Perk Alert! Beauty Insiders Get A Flawless Face First

Sometimes it pays to run around with a perfectionist. Especially when that perfectionist is a makeup artist, and especially especially when the subject up for scrutiny is your face.

Because honestly, who doesn't want a flawless face?

Laura Mercier isn't mincing her words with her newest kit. She's calling it, "The Flawless Face" because that's exactly what it gets you.

The set contains everything you need to recreate the famously fresh and dewy complextions La Mercier is known for, meaning that this bag is basically the take-home version of what she considers essential for creating peau parfaite:

1.0 oz Foundation Primer (Step 1)
1.0 oz Tinted Moisturizer (Step 2)
Undercover Pot plus Translucent Loose Setting Powder (Step 3 and 4)
Secret Camouflage Brush
Camouflage Powder Brush
Velour Puff
Egg-Shaped Sponge

This kit is a Sephora exclusive (whoo!), and is due in stores next month. Unless you're a Beauty Insider, in which case, it's available for you right now.

Pssst! It takes, like, 45 seconds to sign up and become a Beauty Insider. Not that you heard that from me.

Perk Alert! Get A Fabulous Skin Kit First

If you're a Sephora Beauty Insider, we've got good news. If you're a Beauty Insider and you've got combo skin, we've got even better news.

Exclusively for our Beauty Insiders, Sephora is offering the not-yet-in-stores MD Skincare Skin Happens -Even Out! Kit. This is the ultimate, "Don't worry, we'll fix it" kit for combo skin that can't make up its mind: Oily? Dry? Pores like a Texas oil rig mixed with cheeks drier than the Sahara? This kit can take care of it.

The Even Out! Kit includes:

• EZ4U 4-in-1 Facial Treatment-Normal/Oily Skin


• Alpha Beta Daily Face Peel


• Powerful Sun Protection SPF 30 Sunscreen Lotion


• All-in-one Cleaning Foam

Plus! The MD has tossed in a few goodies: Deluxe samples of the Tinted Moisturizer Sunscreen SPF 15 and the Continuous Eye Hydration.

This kit won't be available for a few weeks...unless you're a Beauty Insider. For you savvy beauties, it's available right now.

Beauty-full On The Inside

We can all start believing those who told us "beauty is on the inside." For those who haven't heard, here's the scoop: The Sephora Beauty Insider Program, and this card, grants you access to private shopping nights, exclusive new samples and a present on your B'day, plus some strictly confidential email updates. To get in the know, click it out, because this is one card you are sure going to want to max out. —Gabrielle Katz, Sephora

Bargain, Aisle 3!

In the spirit kindness displayed by the nice man who said "excuse me" before he cut me in the salad line today, I'll let you in on some sweeeet sets with an even sweeter price-tag. For the makeup diva, we're pumped about Smashbox Master's Class Expert Eye Set. Go from pretty-in-pink to sultry-in-smoky-eyes in no time with this how-to kit. You get 2 palettes, an eyeliner duo, mascara, 3 brushes and a how-to DVD with makeup artist Patrick Tumey. Buy it all alone? $174. But buy it together and it's only $59. For that 4:00 shadow, perk up with Benefit's Perk Me Up Set, with a Dandelion blush, Oh La Lift Eye Lift and BADgal Mascara. If the government expects us to keep gas masks, canned sardines and cash handy in preparation for the end of the world, shouldn't we treat wrinkles the same way? Prepare for level red with Clarin's Line Prevention Starter Kit. This 5-piece set ($60 value at $37) is formulated with anti-aging nutrients that replenish and smooth skin. And, wake up and smell the roses; everyone's goin' green. Hop on the bandwagon with Korres' Wild Rose Skincare Set. It's illumating, formulated to fight lines (for the young and young at heart), and helps with hyperpigmentation and sunspots. The damage? $54. —Gabrielle Katz, Sephora

The Ultimate You Sweepstakes

There's still time to shine, ladies! As we reported last week, Cosmedicine, SELF and Sephora want to treat you to an ultimate makeover. You and a pal will jet-set to Dallas, spend 2 nights in an tres chic hotel, and enjoy some celeb-worthy pampering at the renowned Klinger Advanced spa. Gets better: You'll also receive the appropriate Botox, Restylan, or laser treatment from top specialists, and bag a 6-month supply of Cosmedicine products and a $500 Sephora gift card. After this glam-away, you'll be ready for the paparazzi. Enter NOW! —Gabrielle Katz, Sephora

