The Friday Forum - November 26

Did your Black Friday look like this? Hope not! I did some civilized in-store shopping at my two Neiman Marcus stores, stocking up with wonderful things like Creed, Fresh, Le Métier de Beauté, YSL, and Giorgio Armani jackets (on sale!). I also did some great online shopping, using the list I shared with you at this link. Many of those specials are valid all weekend, so make sure to check the list before you shop.

Thanksgiving was relaxing, until the time came to try to get all the dishes on the table at once. That's always a challenge for me. It was really nice that my friend Rene could join us; I got to talk beauty a bit! I watched the dog show on television in the afternoon. So many darling dogs! I was rooting for Clooney, an Irish Setter, and he won! What a gorgeous boy! I just can't figure out why they keep calling him "the Irish Setter" on the news. He has a name. Is that some snobby dog show thing? Purebred Charleston Sumter thinks that's over the top.

It's time for The Friday Forum. We use the forum to share information and chat. Did you find any Black Friday deals you couldn't resist? Are you using a fabulous product and want to sing its praises? Did you find a beauty product disappointing? Do you have a question others might be able to answer? Want to talk about skin care? Just use the comments. Don't be shy. Just make sure to ask any question you might have over the weekend. By Monday, most readers have moved on.

We have busy weekends and slow ones on the forum. I'm always happy if even one reader stops by. Leave a comment, and say hello - even if you don't want to comment on beauty products. As I always do, I'll leave news of some great beauty offers (great, not just good) in the comments of this post. If you want to know where to find nice gifts with purchase, free shipping, and other deals this weekend, make sure to check the comments.

Thanks for reading Best Things in Beauty! Got anything you want to talk about?

Photo courtesy of Sonyinsider.com

Special Black Friday Giveaway Contest: Giorgio Armani Beauty Eyes to Kill Eyeshadow

Having a very special giveaway contest for Black Friday seemed like the right thing to do! So, I am giving away one amazing Giorgio Armani Beauty Eyes to Kill Eyeshadow ($32) for Holiday 2010 - in everyone's favorite shade: Copper/Black Grey (15).

Click on this link to see my feature on the new Eyes to Kill shadows. You can see swatches of all three shadows in the collection. My favorite is Copper/Black Grey!

To enter to win this weekend giveaway contest, just leave a comment here once. After you comment, feel free to e-mail bestthingsinbeautycontests@gmail.com and identify your comment. You can never be too careful about sharing your e-mail address on a blog, so I would follow this second step if I were you (an alternative is to code your e-mail, e.g., myname at gmail dot com, in your comment). That's what most of you do.

You can "earn" a second entry by tweeting this contest. Just make sure to include "@BTiBeauty" (without the quotes) in your tweet. I will tweet the contest soon, and you can simply retweet it to earn that second entry. You can earn a third entry by following the blog - either here or on Twitter (any entrant who is already a follower will automatically earn the follower point).

The deadline for entries will be Sunday, November 28, at 5:00 pm EST. The next morning, I will use a random number generator (random.org) to select the winner. I will e-mail the winner at that time. The winner will have 48 hours to reply to my message and provide a shipping address. After 48 hours, the prize will be forfeited, and another winner will be selected.

Here is more "fine print." This contest is open to anyone anywhere. Here are the terms. I will carefully pack and ship the prize (as I always do). I cannot insure the palette for overseas shipment - it's amazingly expensive to do so. If it's lost or stolen in transit, I won't be able to replace it with another palette for an overseas winner. We'll see how this works. My shipping issues have occurred when I've shipped overseas - the packages to the U.S. and Canada always arrive without incident. I'll do my best on this end; let's see if your mail services do right by you on the other end if we have an overseas winner.

Good Luck!

Photo courtesy of Giorgio Armani Beauty

Don't Try This at Home: Orange Eyelids

The magazine editors have deemed the orange eyelids shown at Derek Lam's Spring 2010 show the cat's meow. I first saw them in WWD's Beauty Biz and thought, "How bizarre!" Then, they appeared at Lucky. Now, "tropical" eyelids are featured in the December issue of Allure, where you can find orange, bright lime green, and all kinds of bright colors billed as spring's tropical "it" trends from the runway.

Translating the runway to real life will be difficult. Tom Pecheux may be able to make a gorgeous model look exotic with orange eyelids (Visine nearby, I'm sure), but it's likely you will draw stares - and not the kind you'd prefer. I have found orange lids dubbed "completely wearable" by bloggers who published Estée Lauder's press release. I guess that makes me a contrarian.

Orange will be a big color again this spring, and Lam's orange belts were stunning. The models? There's no doubt that orange can make blue eyes look very blue. Adopt the trend, but use peach on your eyelids. Break down, if you didn't last spring, and buy an orange-toned lipstick, lip gloss, or blusher. There will be many new ones from which to choose. You won't scare your family, friends, colleagues, or pet if you keep the orange off your eyes - and you certainly won't risk commitment.

Would you wear bright orange eye shadow?

Photo courtesy of Estée Lauder by way of Lucky

Shopping with Charlestongirl - Part 3 - Great Online Offers

Can you even imagine a world without online shopping? I can't! Once unheard of, it's a weekly activity for me. I'll be shopping online this weekend; I've already started. Here are some of the offers that have found their way into my mailbox. Will they tempt you too?

I told you on Tuesday about this weekend's Giorgio Armani Beauty special offers for the weekend and tomorrow's Neiman Marcus gift card event. Just scroll down this screen to find the features.

Don't forget that Smashbox is also having Friends & Family. Use the code FFSB20 at checkout through November 29.

Lancome is having Friends & Family online. Use code HOLIDAY20 for a 20% discount through November 29. Free shipping too.

YSL is also having a special beauty event. Use code FRIENDS at checkout for a 20% discount through November 30. Free shipping too.

SkinStore is offering a 20% discount storewide. Use code CYBER20 through December 1. On Black Friday, save 50% on all M Lab items. There are additional Black Friday deals. Go shop!

DermaShoppe is offering a 30% discount for Black Friday only. The discount starts at midnight tonight. Use code BLACK30. You can get there by clicking on the affiliate link on the lower-right sidebar on this blog.

Kate Somerville is offering a 30% Friends & Family discount through November 30. Use code KSFF2010.

New London NYC is offering a 20% off all online orders by entering GOBBLE20 at checkout. I'm not sure about the end date.

Butter London is offering 30% off online through November 30 with code FF2010. Shipping is not included

Ramy Beauty Therapy has free shipping this weekend and through December 1.

Kérastase is offering its members 20% off any purchase of $68 or more. You must be a member to qualify for the sale, so register for the promo code.

