ShopDiary

Even Eyelash Curlers Have an Expiration Date

I’ve been using shu uemura eyelash curlers for many years but this is something that I just discovered recently: shu uemura does not sell silicone refills and the eyelash curler has to be completely replaced after six months.

I learned this when I was on vacation a couple of weeks ago and my curler’s black silicone rubber pad fell off before my trip. I knew I had a refill at home since this was my second shu eyelash curler but I forgot to pack it with my luggage. So when I arrived at my travel destination, I made calls to all the Nordstrom stores in the area looking for refills and got the same response: “We don’t sell any refills”.

I was on my fourth call when a helfpul SA informed me that shu uemura does not sell refills at all. When I asked why, she told me an eyelash curler comes with a refill. Each silicone pad should last three months with daily use. And since the curler’s metal tends to bend with consistent use, the whole eyelash curler should be replaced after six months.

Here’s what it says on the product’s box:

The shu uemura eyelash curler will perform consistently until the 2 silicone rubber pads wear down. With daily use, one silicone rubber pad will last approximately 3 months. After the accompanying refill is used, please replace the curler with a new one to assure maximum precision and to avoid damage to the eyes or the lashes.

Shock! I had been using mine for years and didn’t notice a difference in “precision” and performance. Just as there are expiration dates for cosmetics, should there be one for eyelash curlers too? Is this a ploy by the beauty company to keep you buying their best-selling cult product? I guess they’re really not saying that you have to replace it but that they’re not guaranteeing optimum results if you don’t.

I ended up buying a new eyelash curler (I now have three!) but going forward, I’ll be trying out Shiseido eyelash curler refills. Now why didn’t I know of this then?

Pre-Order Nordstrom Anniversary Sale Beauty Exclusives Now!

Nordstrom’s Anniversary Sale won’t begin until July 18 but you can pre-order their Beauty Exclusives now! This is great because I already know what I want and when I’m done shopping the Beauty Exclusives, I can concentrate on other departments like shoes and clothing! Strategize, girls.

Beauty Exclusive items will begin shipping on Friday, July 18. There are currently 113 exclusives online from beauty brands such as M·A·C, Laura Mercier, Philosophy, Kiehl’s, shu uemura, Shiseido, Chanel, Clarins, La Prairie, Origins, Prescriptives, Fekkai, Phyto, L’Occitane, Decléor, Lancôme, Nars, Smashbox, T3 and so much more.

Here are my favorites. What’s yours?

philosophy ‘amazing grace’ shower gel 32 oz. $29.50 ($44 value)

philosophy ‘purity made simple’ one step facial cleanser $42.50 ($64 value)

Clarins UV Plus Day Screen SPF 40 $56 ($80 value)

L’Occitane Hand Cream Duo $35 ($56 value)

Kiehl’s Creme de Corps with Pump $70 ($89 value)

Fekkai Anniversary Technician® Set $46 ($62.50 value)

Prada ‘Infusion D’Iris’ Gift Set $95 ($115 value)

M·A·C Colour Forms Lipstick $14

T3 ‘Boost’ Travel Set $119 ($157 value)

shu uemura Anniversary Brush Set $70 ($91 value)

Bare Escentuals® ‘In Fashion’ 8-Piece Set$75 ($127 value)

Smashbox ‘Socialite’ 8-Piece Beauty Collection$59 ($161 value)

Why wait? Pre-order now. Beauty Exclusive items will begin shipping on Friday, July 18. Shop Nordstrom Anniversary Sale Beauty Exclusives!

20% off + Free Shipping at Shu Uemura

Online only at http://www.shuuemura-usa.com/.

La Mer Beauty Event at Saks

Get this La Mer Beauty Event gift with your $300 La Mer purchase at Saks.com.

The beauty gift includes Crème de la Mer (.24oz), The Lifting Face Serum (.17oz), The Cleansing Foam (.5oz), and The Treatment Fluid Foundation - Natural (.12oz).

Just enter code LAMER8 at checkout.

Offer ends on Monday, June 23, 2008 at 11:59pm(ET) or while supplies last.

Laura Mercier Flawless Face Kit

Laura Mercier is known for creating a flawless face so a few years ago, I went out and purchased tinted moisturizer, Secret Camouflage, loose powder and a Secret Camouflage brush as recommended by a Laura Mercier SA. I don’t think they had a kit available then so I had to buy each piece individually. These four pieces cost me $130+ back then so imagine my surprise when I discovered the Laura Mercier Flawless Face Kit, a $160 value for only $65.

There are eight must have make up and tools needed to create a flawless face. Available exclusively at Sephora, each bag contains a 1.0 oz Foundation Primer (Step 1), a 1.0 oz Tinted Moisturizer (Step 2), a 0.21 oz Undercover Pot (Step 3 and 4), a Secret Camouflage Brush, a Camouflage Powder Brush, a Velour Puff, and an egg-shaped Sponge. I wish they had this convenient kit back then! Well, of course, now I’ll be getting my own kit too.

