Friday Giveaway: Eight Skincare Ginger Lime Dry Skin Brush and Moisturizer

photography courtesy of Eight Skincare

My dry skin brush is one of the most treasured pieces in my bathroom cabinet. It looks a little different than the one I’m giving away today–that is, mine doesn’t look like a hippie’s toilet brush–but it’s truly a miraculous organic tool. The process of dry brushing has been around for centuries, and, some say, it’s detoxifying. But more importantly, it’s a cellulite fighter and it feels good. (Feels even better when someone else is doing the brushing.) Eight Skincare, which specializes in dry brush exfoliation offers a product line to combat lackluster skin. In fact, founder Vicki Weaver-Payne is posting up at local retailer, Stanley Korshak, today (11 am to 4 pm) to offer consultations and free travel gifts with purchase. Eight Skincare encourages a four-step process that includes dry brushing followed by a cream body wash, sugar scrub, and moisturizer in delicious scents including ginger lime, tangerine, and lavender. I can help one lucky reader with the first and fourth steps. I’ve got a ginger lime scented Moisture Treatment and dry brush set to give away. Enter here to win.

If you’ve got time (and/or are a bad daughter and haven’t picked out a Mother’s Day gift yet) head to Korshak for a a little one-on-one with Payne and pick up some delicious smelling presents for you and Mom. Or just you. That’s fine, too.

Get Glowing: $19 Airbrush Tans at Facelogic This Weekend

Just a few moments ago in the elevator I was complimenting a coworker on her golden gams. I assumed she was returning from a vacation, but no, her enviable tan was airbrushed on. It reminded me I was told I look like a vampire over the weekend. Time to get my spray on, too. Coincidentally, as I got back to my desk and my inbox, I found a blast from Highland Park’s Facelogic, who is offering a $19 airbrush tans this weekend. (I should remind you they gave me one of my favorite ever faux glows.) If you, too, need a quick spritz, book now.

Friday Giveaway: Le Metiér de Beauté Dark Spot Corrector

I’ll skip going on and on about how good beauty brand Le Metiér de Beauté is because I’ve said it all before. (Catch up here and here.) I’ll get right to the the heart of the matter. I’ve got their Peau Vierge Dark Spot Corrector (worth $125) to give away to one lucky reader.

Here’s why you want it:
-It minimizes age spots and it’s free.
-It’s got hexylresorcinol. What is that? A “lightening active that works to effectively brighten and illuminate skin, while diminishing dark spots,” of course.
-It’s got retinol, the most worshipped ingredient in anti-aging products.
-It’s got some other stuff that “soothes and calms” and hydrates.
-It comes in a sleek black tube with an easy-to-use pump.

In other, interesting Le Metiér news, they’ve set up a suave new e-shop with a fashion forward homepage and a “Vault” section full of sweet beauty deals (like, a buy-two-get-two deal on nail lacquers).

To win the Dark Spot Corrector, enter here. Good luck!

Friday Giveaway: Kate Somerville DermalQuench Liquid Lift Wrinkle Treatment

Pretty much everything by Kate Somerville works as intended. I don’t believe in drastic anti-aging through beauty products or anything–with the exception of a good concealer–but if you want to spend a pretty penny on a product that delivers fresher looking skin, you can trust Kate. Her DermalQuench Liquid Lift, which rings up at $95, is modeled after her in-clinic DermalQuench service:

Bring home Kate’s most sought-after Clinic treatment! A scientific breakthrough, the patent-pending delivery system of DermalQuench Liquid Lift Advanced Wrinkle Treatment with HydraFill Complex produces immediate and long-term results. The advanced formula aggressively combats wrinkles, sagging skin, uneven tone, and dryness. See the immediate and long-term effects of deep hydration, such as: an immediate glow, softer skin, and sustained moisturization.

Plus, it’s fun to use. You spritz stripes of the cool formula in horizontal stripes across your face like you’re heading to Coachella. I have two boxes of this magic spray to give away. Enter here to win. Good luck.