You can purchase the annual Black Friday VIP Bag online now at Bath & Body Works. Use code VIP2010 to purchase it for $20, a 50% discount.

Ricky's NYC has all kinds of special discounts for Black Friday. Use code LOVEBLACK through November 29. Even e-gift certificates are eligible for a 20% discount! Use code AMNY2010 for them.

Order at Estée Lauder online, and you'll get to select four deluxe samples with any purchase. No code is required.

Laura Mercier is offering five samples and has hinted there's a special Black Friday offer on the way.

Clinique is offering free shipping online through November 28.

Laura Geller has a gorgeous gift with any $75 purchase Black Friday through November 29. No code is necessary. Use Internet Explorer, not Firefox. The checkout form blows up in Firefox.

At the Cosmetic Mall, use code COSMETIC10 to save 10% off the already discounted prices storewide. You'll also receive 5% is reward points.

Fragrance.net is offering free shipping, no minimum purchase required. Use code BFNV2 at checkout. I'm not sure when this one ends.

Ulta has some weekend deals. Use code 52748 for $10 off any purchase of $60 or more online. It's valid through December 4. Ulta has special doorbuster items too.

Upurea is offering a 30% Black Friday (only) discount. Use code BLKFRDY at checkout.

To get free shipping at LuckyScent, use code HOLIDAY2010.

You can still purchase Hand Perfection at Beauty Story. The everyday discounts are amazing.

There is a Clinique gift with purchase at Saks with any $35 purchase. Saks also has a Black Friday gift card ($25) in stores and online.

Bare Escentuals is offering $20 off a future purchase when you spend $50. Use code MERRY online or drop by a Bare Escentuals store through December 5. If you shop online, use this code at checkout for a surprise (if you spend $50): CZER-EQBW-K2UE-2HDM (through today!).

At Benefit Cosmetics, any order will ship free through November 29. Use code GLAMSHIP.

Peter Lamas Beauty is offering free shipping through November 28. Use code THANKS at checkout if you spend at least $25.

Chantecaille will send you a free Tea Rose Lip Chic with every purchase of Tiger in the Wild palette. Use code TIGERS. This is only available on Black Friday.

Stila is offering 20% off with code STILALOVES through November 29. Or use code BLACKFRIDAY with any purchase of $50 or more and get a fabulous gift with purchase on Black Friday only.

Use code GIFT20 for a 20% discount at b~Glowing through November 29.

Style.com has a list with more great deals. Check out this link, courtesy of @Logordo at Twitter.

Beautorium has a sliding scale for discounts. Spend $50, get a 10% discount. Spend up to $150, get a $15% discount. Spend $150 or more, get a 20% discount. Use codes SAVE10, SAVE15, and SAVE20. "For a limited time."

Friends & Family Event at NeoStrata. Take 20% off your all order with code FRIENDS at checkout.

Sephora is offering a free Sephora tote (kind of boring) with a $25 purchase. Use code MYHAUL at checkout if you are a beauty insider. Limited - you are being told to hurry. I am not sure why. It's not that exciting.

At MURAD, save $30 on your next $100 purchase through December 1. Use code GIFTSAVE30 at checkout.

At Antica Farmacista, receive 20% off all online orders of $100 or more. Enter code CYBERFRI10 for this very limited promotion. Offer ends Sunday, November 28.

Philosophy has doorbuster deals, with savings at 50% and beyond. Free shipping, no minimum through November 28.

Nick Chavez Beverly Hills is offering a Buy One, Get One Free Sale on certain items from now through Cyber Monday! Free shipping too.

Kiehl's Friends & Family starts Black Friday and runs through November 30. Use code FAMILY10 at checkout for a 20% discount online. Orders of $30 or more ship free.

Black Friday at Korres begins at 6:00 am ET. Save 50% on the SCENTsational Body Collection, 70% on the Luscious Lips Collection, and similar savings on other sets. No offer code is required. On Sunday, November 28, there is a store-wide sale. Then on Cyber Monday, there will be a deal every hour from 6:00 am to 11:00 pm.

At mark, spend $40 today through November 29, and use code MARKBF, and you will receive a goodie bag and free shipping.

Now through November 30, La Roche Posay is offering a $5 discount on orders of $30 or more. Use code THANKS at checkout.

LIERAC starts Friends & Family on Cyber Monday and runs through December 3. Save 30% on everything! Use check out code FF2010 at checkout.

Kinerase is offering a 25% discount on everything except special offers. Use code HOLIDAY through November 28.

At Shu Uemura, you'll get a 20% discount and free shipping with any purchase over $50. Use code WISH2010 through November 29.

At BeautyTicket, use code CYBER30 on Cyber Monday only for a 30% discount off the already-discounted prices.

Promo code BLACKFRIDAY will also take 20% off your purchase of devices, fragrance, cosmetics and more at DERMAdoctor! The offer ends November 29.

See Hand Perfection's Facebook page for special Black Friday and Cyber Monday discounts. Remember, BTIB readers get a 20% discount with code 20BEAUTY through December 31!

Like Deborah Lippmann like I do? You'll get 20% off online on orders of $35 and over, not including shipping, through November 30. Use code TURKEY20.

Votre Vu is offering free shipping and free gifts with each order - two days only: November 28 and Cyber Monday.

There's a new member-only site (anyone can join free for a limited time) called bellezabandida! The site is having great specials this holiday weekend - luxury beauty products all priced up to 70% off. You'll get free shipping using code SHIPVIP at check out from now until Cyber Monday, November 29. Free deluxe samples too. Check it out!

Prescriptives online has a seven-piece gift with purchase Black Friday only for orders of $60 or more. Use code TREAT10 at checkout.

Urban Decay is having a Black Friday sale. Check out the site for special pricing.

Note sure I totally understand the DermStore sale, but here it is. You can get 20% off your favorites. Log in and start adding items to your favorites list. The offer ends November 29.

Receive the Fragrance Combining Collection, free shipping, and two fragrance samples of your choice with any Jo Malone purchase of $150 or more. Use code JMEPF at checkout through November 28.

I'll keep adding to this list, just as I have been since I published it. It may soon be as long as this home page! Most of these offers have some fine print (not much) or a few exclusions, so make sure to check to ensure you get the deal you expect.

Photo courtesy of guardian.co.uk

Weekend Roundup - November 20

The crispness of fall is in the air, and the holiday season starts next week! Office parties, neighborhood parties, family dinners, holiday shopping, and more will be consuming our lives for the next several weeks. We want to look our very best for all of these occasions, and there’s no better place than our favorite beauty blogs to find the best new must-haves for the season.

The holidays are the perfect time to treat yourself to a new fragrance, and Gaia has a suggestion that could make you feel glamorous and add an air of mystery to your charm. Pop over to The Non-Blonde to find out whether Gypsy should be on your wish list.

