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“Pamper Yourself Night” at Mockingbird Station Tonight

As part of the Station’s Cause for Celebration line-up (”community-oriented events every Wednesday evening during the holidays”), Pamper Yourself Night will feature mini-facials, massages, and hand massages, free with a donation to Genesis Women’s Shelter. The masseurs will be lined up near PURE Dental. (If you choose to pay for a teeth whitening special during the evening, PURE will also donate a portion of the proceeds to Genesis.) Billy Jealousy reps will also be at PURE for the mini-facials. The hand massagers will be located at Michael Raymond Salon, where you can also get make-up touch-ups, some hot chocolate or tea, and a free Aveda shampoo sample with a $5 donation. It’s a night full of minis, but your donation can be mini, too.

What is the best drugstore powder?

My sister is looking for a new foundation–in powder form–and she wants to stick to the drugstore scene. I must admit, I haven’t used a drugstore foundation in a while. (I’m currently using a mix of MAC and Makeup For Ever.) ShopTalkers, I need your help! What are your favorite foundation products at your local Walgreen’s, grocery store, etc.?

NYLO Hosts Makeup & Martinis Thursday Night

Interested in grabbing a drink after work? Already have a girls’ happy hour planned? Why not shake (or stir) it up and take it over to Plano’s NYLO hotel for Dior-tinis and Christian Dior cosmetics? The hotel is hosting the Dior makeup artist team for a night of makeup tips and sips. You can shop the cosmetic collection and even get some one-on-one time with an artist. To book an appointment with an artist, RSVP to Lindsey Murphy at 972-963-9091. Otherwise, we’ll see you there. Thursday, Oct. 1 from 5:30 pm to 7:30 pm.

Ever Wondered What You’d Look Like with a Few Nips and Tucks? Now You Can Find Out. In Two Minutes—Right Now.

I’m not sure if this tool is brilliant or terrifying. It’s basically an Extreme Makeover online tool from New Beauty magazine. (Is that show on anymore?) Upload your “before” face. Choose the surgeries you want. A little Botox for your wrinkles? A nose job? A little lip plumping, perhaps? Hell, even take a handful of pounds off your punim. Then decide whether or not you like the “after” you. What you do from there is up to you. Opinions on this tool, ShopTalkers? Fun or frightening?

Sephora’s New Beauty Studio is Fun AND Free

Sephora’s new Beauty Studio is brilliant! So what is it? It’s a FREE service where you can walk into any Sephora store and within  minutes get a makeover on your eyes, lips or skin. No appointment is necessary. Simply ask for the service you want and walk out of the store looking fabulous. I chose the skin makeover. The make-up artist applied moisturizer, primer, foundation and powder to give me a flawless complexion. My friend got the smokey eye look, and another picked the perfect pout lip makeover. One of the best things about this service (besides the fact that you don’t need to make an appointment and it is free) is that unlike getting a makeover at a cosmetics counter, the artists are able to use products from any line carried in the store. This means that they can use the best products for your needs and wants and aren’t limited to one brand. There are no annoying sales pitches or product-pushing. Sound too good to be true? Yea, I think so too but I can tell you first-hand that they’re on the up and up – there’s no fine print and no “catch” – just a fantastic service. So next time you have a big event, a hot date, or just a girl’s night out let Sephora help you look better than ever!

Nordstrom Bobbi Brown Fall Trends Event

I heart Bobbi Brown cosmetics. Especially her gel eyeliners which I wear every single day. I not only love the colors but also that they stay on until you take them off. They even last through my work outs and I never have to touch them up. Check them out for yourself (and everything else Bobbi has to offer) at the Bobbi Brown counter from 10am-6pm at Nordstrom Galleria and Nordstrom Stonebriar tomorrow and Saturday; or the counters at Nordstrom NorthPark and North East Mall on Saturday only. Meet with a Bobbi Brown featured artist and learn about fall’s cosmetic trends. Be sure to RSVP to one of the numbers below:

Nordstrom Galleria: (972) 702-0055

Nordstrom Stonebriar Centre at (972) 712-3794

Nordstrom North East Mall at (817) 590-2599

Nordstrom NorthPark Center at (214) 231-3900

Dior Airflash: A Worthy Purchase

I went to an event an event at Neiman Marcus recently that highlighted a few spring makeovers by Dallas makeup artist L.B. Rosser. (I dutifully recorded L.B. Rosser’s tips on tape, but what I didn’t dutifully do was get back to my desk and get them off the tape and onto ShopTalk, and for that, I apologize. I’ll have his expert advice up next week.) One thing I can tell you I walked away with was a fresh, airbrushed looking face—okay, and the can of magical product that created it in my purse. L.B. used Diorskin Airflash makeup on the models, so I checked out the stuff for myself at the Dior counter downstairs. There I met the brilliant counter gal Andreia Havas, who sold me on the stuff. (And not because I’m a sucker, but because Airflash is good…really good.) You can probably already guess that it’s pretty fun to apply as you spray a light, luminous dusting of the liquid across your face. It’s also surprisingly moveable. After spritzing me in the perfect shade, Andreia used a brush to add a bit more coverage to hide any outstanding spots (don’t make me elaborate here). I’m always on a search for a beautiful foundation, and this nears the top of the charts right under Makeup Forever’s HD Foundation. If you’re interested, it’s Andreia at the Neiman Marcus downtown you need to see. And trust me; let her talk you into more. It’s how I discovered my most favorite gloss these days, DiorAddict Lip Maximizer.

Max Factor Needs You

Perhaps you’ll recall the call for entries on this very blog for the Max Factor “Are You the Face of Dallas?” contest. And you will definitely see the ad on p. 1 of the spring issue of D Beauty, which hits newsstands today. Well, this is my second official reminder that you have until April 2 to submit your makeover photo using Max Factor products. I know there are some gorgeous gals out there, so show us what you got!

More Virtual Makeover Fun

Okay, so I’m not a total slacker at work or anything, but, as I’ve told you before, I really am a sucker for virtual makeover programs. Here’s another one: DailyMakeover.com. This one’s great for different reasons. One, you can play with all the celebrity hairstyles from the Oscars and Golden Globes. (Exhibit A above: Me as Vanessa Hudgens, Drew Barrymore, and Whoopi Goldberg.) Two, you can play with makeup from brands like MAC, NARs, and Lancôme. And three, you can quickly save, upload, and compare your before and after pic. Here’s the downside: you can only upload one image of yourself, so don’t mess it up. Two, you have limited options without purchasing the upgrade, and with this economy I doubt many people are interested in making that purchase, even if it’s only $29.95 for a year. But it’s totally worth signing up and logging in to play for a little while.

You Need To Enter the Max Factor Contest

I know how you girls love a good contest. And this one’s a doozy. You may have seen the ad in D Magazine. You will certainly see the ad in the upcoming issue of D Beauty, on newsstands March 12. But here’s your chance to be among the first to enter. Max Factor is looking for the face of Dallas. Entrants should create a look using Max Factor products and submit a photo, explaining how you created this signature Dallas look. You have until April 2 to enter, and the winner will be featured in the June issue of D Magazine. Fancy!

Join the Excitement at Sussie’s March 28

Part of the fun of this job is bringing people together. (Aw, sweet.) Anyway, we’ve featured the pieces of local jewelry designer Rachelle Dauphinée (left) in D Beauty and D Weddings, and I loved them so much that I called my good friend Rory Boyd at Sussie’s in Frisco. I told her that she needed to call Rachelle because I thought her designs were a good fit for Rory’s boutique. Well, the woman took my advice, because she’s hosting a trunk show for Rachelle and fellow local designer Abi Ferrin (center) on Saturday, March 28. But that’s not all. Hollywood makeup artist Julie Hewett (right), whose cosmetics line is sold at Sussie’s, will also be in the store that day doing makeovers. I heard that appointments were going fast (I’ve got one for 12:40, yo), but give Rory a call at 972-335-2792 to see if she can squeeze you in. So fun!

Who Wants a Makeover?

If you love D Beauty, and I hope you do, then perhaps you saw last summer’s Dallas Hair issue. In it we made over three lucky ladies, and we intend to do the same for this summer’s issue. Now’s your chance to plead your case with me. If you think you deserve a makeover, then send me an e-mail with your story, and you must include a picture! The three best sob stories will win! Tell your friends, sisters, moms, co-workers–anyone you think needs a little lift. So far we’ve enlisted stylist Daniel Lewis of Green Peridot, to do one makeover. (You may remember him from Bravo’s Shear Genius.) Three lucky winners will be notified by mid-March, and their fabulous new selves will be featured in the pages of the summer issue of D Beauty. Good luck!