Dear Clark Launches Hair Care Line

Local salon Dear Clark Hair Studio, who we named as one of the city’s top ten salons in our March issue, has launched a haircare line to celebrate its fifth anniversary. Most places throw parties with cocktails, but not Dear Clark. Instead, owners Holly Dear and Kaycee Clark took on a new project and created a collection of apothecary-inspired haircare products for damaged hair. All Texas made, the set includes Resurrecting Wash and Rinse, Thickening Balm, Smoothing Elixir, and Finishing Salve. The earthy, herbal scented remedies include locally sourced ingredients, like rose of Jericho, sunflower seed oil, and aloe vera, and run from $22 to $24. Pick them up in the McKinney Avenue salon or on Dear Clark’s newly revamped website.

Why You Should Jump on the Clarisonic Band Wagon

1. Because you’re the last person on earth to own one. (I only just joined the Clarisonic club because I was sent a press sample, I’ll admit, but I’ve totally devoted to it for now.)

2. It makes exfoliating fun. How? Because you can sit in front of an episode of Pretty Little Liars (or something more mature) while you do it.

3. It’s easy. It requires very little thinking. A timer ensures that you exfoliate each part of your face for the appropriate amount of time.

4. It travels. The Mia and Mia 2 versions are small and come in suitcase-friendly cases.

5. Because the newest color collection is entirely too much fun for a skincare tool. The limited edition Bohemian Beach Bungalow Collection offers brushes in Key Lime (see above), Passion Fruit hot pink, and Sea Breeze blue. Only available through May.

6. It’s sold everywhere. Find Clarisonic at spas (Bliss, The Face Place, Equinox, etc.), department stores (Neiman Marcus, Stanley Korshak, Nordstrom, etc.), and Sephora.

Friday Giveaway: Revision Intellishade Tinted Moisturizer

A Good Friday deserves a good giveaway, right? Today’s giveaway stars Revision Skincare Intellishade tinted moisturizer with SPF. I’ve blogged about it, written about, told anyone who would listen about it, and now I get to give it away. It is, hands down, my favorite BB (beauty balm). It comes in only two versions, which, I know, is crazy, but I find that it not only wears well alone, but pairs perfectly with all other products. I mix it with pure sunscreen to thin it out, I combine it with foundation to lighten the color when I’m pale, and I mix it with bronzer to make it darker with I’ve got an airbrush tan. The formula is smooth and has a barely there finish. I have two to give away: the Original, with a subtle shimmer, and a matte version.

Enter here to win, and good luck!

Update: The product comes in two versions, not colors. (It’s one-color-fits-all.) The Original isn’t really shimmery so much as it leaves a dewy glow. No glitter here, folks.

Friday Giveaway: Nude Skincare Bundle

It’s hard giving up this bundle of skincare goodness, but I love you and want the best for you. And Nude Skincare is definitely some of the best. Natural skincare isn’t just for hippies these days. Lines like Nude are merging chemical-free formulas with high performance power. Today’s giveaway includes Nude’s Radiant Day Moisturiser ($52) with n-probiotic active cell nutrient to “stimulate skin to produce its own anti-ageing ingredients,” Miracle Mask ($48), an exfoliating treatment with “natural AHAs with rice beads to transform tired and uneven skin to soft and glowing,” and the ProGenius Treatment Oil ($78), an omega-rich formula that “provides a precisely balanced diet for the skin.”

If this sounds good to you (and really, how could it not?) enter here to win.

Get Glowing Giveaway: Mobile Airbrush Tan by Bronze & Beautiful

Jacy Rader, master at work. (photography courtesy of Bronze & Beautiful)

I’m a fan of sunscreen, floppy hats to protect your face, and a really, really good airbrush tan. Like the one performed by Jacy Rader, co-owner of Bronze & Beautiful mobile airbrush tan service. Not only does she come and set up in the comfort of your own home (no standing around naked on a cold salon floor under fluorescent lighting), but she customizes a shade to fit your skin tone and leaves you with instructions on how to maintain your new faux glow.

Today, we’ve got one airbrush tan to give away along with the new, paraben-free Norvell maintenance kit, which includes an exfoliating body scrub, body wash, Pro Long Tan Extender, Self Tanning Spray Tan Can, and exfoliating mitt.

Need a bronzing? Entere here to win.

Join Us For Expert Beauty Tips at Beauty Live on Saturday!

Galleria Dallas’ annual Beauty Live event kicks off this Friday. The weekend event highlights current beauty trends, national makeup artists, makeovers, giveaways, and a handful of beauty panels so you can take home tips and tricks.