Flawless skin makes us look more youthful, and we want to look flawless (and youthful!) for the holidays - anytime really! Kari tested the Luminess Air system. Did it give her the flawless look she wanted? Find out at Fab over Forty.

While we're talking about "flawless for the holidays," Jane found a new primer she loves: Exuberance Silicone-Free Primer. You have to read more at Daly Beauty. It sounds fabulous.

At BeautyXposé, Anne was smitten with holiday collections of mineral shadows, liners, and glosses from Bare Escentuals. They may be the perfect gift sets - if you can bear to part with them.

Sabrina at The Beauty Look Book decided YSL's Touche d'Or Highlighter and Colorama Palette gave her a gorgeous golden glow for the holidays. I like them too, and I think our coloring is very different. Will these highlighters make you a YSL convert, if you're not already?

Kelly added some glitz to her life with a little sparkle on her lashes! Pop over to Gouldylox Reviews to find out how Hard Candy's Lash Tinsel could light up your eyes for a special event.

Debbi at DivaDebbi has a new holy grail foundation. Read about DivaDebbi's love affair with Giorgio Armani Beauty's Luminous Silk Foundation - and Armani's blender brush! We're betting she buys the brush too. Make sure to comment and tell her why she needs it. Loyd Cassler uses this brush for everything. He says if you can only buy one brush, buy the blender brush.

Carla at Product Girl knows that smoky eyes are perfect for holiday parties. She's loving the newest kit from Smashbox! Check it out.

Once upon a time...Alima Pure made me feel like a princess. Scroll down to this week's features at Best Things in Beauty to find out how Once Upon a Time could make your own beautiful dreams come true. Later today, I'm getting out the Le Métier de Beauté Magic Lustre Creme to experiment with a little magic, transforming these loose powders into creams. Can't wait to play!

Today is the last day to enter the giveaway contest to win a Vera Wang Anniversary fragrance from Attention USA. Don't forget to enter here! This is a beautiful fragrance - the more I wear it, the more I love it.

See any must-haves in the roundup?

Shopping with Charlestongirl - Part 2

Even before we've had a Thanksgiving dinner, some of us are planning our weekend shopping. Hey - a shopper has to plan, particularly for Black Friday when aimless shopping can place you in a frenzied crowd. Nothing wrong with that - if you like frenzied crowds and don't fear being crushed or bruised - but I prefer fast, efficient, focused, and jostle-free shopping.

After a quick, very early foray to Leesburg Corner, I'll be headed to Neiman Marcus - two of them! I'll be starting at Neiman Marcus at Mazza Gallerie for Black Friday Breakfast. Mazza really knows how to host a party!

Here is your invitation (from my friends at Mazza and me) in case you'll be within 100 miles of DC. If not, read on for other opportunities below.

DON’T BE LEFT IN THE DARK!

JOIN NEIMAN MARCUS MAZZA FOR A LUXE MORNING OF SHOPPING AND SIPPING AND RECEIVE A $50 GIFT CARD WITH A $100 OR GREATER PURCHASE!

Enjoy breakfast bites, gourmet coffee, and mimosas to invigorate you for shopping, starting at 9:00 am! Mimosas? Did they anticipate the key to my heart? The champagne flows at Mazza - oh, and the nibbles are great too!

The first 50 people (to purchase, I assume) are eligible to win our "Black Friday Beauty Basket Valued" at $500, It contains new fragrances, beauty palettes, and relaxing body products, just in time to pamper yourself for the holidays! I can never enter the Best Things in Beauty drawings (for obvious reasons), but I can enter this! I'm there! Mazza puts together heavenly gift baskets.

To be eligible for the $50 gift card, you have to spend $100 or more between 9:00 and 2:00 on Friday only. Just think, spend only $100, and you get what amounts to a 50% discount (to be used later - anytime up to December 5). Is that a deal or what? You get a nice gift card, and the store gets you back for a little more gift shopping or retail therapy.

When I leave Mazza, I will be going straight to Neiman Marcus at Tysons Galleria. Yep, two Neiman Marcus forays in one day! At Tysons, Kathy Shoreman, SA extraordinaire, will be ringing my pre-selected purchases. No matter where you live, you should be offered the same $50 gift card opportunity at "your Neiman Marcus." It will be a great morning to go!

When I finish my Neiman Marcus shopping, I'll be headed home to shop online. I have so many offers to share with you, I'll do it later this morning. Right now, I have to run out (yes at 6:00 am) to buy some orange juice. It was poor planning on my part to be without one of the staples of life on a holiday weekend.

Photo courtesy of wikimedia

Happy Thanksgiving!

I want to take this early opportunity to wish all of you a Happy Thanksgiving! I hope you enjoy Thanksgiving with family and/or friends, gathering at some point around a table to share a meal.

I'm thankful for you! I feel like I have an extended family: my blog readers. The Internet has given us an opportunity to cross paths in ways most of us wouldn't have imagined 20 years ago. Now, I can chat with readers like Eileen, Val, Bonnie, and Clarisse (to name just four of you) - so many miles away - and I get an occasional opportunity to meet you at local events. It's fun to share our worlds and our love of beauty in all its forms.

So, thank you for being a big part of my world and for allowing me to be a small part of yours.

Wishing you a great day tomorrow and a fun weekend,

Charlestongirl

Photo courtesy of leawo.com

Clé de Peau Vintage Palette II for Holiday 2010

Do I feel special! I'm wearing a beautiful highlighting powder: the Vintage Palette II ($125), the second annual, limited-edition stunner from Clé de Peau. Look at this compact! How stunning does it get? Second only to animals (my favorites), the raised rays of light on this palette are exquisite.

Inspired by the "timeless allure of vintage jewelry, this face powder melts into skin like silky cream and provides a warm, delicate glow like the solemn sparkle of precious jewels." The finish is achieved with a harmonious blend of colors with pearl pigments. From pinks to golds, the shades combine, with the swipe of a powder brush, to make the face gleam.

There are some micro-sparkles in the powder. I was feeling festive today - a short day at work and the beginning of the long, holiday weekend, so I threw caution to the wind and applied it before work. I loved the way it lit up my face. Although I could see a small amount of micro-sparkling on my cheeks at first, just an hour and a half later, what's left is a gleam. I don't know where those little sparkle devils went, but they aren't on my bright purple jacket, so I'm not sure I care.

I knew this special compact was going to be introduced for the holidays, but I forgot it for a time. When I finally asked about it, Alanna Lee, Clé de Peau Product Specialist at Neiman Marcus at Tysons Galleria, only had two left! Yikes - I'm glad one of them is mine. London Pretty Boy wrote about it in August, so I can't claim I didn't have enough advance notice. Don't make the same mistake I almost made. If you are interested in the Vintage Palette II, look for it now.