Complimentary Coiffure

Too many fancy dinners with the boyfriend, plus an I'm-feeling-bad-about-myself shoe extravaganza, can equal "Oops I Didn't Budget For My Hair This Month." You feel guilty cheating on Francois, but $200 for a trim? C'mon. Quit contemplating the objectionable barber shop around the corner and sign up for a free haircut from aBumble & Bumble stylist-in-training. On the site, you'll fill out a brief questionnaire about your hair type (texture, length, color, etc.) and the stylists will determine if your tresses qualify you to be a B&B University model. If your hair is the type they're looking for, they'll email you a date and time to show up to their Meat Packing District studio. I'm taking my "dark brown slightly wavy multi-textured longer than 4 inches" hair there next week, so a stylist and I can discuss what the future has in store for my locks. If I don't like what he or she says, no hard feelings; I can gladly go home with my split ends. On the other hand, if it works out, I can come back for a free "deeply dimensional and subtly suitable" all-over hair color! Sorry, Francois, I'm two-timin' you. —Brianne Rieck, Sephora

The Ultimate You Sweepstakes

As you flip through those glossies, you whimper: Why can’t I glow and shine like these (albeit crazy) pop-stars and heiresses? Now you can: With The Ultimate You Sweepstakes, you and a friend will receive the ultimate makeover and spa experience. You’ll hop a jet to Dallas, spend two nights in a luxe hotel, and revel in personalized spa treatments at the famed Klinger Advanced Aesthetics spa. Oh, it gets better: After a consultation with a certified skincare medical professional, you’ll receive a light medical treatment—Botox®, Restalyn®, or a laser session—as well as a 6-month supply of Cosmedicine products and a $500 Sephora gift card. 3 second-place winners will receive a regimen of fabulous Cosmedicine products suited to their skin type, too. So, nix the heiress-envy: Enter today, and discover the ultimate you.-Gabrielle Katz, Sephora

Say "I Do" To KP Duty

You've been planning your big day since you could walk: Mr. Right, the five-tiered cake, the gorgeous, sleeveless gown. Not in your plan? "Chicken skin," those tiny arm bumps coming between you and that sleeveless stunner. But don't call the whole thing off: Enter for a chance to win a year supply of DERMAdoctor's KP Duty lotion and body scrub —dermatologist-created skin-savers that remedy that dry, bumpy skin—and a bridal gown by world-renown designer Anne Barge. You'll might still have cold feet—ahem, in-laws—but bridal beauty won't be part of it.

Going Head to Head on BellaSugar

By Gabrielle Katz, Sephora
As if we needed to have another reason to love BellaSugar! On the editors blog today, she displayed a fan favorite, like she does every week. Out of the many, many product reviews she gets from members, she chooses one she thinks is worthy of front blog-billing and posts it for all the Bellas to read about! This week, one member pinned well-known and respected Bare Escentuals’s BareVitamins Skin Rev-er Upper against the lovely Laura Geller’s Spackle to see which makeup primer is primed for success! Want to read which product came through? Go to BellaSugar.

Dreams of Free Shipping

Last week, in our pretty pop quiz, we asked which Sephora perks you would have in a perfect world: Free shipping, mark-off on purchases, savings via gift cards, or a spend-more-save-more setup. Well, the tallies are in, and survey saaaays: Free shipping, please. Almost half of you said you would nix those online shipping fees. Noted! For now, save those pretty pennies with free shipping on orders over $75.

op Quiz! In your perfect world, Sephora offers ...

	Free shipping on any purchase
	% off purchase
	10% back in gift cards for every purchase
	Buy more, save more: spend $100, save $10; spend $200, save $25, etc.

Bare Escentuals 100% Pure Moxie

Who's that moxie, lady? ... BellaSugar's giving away a free kit of Bare Escentuals 100% Pure Moxie today—a 9-piece bareMinerals color and brush collection for face, eyes, cheeks and lips—which is valued at $154! So, you know the drill: Comment on their giveaway post by 8PM (EST) tonight, cross your beautiful fingers, and wait to see if you won. With the summer weather finally here (ok, almost), what a perfect time to whip up that beach bunny look.

Guerlain's Aqua Allegoria Angelique-Lilas

Today's beauty giveaway of the day: Guerlain's Aqua Allegoria Angelique-Lilas fragrance, a spirited blend of spicy basil and zesty mandarin, spiked with sparkling notes of orange blossom and green tea, and sultry notes of sandalwood and amber. (This is featured in our Summer Survival catalog!) Just post a comment on BellaSugar's page by 8 PM tonight, and this half-plant-half-flower fragrance (valued at 50 big ones) is all yours.