I can’t help but put a little extra promotion into Saturday morning’s Beauty Live Expert Panel at 11 am. Not because I’m on it–okay, because I’m on it–but also because it’s going to be a blast to sit down and talk beauty products with my fellow panelists: Holly Quartaro, Pat Smith, Cynthia Smoot, Steve Kemble, LeeAnne Locken and Joanna Hathcock. A $20 ticket (buy it here) will get you a reserved seat at the panel of your choice, plus a gift card. It may sound a little steep, but actually it all goes to a $20 gift card that you get to turn around and spend after picking up some great beauty advise and product suggestions. It’s a winning situation.

If you’re not interested in our Beauty Live Expert Panel, with a heavy heart, I’ll understand. There’s plenty to choose from, including the VIP kick-off affair, Pink’d, hosted by Pat Smith and benefiting her charity, Treasure You. Jump for a full lineup of festivities.

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The Top 10 Salons in Dallas

Dear Clark, left, by Elizabeth Lavin; J.T. Osgood, right, courtesy of Songbird Society

In the March issue of D Magazine, you’ll find a wealth of beauty 411, including our editors’ picks for the best ten salons in town. This highly edited list excludes plenty of savvy salons that we simply didn’t have the space to list, but when you’re looking for a guaranteed good cut and color, you can count on these.

The Do Cut and Color
The tiny, industrial-chic space is full of personality, with vintage Chicago brick walls, repurposed concrete countertops, and bright pops of color, including cherry-red blow-dryers. read more…

Osgood O’Neil
The Osgood O’Neil beauty empire, established in 1998, simply never disappoints. Each of its three locations sports a modern yet earthy feel and a consistently talented team of stylists and colorists, to whom clients are fiercely loyal. read more…
cut, $55 to $100 (varies by stylist)
color, priced upon consultation

Dear Clark
This one-stop-shop on McKinney, helmed by co-owners Holly Dear and Kaycee Clark, boasts a strong roster of stylists, colorists, and even a full-service med spa offering the seriously rejuvenating Intraceuticals Oxygen Facial, among other treatments. read more…

Salon Lucien
Hitting the salon should feel like a luxury, and it does at this Park Cities spot, where the chandeliers sparkle, the water served is infused with cucumber, shelves brim with the very best products, and solid treatments are offered a la carte. read more…

The Songbird Society
Manned by hair veterans Richard Hayler (formerly of Richard Hayler Colour Salon) and J.T. Osgood (formerly of Osgood O’Neil), The Songbird Society is well-known among the hair obsessed. (Sea of Shoes’ Jane Aldridge is a fan.) read more…

Hair by Charlie
Charlie Price spent seven years in Manhattan doing hair for editorial shoots, and he returns twice a year to create Fashion Week runway looks for the likes of Billy Reid. But don’t let his bona fides give you the wrong impression. His soulful Design District salon is decidedly pretension free. read more…

Salon Pompeo
The salon, always buzzing with blow-dryers and chitchat, is spacious, equipped with 20 stations to accommodate 40 stylists, each of whom is skilled at both cut and color, so there’s no need to book multiple appointments. read more…

Tru Salon
In an airy cottage on a leafy Uptown street, hair savant Tanya Carpenter has created a buzzing salon with a knack for attracting top talent, including a cadre of French stylists chatting in their native tongue while they expertly snip your locks (adding a serious dose of chic to your regular trim). read more…

Blanc Salon
Owner Scott Witmer, a former Toni & Guy art director, has styled the famous heads of stars like Fergie, Nicole Richie, Adam Lambert, and, as of late, Molly Quinn from ABC’s Castle. But despite Witmer’s client list, the salon feels surprisingly down to earth. read more…

Muse the Salon
This 5-year-old hair spot on Henderson Avenue maintains a sophisticated setting, a laid-back vibe, and a talented team of stylists. Founded by hair gurus Cris Baadsgaard and Garrett (yes, just Garrett), Muse offers a variety of services using top-notch products (like Oribe) at surprisingly reasonable price points. read more…

Makeup Artist Napoleon Perdis on the Stereotype of Dallas Women, Spring Trends, and Possibly Moving to the Big D

photography courtesy of Napoleon Perdis

Australian makeup artist Napoleon Perdis stopped by NorthPark on Friday for a personal appearance at Neiman Marcus, to celebrate the arrival of his cosmetics line. Five Neimans locations in the U.S. will now carry an exclusive range of Napoleon Perdis products, and lucky for us, NorthPark is one of them. I had the opportunity to sit down with him and talk about spring beauty trends, his favorite products, and why he wants to move to Dallas. –Jessica Mitzner

Me: How do you see Dallas women, and how do you think they fit your brand?