You can find this gorgeous holiday palette at Clé de Peau counters at Neiman Marcus and Nordstrom. I noticed that it's listed as "not available" at Neiman Marcus online. That means the warehouse sold out.

Photo courtesy of Neiman Marcus

Shopping with Charlestongirl - Part 1

I consider myself a shopping "expert." I don't mean to brag, but I've perfected the art of shopping, stopping at only the best stores; browsing online at the stores with fabulous extras, shipping deals, and frequent discounts; and generally zeroing in on the best shopping helpers (my favorite sales representatives - those who will go the extra mile for me). I'm going to share some of my favorites with you over the next few days, starting with my favorite outlet mall, the Leesburg Corner (Virginia) Premium Outlets.

Today's feature is for my DC-area friends and readers, some of whom have told me they have never gone to Leesburg to shop. Friends, you don't know what you're missing! The After-Thanksgiving Weekend Sale, Midnight Madness at Leesburg Corner Premium Outlets, kicks off the holiday shopping season. Why not take a nice drive out the toll road and experience the joy of first-class outlet shopping?

All weekend, you'll enjoy exceptional holiday savings and extended shopping hours at Leesburg Corner, plus you can experience Midnight Madness if you are truly crazy. Most stores will open their doors at midnight right after Thanksgiving. I have never gone to the outlet that early; I find 7:00 am is totally adequate, although I do run into dazed shoppers who have clearly been there all night. My sleep is too important, and when I shop, I want to be alert - ready to pounce on the deal that's too good to be true.

There are going to be super-deals at almost every store. You can find all the special offers at this link. My favorite stores at Leesburg? Williams Sonoma (the "cookware queen"), The Company Store (for Estée Lauder Company beauty products), Polo Ralph Lauren, Le Creuset, Cole Haan, Aerosoles, Nike, Puma, Restoration Hardware - gosh, there are too many. I can't list them all. This is a first-class outlet mall. Love it! Will I see you there, if not Friday, this weekend?

Make sure to sign up online to be a VIP. Then, print out the coupons, including the coupon you can use at the visitors' center to get a mall-wide coupon discount book. It will save you money, and you will want to pick up one every time you go. The visitors' center is in the food court area, so you can refuel (or hit the restroom) while you are there.

Later today? I'll tell you about some of my favorite online shopping sites. This long weekend? I'm going to share some of my favorite sales associates and product specialists, both here and in New York. Hopefully, you will share yours in the comments so that we can assemble a "data base" of great shopping experiences. Shopping is necessary, but it should also be fun!

Photo courtesy of Leesburg Premium Outlets

Ellen Sirot Hand Perfection Night Solution

Recently I had the privilege - and I definitely mean privilege - to start using Ellen Sirot's Hand Perfection products. Today, I'd like to share with you the "experience" of Hand Perfection Night Solution ($75). This overnight, restorative miracle serum accelerates hand renewal while you sleep.

Did you know that more than half of all women over 30 feel that their hands are aging faster than their faces, hair, or teeth? The skin on our hands is as delicate the the skin on our eyelids, but we constantly exposure our hands to soap and water to avoid bacteria and viruses. On top of that, our hands are exposed to the "elements." Hands have a hard time staying hydrated because they have very few oil glands. They need help!

Hand Perfection Night Solution is not "just another nice hand cream." Night Solution is one of the most luxurious hand creams you'll ever use. For me, the nightly application has taken on all the trappings of a sacred ritual. I look forward to it, and I wait to savor it until after I have given Charlie his Greenies. If I don't, he harasses me, and I want my hand treatment time to be perfect and calming - a short, but perfect end to the day.

The first thing I noticed about Hand Perfection Night Solution is how soft and velvety it feels. It's a white cream, dispensed in a container like my favorite MEG 21 face creams. The jar is designed to keep the product sanitary - no finger dipping to get it out. You press down on the white disk at the top, and, depending on how much pressure you put on the disk, out pops an application through the center airless pump. The directions say to gently massage a pearl-sized drop into the back of your hands every night for maximum benefit. So, that's what I did the first time. It felt so good, so luxuriously velvety, that I applied a second application, applying the cream to the undersides of my hands as well. At the rate I'm using it, I'll probably run out of it before I should - but I'm so happy. That matters for something!

The dry-down is quick. Night Solution will leave your hands feeling soft, but not gooey or greasy. I go to sleep feeling like I've got the softest hands on earth, and my hands look and feel hydrated in the morning. I haven't used it long enough to see my sun spots disappear, but they are lighter than they were when I started using it.

Night Solution is packed with proven, high-quality anti-aging and moisturizing ingredients. It's quite a cocktail for your hands. Maybe that's why it's so addictive.

• Grapeseed oil is an omega 3 that contains resveratrol that helps nourish and protect the delicate skin on your hands
• "Advanced Moisturizing Complex" (glycerin, sodium PCA, urea, and trehalose) helps attract and lock in moisture and protect skin from damage
• Hyaluronic acid helps smooth and plump skin, sealing in moisture. Hyaluronic acid is a key ingredient found in the best, most expensive facial skin care, and it's just as effective on our hands as it is on our faces.
• Licorice root extract helps lighten dark spots and age spots; it also has anti-inflammatory properties
• Lactobionic acid is a milk-derived exfoliant that increases cell turnover
• Vitamin E is a powerful antioxidant that helps reverse past damage, soothes the skin, and fights free radicals
• Carageenan red algae extract is easily absorbed to soften and soothe skin with its anti-irritant and antibacterial properties.
• N-Acetyl D glucosamine holds in moisture, helping to plump and firm the skin

Hand Perfection products do not contain parabens, sulfates, petroleum by-products, or fragrances, and they are not tested on animals. How perfect does it get?

I'm sure many of you know that Ellen Sirot is a world-famous hand model. For 20 years, Ellen Sirot’s ageless hands have earned her acclaim as the “supermodel of hands.” Her hands have appeared in countless advertising campaigns and every major fashion and beauty magazine. Her hands have even "played a hand," standing in for the hands of A-list celebrities and TV personalities, including Sarah Jessica Parker, Hilary Swank, and Rachael Ray. I'd bet that you have seen Ellen's hands, even if you don't recognize her name.

Hand models must protect their hands, so Ellen spent a year looking for the most moisturizing ingredients available to develop her own systematic approach to hand care. She was determined to make her hands the best they could be - to turn back the "hands of time" in no time. The result? Ellen's hands were transformed into smooth, radiant, and flawless hands, with no age spots, freckles, crepey skin, or bulging veins.

