Catalpa blooms are a fleeting pleasure in late spring. Their frilly flowers are so feminine, particularly set against the large masculine leaves of the tree. The flowers are like orchids! My tree is a volunteer. I didn't choose its spot, but finally decided to let it grow. I feel nature has a master plan.This week was exciting. I received so many boxes, filled with beauty goodies, I'll be testing and writing for days (weeks?). I had planned to catch up on skin care this week, believing that we were in a lull between the last summer makeup introductions and the first of the fall collections. I got that wrong!
I attended a blogger party at Lord & Taylor this week. I'll have more to tell you about it, hopefully this evening. They invited product representatives to spotlight their spring and summer collections. I spent a lot of time with the Dior rep, and, believe it or not, I bought another Dior Addict lipstick. I don't plan to count the shades I've purchased - it's crazy. I would swatch it for you, but it landed on my desk at work. It's a perfect neutral shade that I can wear with anything. Anyhow, if you have a Lord & Taylor nearby, you must swing by for Friends & Family. Most items in the store are discounted 25%, and they even offer a 10% discount in the beauty department.
If you live anywhere near Neiman Marcus at Mazza Gallerie, there's a new Le Métier de Beauté product specialist named Michael Reinhardt. His Seven Days of Beauty Camp Gorgeous special event is ongoing - until Sunday, June 12. Stop by and say hello to Michael. Tell him Best Things in Beauty sent you. You may find a little gift in your bag when you leave.
A friend gave me a Gloss d'Armani in Pink #400, one of the shades I had not bought (and, thus, not featured). Rather than write Part 4 of my series, proving once and for all that I'm under Giorgio Armani's spell, I decided to show you a swatch photo here, taken in front of the Catalpa leaves. Gorgeous! I guess I am under Armani's spell, otherwise, I would have complained about the tiny print on the labels at the bottom of these gloss vials. Who did they think would be able to read them without a magnifying glass? My eyes are great - much better than my back and knees - but it's a challenge to read the labels.
Enough from me! It's time for The Friday Forum. We use the forum to share information and chat. Did you find any deals you couldn't resist this week? Are you using a fabulous product and want to sing its praises? Did you find a beauty product disappointing? Do you have a question others might be able to answer? Want to talk about skin care? What's new in your life? Just use the comments. Don't be shy. Just make sure to ask any question you might have over the weekend. By Monday, most (not all) readers have moved on.
I have two giveaway contests underway. Both end at midnight Saturday, June 11. I'm surprised there aren't more entries. Rozz J. at FBR Cosmetics is giving away the FBR lip gloss of your choice! Just go to this link to enter. We also have a contest for Aquaphor. Two readers will win an Aquaphor Lip Repair. You can enter that contest here. All winners will be chosen at random. Please give some of my favorite companies a shout-out by entering!
I'm still hyperventilating when I look at Lumières Byzantines de Chanel.
Photos by Best Things in Beauty