colors work well with each other (which isn’t always the case with small palettes) and blend exquisitely.  Every eyeshadow has a smooth texture with good color payoff. They apply best with the applicators, but can be layered to the desired intensity with brushes. This is how a designer palette should perform!