These days, Ellen is sharing her hand care know-how with others through the launch of her own product line, Hand Perfection. The comprehensive, solution-oriented line of age-proofing hand care is grounded in dynamic ingredients and exceptional technologies - painstakingly researched and handpicked by Ellen herself.

In 2009, 30 women, aged 35 to 65, participated in a study to test the effectiveness of two Hand Perfection products. The results were extraordinary. Once you start using Hand Perfection products, you'll gain a "first-hand" understanding of the remarkable improvement those women experienced. I've used Night Solution long enough to see a difference, but not nearly long enough, given that I consider it a keeper. I never want to be without it. I will be ordering it (my first jar was provided gratis). I just wish I could purchase a gigunda size - four times the regular size - since I'm sure will use more than I need. It feels so good, I can't help myself.

I have other products from Hand Perfection to introduce to you - and I will soon. There's a special offer for you, so I need to share it with you now. As we start our holiday shopping, the nice folks at Hand Perfection have offered us a discount, which will be valid through December 31! Use code 20BEAUTY for a 20% discount off your entire order at Ellen Sirot's Hand Perfection Web site. You are going to love whatever you purchase. Just make sure to buy something for yourself if you are gift shopping. Hand Perfection is a treat you shouldn't miss.

Photo courtesy of Hand Perfection

M·A·C A Tartan Tale Face Kits for Holiday 2010

I'm still on a M·A·C A Tartan Tale roll. A Tartan Tale is, without a doubt, my favorite-ever M·A·C collection. I suppose that doesn't say much, since I'm not a M·A·C groupie (the term used with love), but I do appreciate certain items from M·A·C, and I have fallen hard for A Tartan Tale. Yes, the packaging is beyond "appealing," explaining my enchantment (see the compact photo below), but the makeup inside is enticing too. What I particularly love about these Face Kits is the range of shades in one color family. I suspect they will become reach-for compacts.

I bought two limited-edition Face Kits. I had to get them from M·A·C online because Nordstrom had sold out. My favorite of the two is Hark the Heraldry ($38). The red plaid, tartan double-decker compact with its M∙A∙C crest speaks of the regal lineage of this fabulous face trio! Highlight, contour, perfect, and shimmer, with a heraldic mix of Oh So Fair Beauty Powder, Plum Foolery Sheertone Shimmer Blush, and Dame Powder Blush (shown left to right in the palette photo above).

That's the order in which I swatched them. They were applied to my arm with a large sponge-tipped applicator intended for eye shadows. I took my photo in full sun. The Face Kits provide a range of blushers with a color theme. Simply put, the theme of Hark the Heraldry is pink. The other day, I wore a red jacket to work. You may know that pinky-pink blush looks garish with a red jacket; I need something with more brown in it. Dame worked perfectly. As you can see on my arm, it's very neutral. It looked great!

Yes, I am one of those women who ensures that her makeup doesn't clash with her outfit. I have read that I'm not supposed to do that, but the fashion gods will just have to nash their teeth. I can't imagine wearing bright pink blush with a red jacket, looking like Betty Boop, that sweet and seductive baby-doll, but without the looks (or cleavage) of Cara Bow to distract the eye from the mismatch.

I also ordered A Triumphant Blush ($38). It was one of those situations in which I couldn't make up my mind and didn't want to miss out. This kit includes the warm, peach tones of Smooth Harmony Beauty Powder, Peachtwist Sheertone Shimmer Blush, and Melba Powder Blush. Just click on the link to see it. They also work nicely on me, but will be best saved for next summer. On the other hand, they look darn good with brown, one of my winter wardrobe staples!

You can find these at MAC's Web site. At this point, I'm not sure about the list of M·A·C stores, or Nordstrom and Bloomingdale's stores, that still have them in stock. Call ahead.

Photos courtesy of M·A·C, except for my arm

Giorgio Armani Beauty Friends & Family Wednesday and Cyber Monday Offer

The special offers keep rolling in, and this one's irresistible! Wednesday, November 24 - one day only - Giorgio Armani Beauty is having a Friends & Family event. Use code FRIENDS, and you will receive a 20% discount on your purchase, along with complimentary shipping if you spend $75 or more. The offer is valid only on the Armani Beauty U.S. Web Site.

If you miss that, Armani has you covered! On Cyber Monday, there's a special "step-up offer." Spend $75 and receive 20% off and complimentary shipping. Use code FRIENDS.

Or, spend $125 and receive the 20% discount, complimentary shipping, and an exclusive six-piece gift in a deluxe Armani cosmetics bag. The set includes deluxe samples: Rouge d'Armani Lip Card, mini Eyes to Kill mascara, Luminous Silk foundation in shade 5.5, Light Master Primer, Fluid Sheer #3, Armani Code for Women, and the bag. Use offer code FRIENDS2.

Even though this Cyber Monday offer says "one day only," both of the Cyber Monday specials will be valid until November 30 at the Armani Beauty U.S. Web site. I have confirmed that. Shop early, though, to get your first choices!

Tempted? I am!

Photos courtesy of Armani Beauty

Le Métier de Beauté True Color Eye Shadow

Every time I go to a Le Métier de Beauté counter, I buy more True Color Eye Shadow ($30). During the recent Holiday Beauty Soiree at Neiman Marcus at Mazza Gallerie, I continued my newest habit, picking up two more: Spicy and Mulberry. Pretty soon, I'll have them all! Each time I hang out at the Le Métier de Beauté counter, I buy a few and add a few more to my wish list.

Santa, how about just dropping them all off for Christmas? Can you even imagine? A Le Métier de Beauté holiday courtesy of a savvy Santa. He could slide down my chimney with one of everything from the line. That would be the best Christmas gift of my life.

True Color Eye Shadow provides outstanding color payoff with weightless, true-to-color pigments. The shadows are sheer, providing adjustable coverage, with transparency or intensity, depending on the shade you select. The shadows are available in a range of finishes - matte, shimmer, and satin.

• Matte: A smooth, velvety texture offering full coverage without sheen
• Satin: A rich, silk-like consistency offering sheer coverage with a subtle sheen
• Shimmer: A refined, pearl-like texture offering full coverage with maximum sheen

The powder eye shadows are creamy, offering a luxurious finish and smooth coverage. Each elegant, black compact has a mirror. I can add these two to my beloved Corinthian to create my much-loved neutral-toned looks.

Spicy, shown at left in my photo above, has a gorgeous shimmer finish. It is much more intense than Mulberry, shown above at right. Mulberry has a satin finish, and it's very sheer. I consider it the perfect everyday neutral.

