Beauty Girls, brace for impact! Today, February 21, Neiman Marcus proudly announces the launch of the Spring 2011 Beauty Awards — an online customer choice event. Vote for your favorite lotions, potions, fragrances, cosmetics, and beauty tools here: www.neimanmarcus.com/beautyawards

By voting and filling out the enter-to-win form, you will be automatically entered for a chance to win all of the top picks during the Beauty Awards event! But hurry…voting will close on March 8th at 8am CT.

Vote pretty!

In my opinion, Crème de la Mer (also referred to as “La Mer”) is the most widely debated beauty lotion/potion known to wo-man. Many swear by the powers of its miracle broth and gladly pay $100+ an ounce (and that’s the *starting* price). Others question the efficacy of La Mer and argue that the car-payment-like price tag is plain ol’ cruel. I, for one, am a big time fan of La Mer Moisturizing Cream. It’s a highly effective night cream!

La Mer’s newest launch, The Regenerating Serum, contains a potent concentration of Crème de la Mer’s proprietary miracle broth – the original fermented elixir developed by Dr. Max Huber. The miracle broth is known for its ability to help skin look renewed.

One thing’s for certain — a serum (a highly concentrated dose of active ingredients) is a vital component of a solid skin care regiment. Serums help to treat/repair various skin conditions like hyperpigmentation, loss of elasticity, environmental damage, dryness, fine lines, etc. Crème de la Mer The Regenerating Serun contains a new regenerating ferment derived from marine plant stem cells, designed to help progress the renewal of the skin’s tone/texture and protect it from free radical damage.

Other key ingredients in Crème de la Mer The Regenerating Serum include:

• Marine Peptide Ferment – An anti-age marine algae and peptide complex to reduce lines for a firmer appearance
• Colloidal Gold – To deliver anti-irritant benefits to the skin
• Lime Tea – Anti-oxidant protection

The serum is said to have taken four years to formulate and was created with the combined efforts of physicists, marine botanists and biologists from around the globe and contains 50 patents (granted and pending) worldwide. Do the ingredients and technology in Crème de la Mer The Regenerating Serum compel you to give it a try? Leave a comment!

Crème de la Mer The Regenerating Serum is available at www.cremedelamer.com, Saks Fifth Avenue, Neiman Marcus and Bergdorf Goodman.

Ahhh, the pleasant aromatic fragrance of end of season sales. I regard these seasonal occurrences as the universe’s way of leveling the fashion playing field and giving regular folk like myself the opportunity to jump on a haute little end of season find at a ridiculously stupid deep discount. The rules of engagement for end of season shopping are quite simple:

1) The fashion acquisition must be a classic piece that will undoubtedly be fresh to death when the appropriate season rolls back around. This means, no matter how much I adore these Theory Harem pants on sale at Needless Markup (Translation: Neiman Marcus), my hard earned $100 is probably better spent on something to the effect of this L.A.M.B Oversized blazer which promises to be en vogue come fall 2010.

2) My second rule of end of season shopping has to do with “timing”. Generally, late Jan/early Feb is my cut off point for buying fall/winter clothes on sale. This gives me just enough time to enjoy the fruits of my fashion find before packing it away for Spring.

During a recent much needed mental health day/retail therapy session, I skillfully applied rules one and two to snag this little diddy from Bloomies. My final price was more than 60% off the original price tag of $695.

*Snaps*

Loeffler Randall Knit Combo Coat – This bad boy is white hot! The combination of wool cashmere short sleeves and built-in black merino knit ribbed sleeves give classic fever with a modern twist. (Apparently Taylor Momsen [Gossip Girl] is a fan) The slim, straight silhouette, with high funnel collar gives a long lean architectural feel that is uber modern and incredibly flattering. I see the coat pairing beautifully with dresses and slim pants.

Tell me all about your end of season fashion finds. Are you an end of season coat girl, boot bella, or sweater seeker? Leave a comment!