Perdis: First of all, I have to say that there is a philosophy that there’s been a Texas-ization of the USA. So unlike many brands that go and set up in New York, I didn’t. I set up in Southern California, and then expanded my base with the South, because Texas is a pivotal center. The Dallas woman is actually my muse, and she drives me. She’s really polite. She’s really well put-together. She’s all about health and cleanliness, but yet she’s upwardly mobile and ambitious. She hasn’t lost the American dream. She still feels that America is pure and available to her.

Me: Is there anything you’ve seen that you think Dallas women are doing wrong in their beauty routine?

Perdis: All the myths are wrong. I go out, and I do not see big hair and big makeup. I actually see really sophisticated layering of new design and established design. I see a really sophisticated dining scene. I see a really sophisticated evening scene in Uptown. You see really beautiful people. Sophisticated, intelligent, chic–you don’t see that sometimes with the angry New Yorker, or the Californian. I don’t have any of those myths. [The Dallas woman] has been really cool to me. She’s been really adaptive to me, and it’s just been amazing.

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How Do You Use That Beauty Product? Make Up For Ever Will Show You How.

I think Make Up For Ever’s “Make Up Bag Remix Tour” is brilliant. The beauty brand, after making multiple stops in California, is headed to its NorthPark boutique this weekend to offer honest tips and tricks to Dallas beauty lovers. From Make Up For Ever: “We know that every woman owns a couple products that she has no idea how to use, so we’re inviting consumers to bring us their make up bags and we’ll teach them how to use what they already own, regardless of the brand or type of product.” Seriously? Even if it isn’t from Make Up For Ever? Amazing! Happening this Saturday, February 23, and Sunday, February 24–make your appointment here–you can choose between a quickie, touch-up makeup lesson or, the 30-minute, pre-booked, one-on-one makeup bag revamping session. Per the beauty gurus, “We’re bringing the same techniques used by wardrobe stylists in the closet to style and overhaul consumers’ make up bags at our mobile Make Up School. The idea is to make your make up bag work harder.”

Note: I am told more consultation sessions are being added to the reservation sign-up page, so check back later if you get a message telling you all sessions are booked.

Friday Giveaway: MicroVenom Skincare Kit from Spa Pangea

A package was dropped off to ShopTalk headquarters this week, and good news: it’s for you. Daireds Salon & Spa Pangéa has put together a giveaway package of potent skincare goods from Sonya Dakar in celebration of the beauty brand’s new line of MicroVenom anti-aging products, which, “seamlessly combine regenerative apple stem cell technology and wrinkle-smoothing synthetic snake venom.” This goodie bag includes the Hydrating Night Complex, $88; Hydrating Day Complex, $86; and Eyelift Complex, $82.

Fun fact: The faux snake venom, called Syn-ake, is an anti-wrinkle compound that mimics the effect of the venom of a Temple Viper. Via lotioncrafter.com, “The Syn®-Ake peptide acts by reducing muscle cell contraction, smoothing mimic wrinkles in a short period, and is reversible. It is useful in anti-aging products and wrinkle treatment products, especially those targeting expression lines.”

Enter here to win these magic potions.

New Aerin Lauder Spring Color Beauty Giveaway

photography courtesy of Aerin Lauder

The packaging on Aerin Lauder’s new AERIN cosmetic line is beautiful, and the palette is full of floral-inspired, feminine pinks. I’ve always been a fan of Esteé Lauder’s formulas and color collections, and I like this ladylike new addition to the family. Today’s giveaway includes two goodies from the spring collection: Multi Color for lips and cheeks in shimmery peach Freesia and the lip gloss in Cassis, a not-too-bright pink.

Enter here to to win. Good luck!