To show you the huge difference in these two "brown-toned" shadows, I swatched them with a sponge-tipped applicator and took my photo in full sun. Spicy, shown at the top of the swatches, applies quickly with one swipe, giving me a bright, shimmering copper look. Love it! Mulberry is a very cool brown with just a slight hint of pink. The shade looks nothing like it looks on the Web on those little swatches, which make it look lavender. Dustin Lujan, Le Métier de Beauté national makeup artist and representative, says that Mulberry is too cool for many women. He said it's a difficult shade for women with warm-toned skin to wear; they have better choices from the many shades available in this fabulous eye shadow collection.

I thought Mulberry was perfect for me, and he (and Lisa Lingis) concurred that it would work nicely on my cool-toned, fair skin. I didn't even try it on my eyelids at the store; I knew I would love it from a quick swatch. To get the color intensity for this photo, I swiped the applicator across my arm four times. The color built with each swipe, and I finally stopped, knowing when it was time for its photo op. It's that light and sheer!

Neiman Marcus and Bergdorf Goodman show 32 shades of True Color Eye Shadow available on their Web sites. Nordstrom shows 33. There's a shade for every taste, look, and skin tone. I need to show you the other Le Métier de Beauté True Color Eye Shadow treasures I purchased in October. I promise I will do that soon.

Le Métier de Beauté is available at Neiman Marcus, Bergdorf Goodman, and Nordstrom (online only). It appears that Le Métier de Beauté will soon have its own Web site. It has been under construction for the few months since I started checking.

You might want to consider these luxurious shadows at Neiman Marcus this week, when you will receive a nice clutch bag with fragrances samples with an $85 purchase in the beauty department - or during In Circle in December, when there will be gifts with purchase galore.

Photos by BTiB

Smashbox Friends & Family Sale

Now through November 29, you can spend less at Smashbox! Use the code FFSB20 at checkout, and your order will be discounted by 20%. Unfortunately, you can't combine the offer with Let's Do Lunch. Spread the word.

This is the perfect time to buy the holiday Wish Collection. You may need to join to become an insider. Have fun!

Photo courtesy of Smashbox

Chantecaille Papillon Violet Eye Shade Compact

Chantecaille has fabulous special offers at its Web site! The current offer, like most, is incredibly generous. Spend $200 or more, and you will find this makeup museum-worthy, hand-designed Papillon Violet Eye Shade Compact ($39) in your box.

The Papillon Eye Shades are available for purchase in two color combinations: Papillon Blue and Papillon Violet. Both are gorgeous. Each provides a trio of superfine holiday shades inspired by the graceful butterfly. There are two principal colors complemented by two detail colors in each compact. The detail colors have to be "picked up" with a very fine brush or applicator, but they are worth the extra effort.

I took a swatch photo for you. I got a pure, unblended swatch of the golden base shade outside the butterfly imprint and a swatch moving the applicator across the full wing of the butterfly, top to bottom. I used a sponge-tipped applicator and took my photo in full, mid-day sun.

A big fan of golden eyelids, I use the gold shade all over my lower lid and smudge some of the violet as an accent only on the outer lid. It works, despite the plummy color that's hard for me to wear. Blended with the golden shade, it's very pretty. If you are a plum lover, you are going to be smitten.
Chantecaille's sales of the Papillon Eye Shades have benefited the Monarch Butterfly Sanctuary Foundation to help protect the fragile ecosystem of the Monarch Butterfly’s winter habitat. Chantecaille's Les Papillons Collection is of particular relevance right now; the American butterfly is currently under greater attack than at any time in its existence. The Monarch Butterfly, a national symbol, is now on the endangered species list. Every year, what has been known as the "miracle migration" of the Western Monarch Butterfly has signaled its arrival with magnificent blazes of orange against the autumn sky. Flying from as far north as Canada to find a winter home in the eight to ten last remaining Monarch habitats in California and Mexico, the Monarch mates at the end of winter, before starting the journey back north in the spring.

The fragile ecosystem of the butterfly's winter home has been disrupted over recent years by logging and deforestation due to the drive for increased coastal development. The subsequent effect of global warming has led to early butterfly desiccation and death. The milkweed, where the female Monarch lays her eggs during the winter, is seen as a weed and killed with herbicides.

Chantecaille's Les Papillons Collection seeks to help protect the Monarch Butterfly's winter habitat by donating 5% of all sales to the Monarch Butterfly Sanctuary Foundation, established in 1997 by scientists and educators seeking to replace and revive the winter butterfly habitats. Thus far Chantecaille has donated over $20,000, which has gone towards replanting trees in Michoacán, Mexico, a natural winter home for the butterflies.

This is the kind of makeup that makes me feel good about overspending! It's one of my favorite things about Chantecaille. As an avid environmentalist and animal lover, I appreciate companies that make a meaningful difference to save endangered animals and their habitats.

If you want this compact, don't waste any time. I missed the last special offer, and I'm still kicking myself over it. Head over to Chantecaille's Web site.

Photos courtesy of Chanteaille

Stila Holiday Blockbuster Set Giveaway Contest

There were supposed to be only 50 of these available. Naturally, I ordered one for a giveaway contest! When I got the e-mail from Stila, I posted the set immediately. Later that day, when I saw it was sold out, I removed my announcement from the blog. Today, I found the Holiday Blockbuster Set at Costco for $20, $8 less than Stila charged for it. Nice deal! I'm not a big fan of exclusivity or deprivation, so I'm pleased that more women can get their hands on it. This set was pegged at a $450 value by Stila. I'm not sure about that, but it's certainly worth well over $100.

The eye shadows in this set remind me of the Bobbi Brights Eye Palette because of the small circles of color on the top level, along with circles of lip color. You need to know that the colors are not half as bright as they appear in this Stila photo. They are all attractive, and I am glad I purchased one of these for myself today at Costco. There's literally an eye shadow and lip color for every occasion.

Here's what comes in the multi-level set.

• 30 eye shadows
• 15 lip colors
• 3 cheek colors
• 1 highlighter
• 1 bronzer
• 1 mini eyeliner
• 1 mini lip liner
• 1 sponge-tipped applicators
• 1 mini lip brush
• 1 mini blush brush

I have one of these beauties to give away - the one I purchased from Stila. The Costco set is housed in one of those deadly plastic clamshells that I can never open without cutting myself, so I won't wish that on you.

To enter to win this week's giveaway contest, just leave a comment here once. After you comment, feel free to e-mail bestthingsinbeautycontests@gmail.com and identify your comment. You can never be too careful about sharing your e-mail address on a blog, so I would follow this second step if I were you (an alternative is to code your e-mail, e.g., myname at gmail dot com, in your comment). That's what most of you do.