Nordstrom Beauty Gift With Purchase

With your $100 beauty or fragrance purchase at Nordstrom, receive a vibrant reversible tote plus the following deluxe samples:

Anastasia Brow Gel
Anthony Logistics for Men® Self-Tanner with Anti-Aging Complex
Clarins Sunscreen Soothing Cream SPF 20 (0.28 oz.)
Cover FX ‘Skin Prep FX’ Treatment & Priming Serum sample
Elemis Papaya Enzyme Peel (0.1 oz.)
Freeze 24.7® IceCrystals™ Anti-Aging Prep & Polish sample
Hanae Mori ‘Butteryfly’ Eau de Parfum (0.04 oz.)
John Varvatos Eau de Parfum (0.05 oz.)
KORRES Natural Products Guava Body Butter (0.85 oz.)
Lancôme Hypnôse Custom Volume Mascara (0.07 oz.)
Laura Mercier Eye Colour in Sandstone (0.03 oz.)
Origins ‘A Perfect World™’ White Tea Skin Guardian (0.17 oz.)
PHYTO Phytodéfrisant Botanical Hair Relaxing Balm (0.5 oz.)
TanTowel Self-Tan Towelette (1 application)

Online and in store. One per person, while supply lasts. Gift will be added automatically in checkout and can only be shipped to the same destination as your order.

So if you get those Revas that I just posted and make a $100 beauty order, you get free shipping plus all these goodies! Shop Nordstrom.com and get your beauty gift now!

Neiman Marcus Camp Gorgeous Beauty Event

Get a pink camouflage tote and five deluxe samples with your cosmetics purchase of $85 or more at Neiman Marcus from now through June 16. Get free shipping for online purchases at any price with code NMSHIP. Also available in stores. Find your nearest Neiman Marcus store here.

Sephora Sun Safety Kit

We’re expecting really high temperatures in Los Angeles for the next few days so I’m gearing up for intense sun exposure with this Sun Safety Kit from Sephora. I already use Clarins UV Plus SPF 40 and Sun Wrinkle Control Cream SPF 30 daily but I wanted to try other sun protection products this year.

Sephora’s Sun Safety Kit contains travel sizes of their best summer skincare products and comes in a limited-edition Sephora pouch and includes the following:

• 0.05 oz Korres Natural Products Watermelon Sunscreen Face Cream SPF 30
• 0.25 oz Peter Thomas Roth Max Sheer All Day Defense Moisture Lotion SPF 30
• 1 oz DDF Daily Protective Moisturizer SPF 15
• 0.35 oz Cosmedicine Medi-Matte Oil Control Lotion SPF 20
• 0.17 oz Juice Beauty Green Apple Moisturizer SPF 15
• 1 oz Murad Firming Bronzer SPF 15
• 0.08 oz Shiseido Ultimate Sun Protection Lotion SPF 55 PA + + +
• six single-use packs of MD Skincare Powerful Sun Protection Pads SPF 30
• 0.17 oz Clarins Sun Wrinkle Control Cream Ultra Protection SPF 30
• 0.25 oz Smashbox Photo Finish Foundation Primer SPF 15
• 0.098 oz Tarte 24/7 Lip Sheer SPF 15
• a UV indicator card

OK, they’re sample sizes so why don’t I just wait to get them as free gifts with purchase right? Here’s why: The kit is $25 (valued at $87) and 100 percent of the net profits (that’s $21.55 from every kit sold) will benefit The Skin Cancer Foundation. Sephora will make a total donation of up to $430,000 before 12/31/08. Supplies of the kit are limited and will be available from April through June 2008 or while supplies last.

So while I’m protecting my skin from the sun, I’m helping a worthy cause as well. Sounds good? Go get your Sun Safety Kit too!

Mother’s Day Gifts (For Yourself!)

Mother’s Day is one of the best times to get beauty gift sets at good value. The other times are Valentine’s Day and Christmas. So if you’ve been planning to buy yourself a new fragrance for spring, now is the time to do so, even if you’re not a yet mom! Here are some fantastic values on great products:

Marc Jacobs Daisy Gift Set ($91 Value) Daisy Gift Set $75

Benefit Cosmetics The Fast And The Flawless ($90 Value) The Fast And The Flawless$48

Vera Wang Princess Gift Set ($83 Value) Princess Gift Set $58

Bare Escentuals bareMinerals Get Started Complexion Enhancers ($136 Value) Get Started Complexion Enhancers$49

Imju Fiberwig Long Lash Kit ($27 Value) Long Lash Kit $22

Fab Offers at Sephora

Boscia Spring Awakening Set ($60 Value) $45. This limited edition set includes an Boscia Enlivening Amino-AG Eye Treatment .5 oz, Green Tea Fresh Blotting Linens and a free travel-size Oil-Free Daily Hydration SPF 15. To enjoy this offer, simply purchase both the Boscia Enlivening Amino-AG Eye Treatment and Boscia Fresh Blotting Linens in Green Tea and enter promotion code BOSCIA when prompted at checkout.

Free sample of Bare Escentuals RareMinerals™ Skin Revival Treatment. Enter code BESAMPLE at checkout. Click here for more info.

Free Sephora jumbo lip pencil with any merchandise purchase. Enter PUCKERUP at checkout.