InStyle’s December issue is offering the chance to shop 25 brands from Chanel to Intel in 3D. Beauty deals include: L’Oreal, OLAY, Lancome, Chanel and MORE. Gifting In 3-D,  a new dimension in holiday shopping, employs augmented reality technology to create a fun and engaging new way to shop.

PLUS you can enter to win a $1,000 Shopping Spree in NYC!!!

How Gifting in 3D works:
Flip open your December issue of InStyle to get started!

1. Open to page 285 of InStyle’s December issue

2. Log on to: http://giftingin3d.instyle.com/index.html

3. Follow the simple instructions

4. Shop the holidays in 3D!

If you don’t have an issue on hand, you can still shop in 3D.  Simply print the “Gifting in 3D” trigger pages directly from the Web site (InStyle.com/Giftingin3D), hold them up to your webcam, and start shopping!  The experience can also be shared virally. Expect to find deals, messages, and product suggestions from spectacular brands including: YSL, Neiman Marcus, Chanel, DVF, HP, and MORE!

Hey beautiful -

All of a sudden “frugality” is sexy. Everyone’s doing it! Bragging about your recent recessionista acquisition is all the rage! Suddenly we’re extremely proud of how little we spend

“Cool dress, Michaela!”

- “Girl thanks! I spied this hot little designer number at Neiman Marcus LAST CALL for $30″

“$30!!! Shut up”

- “No girl, you shut up. It’s true, $30″

“Child, say no more…I’m all over it”

Happy Shopping

Hey beautiful -

All of a sudden “frugality” is sexy. Everyone’s doing it! Bragging about your recent recessionista acquisition is all the rage! Suddenly we’re extremely proud of how little we spend

“Cool dress, Michaela!”

- “Girl thanks! I spied this hot little designer number at Neiman Marcus LAST CALL for $30″

“$30!!! Shut up”

- “No girl, you shut up. It’s true, $30″

“Child, say no more…I’m all over it”

Happy Shopping

This winter we’ve talked a great deal about extreme facial dryness. I’ve covered various products and techniques available to help manage dry, flaky, stressed winter skin. If you’re still perfecting your winter skincare routine, ThisThatBeauty says, TRY THIS:

Erno Laszlo Hydra-Therapy Skin Vitality Treatment is a deeply hydrating moisture mask, ideal for dry dull skin in need of a boost of intense hydration. This super rich treatment comforts and brings vitality to the skin.  Enriched with Allantoin, Hyrda-Therapy Skin Vitality Treatment plumps the skin to decrease the appearance of dry lines and wrinkles. 

To prepare the mask, the pHase I liquid is mixed with the pHase II powder until a mousse-like consistency is achieved. The mask is then applied to the face in a thick layer. After 15-20 minutes of relaxation, the mask is removed and plump beautifully hydrated skin is revealed.

Try Erno Laszlo Hydra-Therapy Skin Vitality Treatment for your regular hydration needs…or right before a big night out for lovely glowing skin!

Available at ernsolaszlo.com, neimanmarcus.com, nordstrom.com 

This winter we’ve talked a great deal about extreme facial dryness. I’ve covered various products and techniques available to help manage dry, flaky, stressed winter skin. If you’re still perfecting your winter skincare routine, ThisThatBeauty says, TRY THIS:

Erno Laszlo Hydra-Therapy Skin Vitality Treatment is a deeply hydrating moisture mask, ideal for dry dull skin in need of a boost of intense hydration. This super rich treatment comforts and brings vitality to the skin.  Enriched with Allantoin, Hyrda-Therapy Skin Vitality Treatment plumps the skin to decrease the appearance of dry lines and wrinkles. 

To prepare the mask, the pHase I liquid is mixed with the pHase II powder until a mousse-like consistency is achieved. The mask is then applied to the face in a thick layer. After 15-20 minutes of relaxation, the mask is removed and plump beautifully hydrated skin is revealed.

Try Erno Laszlo Hydra-Therapy Skin Vitality Treatment for your regular hydration needs…or right before a big night out for lovely glowing skin!

Available at ernsolaszlo.com, neimanmarcus.com, nordstrom.com