You can "earn" a second entry by tweeting this contest. Just make sure to include "@BTiBeauty" (without the quotes) in your tweet. I will tweet the contest soon, and you can simply retweet it to earn that second entry. You can earn a third entry by following the blog - either here or on Twitter (any entrant who is already a follower will automatically earn the follower point).

The deadline for entries will be Saturday, November 27, at midnight. The next morning, I will use a random number generator (random.org) to select the winner. I will e-mail the winner at that time. The winner will have 48 hours to reply to my message and provide a shipping address. After 48 hours, the prize will be forfeited, and another winner will be selected.

Here is more "fine print." This contest is open to anyone anywhere. Here are the terms. I will carefully pack and ship the prize (as I always do). I cannot insure the palette for overseas shipment - it's amazingly expensive to do so. If it's lost or stolen in transit, I won't be able to replace it with another palette for an overseas winner. We'll see how this works. My shipping issues have occurred when I've shipped overseas - the packages to the U.S. and Canada always arrive without incident. I'll do my best on this end; let's see if your mail services do right by you on the other end if we have an overseas winner.

Good Luck!

Photo courtesy of Stila

Mass Market Holiday Beauty Promotions

Hang on! The beauty promotions for the holidays are starting, and this year they will extend to mass market retailers. Determined to cut into department stores' holiday sales, drugstores and other mass merchants will be offering gifts with purchase and value sets. Some already are, but the full-court press will start the day after Thanksgiving (called Black Friday in the U.S.).

WWD provided a summary of the mass market foray into the holiday market. I couldn't resist adding my own comments to the news.

Beauty 360, an upscale boutique connected to select CVS Pharmacy locations, has a host of gift-with-purchase promotions planned. Shoppers who spend $25 on any Bloom cosmetics product will receive a Make Up Essentials Bag, a $29.95 value. Those who buy $30 worth of Warren Tricomi hair care products will receive a Blow Dry Lotion, a $15 value. A purchase of any Cargo cosmetics item will be rewarded with a choice of a free Boogie Nights Silver Eye Pencil or a Shimmer Pen, a $25 value. The beauty boutique will also be giving away a $25 Beauty 360 gift certificate with any purchase of $100 or more through January 31. Holiday-themed open houses are planned in every Beauty 360 store on November 26th and each Thursday in December, from 2:00 pm. to 7:00 pm.

Inside the traditional CVS beauty departments, the retailer has special offers, but they aren't nearly as exciting. CVS will offer proprietary sets, including the Essence of Beauty All Occasion Tote, complete with a matching cosmetics bag, mini-sized hand cream, and body mist for $14.99, a so-called $75 value, as well as the Essence of Beauty Luxury Slipper Set, which includes a foot scrub and lotion for $9.99, a $14 value. I think this shows that the focus of CVS has slipped away from the prestige brands, such as Vichy, that it had started to promote at select stores, to the lower end of the scale.

CVS did collaborate with brands to create promotional items that are slightly more interesting than its in-house label. A sampling of what will be offered includes the Wet 'n Wild Festive Flirt Nail Kit, which has eight nail colors and a nail file for $4.99, a $17 value; the Burt’s Bees Tin Ornament with Beeswax Lip Balms for $9.99, a $15 value; and $19.99 fragrance sampler boxes available in classics for her, celebrity for her, and celebrity for him, with a $20 coupon for a full scent inside. I'm unimpressed with the fragrances. I don't think they are a good fit with middle-class neighborhoods like mine, where residents have money to spend on non-essential holiday gifts. Duane Reade, Walgreens, Rite Aid, ShopRite, and Target all have similar promotions planned. I've got my eye on this Dripping in Diamonds brush set from Sonia Kashuk for Target.
Online retailers are getting in on the act too. One of my favorites, Beauty.com, will be offering an assortment of Laura Geller cosmetics gift sets for up to 75% off. Beauty.com is also working with beauty brands to create value sets for the holidays, including Stila's Color Wheel Eye Shadow Palette for $38. Beauty.com has already had to reorder this popular Stila set.

Right now, there is a special offer at Beauty.com. Get a free Lolita makeup bag filled with 13 beauty samples with any $100 purchase.

Beauty.com (and its sister Drugstore.com) will be offering free shipping on all non-prescription orders of $25 or more through December 20. Beauty.com also launched its first-ever printed gift guide, which will offer free shipping on any item featured within its pages. The guide will be tucked into shipping boxes.

According to the National Retail Federation by BIGresearch, up to 138 million people plan to shop Black Friday weekend (Friday through Sunday), up from the 134 million people who planned to do so last year. Non-mall retailers want a piece of that action. There will be some good deals out there. Shop early!

Photo and information courtesy of WWD

Benefit Creaseless Cream Shadow/Liners in Silver Spoon and Tidal Rave

I've loved Benefit Cosmetics' Creaseless Cream Shadow/Liners ($19) since they were introduced. I must have half of the shades available, and I troll Sephora regularly looking for new shades. I hit the jackpot recently, finding four new shades. Better still, it was during a Sephora promotion, so I got a 20% discount.

My selections were Silver Spoon (a true silver) and Tidal Wave (a muted teal with gold shimmer). I'm delighted with them. The other two shades are Icy Shot (icy white) and Purple Snap (lavender violet).

With their crease-proof, smudge-proof formula, these cream eye shadows can double as liners. I'll admit, I use them only as shadows. I love the way they apply easily with either a synthetic brush or my fingers, and they stay on all day. I can build the color, applying a little for work or a little more for evening. The shadows are sheer, allowing me full control over the intensity on my eyelids.

Here's a photo of the two pots. You'll have to trust me that Silver Spoon on the left is really silver. There was something about the morning sunlight that gave it a pink cast. You can see how muted the teal shade is. I really love it.

I swatched the shades onto my arm with my fingers. I really like to finger paint with these Benefit goodies. It's so fast! I applied the shadows lightly, the way I like to wear them during daylight hours. I took my photo in full sun in the morning. The full sun gives a glittery effect to the photo, but these shades gleam - no glitter. Silver Spoon is applied at top, Tidal Rave below.

There are many shades of Benefit's Creaseless Cream Shadow/Liner I like. Current favorites are Birthday Suit, R.S.V.P., Tattle Tale, and Skinny Jeans.

You can find these lovely cream shadows at Sephora and Benefit Cosmetics. Some Macy's stores have them too.

Benefit always has whimsical messages in its boxes. I like the one that came with Tidal Rave.

Want perfect posture? Wear more makeup!

Photo at top courtesy of Sephora

Vera Wang Anniversary Giveaway Contest Winner

Congratulations to Vickie (vrtish55)! She will be joining the many women who have fallen in love with Vera Wang's Anniversary fragrance. This morning, random.org called her number. Yea!