Vote Best of Sephora 2007 & Win $1K

You're so money, honey. Just for voting in the Best of Sephora 2007 Sweepstakes, this year's search for the best-of-the-best beauty products around, you can win a $1,000 Sephora gift card and all 30 of the Best of Sephora winners. (A grand on cosmetics? Say no more.) So, register your beautiful ballot online, click "QUICK VIEW" to learn more about each product (woo hooo, educated voters!), and make those pretty picks. 10 2nd place winners will win $100 gift cards, too, so don't pass this up. This story could have a beautiful ending for you.

Want A Free Sephora Sun Safety Kit?

Bellasugar—our new neighbor on the (online) beauty block—is on day two of their new website launch, and as promised, they're celebrating with another fabulous Sephora giveaway. Today, you can win our new Sun Safety Kit—a travel-sized sun protection kit, with 100% of the net profits benefiting The Skin Cancer Foundation—just by posting a comment on their giveaway page. Here's to safe sun!

In Style Best Beauty Buys

It's that time of year again: the annual In Style Best Beauty Buys issue just hit stands. The issue touts the year's best-of-the-best beauty products—glosses, foundations, mascaras, you name it—and offers reviews from expert makeup artists and celebrities alike. And who knew we were so In Style? A few of our nearest and dearest made the coveted list: NARS Cream Eye Shadow, NARS Lip Gloss in Chihuahua, NARS Blush in Orgasm, Guerlain Terracotta Powder Bronzer, Benefit High Beam, Tarte Cheek Stain, Bliss Baggage Handler, Stila Convertible Color, Stila High Shine Lip Color, Stila Eye Shadow Pan in Jezebel, DiorShow Mascara, Tarte Inside Out Vitamin Lip Gloss, Kinerase Cream, Clinique Superdefense Triple Action Moisturizer, Clinique Turnaround Visible Skin Renewer, Shiseido Bio Performance Super Restoring Cream, Phyto Phytovolume Actif Maximizing Volume Spray, T3 Tourmaline Overnight Travel Dryer ... the list goes on. Congrats to the big, beauty-full winners!

A Free $50 Gift Card

Ah, the perils of beauty paradise. You skip into Sephora, but with the plethora of mascaras, fragrances, shadows and the like, you (sigh) can't pick just one. You're the kid in the candy store who wants, well, all of it, please. So, the solution to your pretty problem: A free $50 Sephora gift card. Just comment on Bellasugar's giveaway page by 8PM (EST) tonight, and you're entered to win the card, all dolled up in a sleek, black, mirrored compact. And the best part? You can redeem it in store, online, or through any of our catalogs, so you're workin' with multiple candy stores here.

Get on the Boat, the Beeeauty Boat

Ditch the beauty counter and get on board: Makeup guru Laura Geller is launching a special beauty cruise, “Get Away and Get Gorgeous,” to set sail from Florida on March 25. The week-long cruise—which will dock in hot-spots like Nassau Bahamas, St. Thomas and St. Maarten—is a chance for passengers to have personal VIP-access to Laura Geller and all her professional makeup know-how, 24/7. There will be complimentary kits filled with her bestsellers, special get-glam workshops and interactive makeovers—all yielding Laura’s glamorous, celebrity-lauded results. So pull that yellow-polka-dot bikini out of retirement (yeees, it still fits) and reserve your spot on this vixenish vessel. It’s time to toss those old beauty habits overboard.

Next, on Sunset Heat

Whew, just when I thought all the good dramas were being canceled. Enter “Sunset Heat,” a spoof on all those Laguna-like shows, courtesy of Escada Fragrances. The show isn’t real, of course—just a clever way to promote the new Escada Heat For Her fragrance—but it’s ingenious and entertaining all the same. There’s Eva, the clever one ... Jenny, the party-girl who falls in love too easily ... Sophia, the wannabe actress with an affinity for married men ... oh and Sebastian, the gorgeous artist with buckets of family money, which the paper-thin girls are all swatting over, of course. Ahh, the d-r-a-m-a. But all tragic heartbreak and cattiness aside, here’s the best (undramatic) part: a free sample of Escada Heat For Her, for you. The postman just better get it here on time or there will, like, so be a catfight.

Beauty for $1

The makeup line ELF (acronym for eyes-lips-face) is offering all thier beauty for only $1 on thier website. They're also offering free shipping with an order of $25 or more with the promo code "SHIPIT."