Elvira at Pink Sith loves it; I love it. This is a sophisticated floral that's perfect for the woman who loves the elegance of Vera Wang's gowns, ready-to-wear, contemporary sportswear, intimate apparel, footwear, fragrance, flowers, mattresses, china, crystal and silver, fine paper, and fine jewelry. We are celebrating Wang's 20-year anniversary with her!

Vera Wang Anniversary is a luscious floral bouquet, described as a sensuous woody floral - bright and lush. It opens with radiant Sicilian bergamot, red apple leaves, mandarin oil, and a sprinkle of cool dew drops. The heart is a rich bouquet of white gardenia, rose absolute, and orange flowers. The dry-down is said to envelope the skin with touches with silky musks, creamy orris, golden amber crystals, and warm cedarwood. If you like woody florals, look for Vera Wang Anniversary the next time you go shopping. It stands out from the crowd.

Thank you for reading Best Things in Beauty - and for entering my giveaway contests week after week! I know that sooner or later, random.org will call your number. I'd love to win the lottery and be able to send something to each and every one of you. Odds of that happening are unfortunately slim, so we'll just have to keep doing the weekly giveaways to thank you for being the best readers on earth!

My thanks also to Attention USA, which sponsored this contest. They represent some of the finest beauty companies around, and I'm grateful for their support. They have a super team too!

Next giveaway starts later today. Come back, please! I think you're going to like it.

Photo courtesy of Vera Wang

Jo Malone Holiday Gift Guide

Every year, I give some of my friends (and myself!) something new from Jo Malone for Christmas. Jo Malone makes fabulous, limited-edition gift sets. I think they look classy, with their heavy cardboard boxes and black ribbon, and what's inside is even better. If you know anything about your friend's tastes in fragrance - or lifestyle - there will be a set that works.

Last night, I went to an "intimate" Jo Malone event at Neiman Marcus Tysons Galleria. Held off the beauty floor by the artistic Diana Foerster, Jo Malone representative at Neiman Marcus, it was a lovely introduction to the Jo Malone Gift Collection. I want to share some of my selections with you - just in case you need some inspiration for your holiday shopping.
This year, the Bath Oil Collection ($85) caught my fancy. I know Jo always recommended that you use her bath oil on your skin after your bath, but I love to soak in bath oil-fragranced water. I leaves my skin hydrated and with a subtle scent that lasts for hours. This collection contains six amply sized (30 ml) bath oils: Lime Basil & Mandarin, Grapefruit, Pomegranate Noir, Red Roses, Orange Blossom, and Vanilla & Anise. I am going to have to keep it for myself. It's on hold for the In Circle event.

The Cologne Collection ($95) is almost as nice. Not quite as good a buy (since I can't pour it in my bathwater and the sizes are smaller (9 ml)), the Cologne Collection has six harmonious scents that can be mixed and matched to suit your mood or the season, just like you would with your clothing and accessories. It includes the same popular scents: Lime Basil & Mandarin, Grapefruit, Pomegranate Noir, Red Roses, Orange Blossom, and Vanilla & Anise. Red Roses and Orange Blossom are two of my favorite Jo Malone fragrances.

I've already purchased The Candle Collection ($85). I buy one for myself every year. I've finally stopped the charade that I might give it away, and I've acknowledged to myself that I can't.

Jo Malone's Candle Collection has a palette of six distinctive, delicious scents to infuse any room in your home with a Jo Malone miniature candle for an uplifting sensory experience. This year, the collection contains: Lime Basil & Mandarin, Grapefruit, Pomegranate Noir, Nectarine Blossom & Honey, Orange Blossom, and Wild Fig & Cassis. I've already promised the Pomegranate Noir candle to Loyd Cassler. It's interesting to me that it's the favorite Jo Malone fragrance of my guy friends. They would probably love the Pomegranate Noir Fragrance Chronicle ($95).

The Pomegranate Noir Fragrance Chronicle tells the story of an intriguing pomegranate accord blended with notes of delicious fruits, spicy florals, and warm smoky woods. Transform Pomegranate Noir with the accords of Raspberry, Casablanca Lily, and Guaiacwood in the set to create a daily, personalized blend of this iconic fragrance. In the chronicle, Jo Malone provides the Pomegranate Noir Cologne in a 30 ml size and three 9 ml individual note fragrances: Raspberry Cologne, Casablanca Lily Cologne, and Guaiacwood Cologne. I gave a friend the Red Roses Chronicle last Christmas and converted her to Jo Malone!

A colorful collection (and I'll admit not my fragrance "cup of tea") is Jo Malone's Travel Candle Collection with Farrow & Ball ($95). Since there's something for every taste, this will please those who like scents that "smell and look like the holidays."

Jo Malone's partnership with Farrow & Ball, color experts and supplier of elegant decorative paints, produced. The collection combines three scented and colored, amply sized travel candles in Pomegranate Noir in Eating Room Red (No. 43), Wild Fig & Cassis in Pelt (No. 254), and Pine & Eucalyptus in Green Smoke (No. 47). It's a nice gift - or a very generous hostess present.

There's so much more! The Tea Box Deluxe Candle Collection ($425, perhaps way out of gift range) is a limited-edition keepsake that is luxuriously nestled in a beautifully textured cream-colored tea box. Three uniquely scented deluxe candles (400 grams) come complete with their own engraved Jo Malone candle lid and a silver-plated wick trimmer and candle snuffer. The collection includes Eau de Cologne, Parma Violets, and Sweet Almond Macaroon.

One gift set that I can't find on the Web is a precious little set of bath oil and shower gel, beautifully bottled, in either Lime Basil & Mandarin or Grapefruit ($35). Both of these fragrances should please anyone - men and women alike.

Another Jo Malone gift I like to give is the Vitamin E Nourishing Hand Treatment ($40), appreciated by those who like a touch of pomelo and cassis to leave the hands leave deliciously scented.

You can see the gift collection at Neiman Marcus online and at Jo Malone's Web site. Who wouldn't love to receive one? If you live anywhere near DC, you'll love Diana. She will take great care of you at Neiman Marcus at Tysons. Make sure to introduce yourself!

During In Circle, there will be many gifts with purchase at Neiman Marcus - one of those "one for me, one for them" times. The Jo Malone gift is particularly attractive. In Circle runs from December 7 to 10. There's also a "Scent Event" at Neiman Marcus that runs from tomorrow, November 21, to Sunday, November 28. During the event, you'll receive a nice clutch bag (I've seen it - pretty) plus deluxe fragrance samples with an $85 purchase of cosmetics and/or fragrances.

Diana is holding another evening event on December 4. Call 703-761-1600 and ask for the Jo Malone counter to make reservations.

Photos courtesy of Jo Malone