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Up until now, every product reviewed on Chic Critique has been one the writer purchased herself. But it was my hope that we would eventually be discovered by marketing companies and get offers to review fun new products for free! Not only is it fun to get free stuff, but it’s also a way to discover products we wouldn’t have known of otherwise. And after a while, it does get tiresome coming up with new products to yak about.
Well! Just last week, I received an email from a marketing manager at Harper Collins offering us a copy of Sephora: The Ultimate Guide to Makeup, Skin, and Hair from the Beauty Authority
And it gets better.
I went out on a limb and asked for an extra book to give away, and they were totally cool with that! So. That means that no only do I get a copy of Sephora: The Ultimate Guide to Makeup, Skin, and Hair from the Beauty Authority to review, but one lucky reader will get a copy for herself!
First things first: the review. I received the book in the mail on Friday, and I’ve been pouring over it ever since. Let’s just say that I have Chic Critique reviews and Tips, Tricks & Tools Thursday topics for the rest of 2008 from this book alone.
The author, Melissa Schweiger, is a freelance writer and editor whose articles have appeared in Women’s Wear Daily, Interview, Marie Claire, Redbook, Hamptons, Seventeen, and In Style, and on Sephora.com. Most recently, she was a fashions feature editor at Marie Claire. Prior to that, she was a beauty editor at Sephora.
This book is chock-full of advice from the beauty experts on how to look
knockout-gorgeous every day of the week. It contains beauty secrets,
how-to advice, and product suggestions galore.
Now I will warn you — this book will cause you to covet products you never even knew existed. So read with caution.
With that caveat in mind, this is all you have to do to win your very own copy.
By the way, if you are new to Chic Critique, here from Prizey or another source, we are regular women talking all things beauty and fashion related and hopefully entertaining you along the way. Just click on one of the subscription options below so you don’t miss a single informative post!
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About Jo-Lynne
How about some info on something to either cover up dark under eye circles or get rid of them?
Oh, Midlife Mom! I found your product this weekend! How neat!
Oh yes. The Sephora book definitely answers THAT question. 🙂
Hey, how about a review of some Smashbox products? Isn’t there a cheek gel that is supposed to react with your skin to make the perfect colour for you? I am very skeptical! (Oh and I would love to win that book!)
i have been in eyebrow hell for 50 years. all the products are so dark and hard to apply. i now use a combo of powder and pencil. at my age i need to be able to hit the streets fast lest my friends be dead before i get there.
I know they have some awesome products for pore shrinkage (I know, big word…what can I say, It’s Monday.) but I would love to understand it all and know which one works best for whom.
I would like to see a nail strenthener reviewed. Thanks!
I would like to have some hair removal products reviewed. I never seem to have good luck. And I just have to tell you that this blog is so funny that when I laugh reading it my 16yo and 14yo BOYS start reading and laughing too.
I’ve heard great stuff about makeup primers, so I’d love to hear about that. Especially if it is helpful to women whose skin is of an oily nature and makeup tends to be pouring off the face by the end of the work day. Not that I know anything about that.
Razors and hair removal products would be helpful this time of year. Also, any idea if there are sunblocks for your scalp that don’t wreck your hair?
Razorless hair removal for legs.
High end nail polish vs drugstore brands. Are brands like OPI or Essie better than the cheap stuff?
Ok, I totally need to know how to get rid of my dark under eye circles! My luck is done for the year, so please don’t enter me in the contest, but I do want to know how to stop looking like a raccoon. Oh, and are these books out yet? If so I’m going to order one immediately. Thanks for the tip!!
I would like the anti-aging products reviewed. I need to know what (if anything) really works!
I’d love to see information on moisturizing creams with tints – I’m not much on makeup, but age is taking its toll so I’m trying to take better care of my skin and thought this might be a nice way to kill two birds with one stone, so to speak…
Review anything that can help diminish fine lines on oily skin….it’s a difficult combo to deal with!
i’d like to see some reviews on pore minimizers. I use Estée Lauder ‘Idealist’ Pore Minimizing Skin Refinisher, but its so expensive. If I found something that worked half as good at half the price I’d be happy 🙂
I would love to see a review on stretch mark lotions / creams!
How about a review on under eye circle creams? Thanks for the giveaway!
Mascara for sensitive eyes. Thanks for the giveaway!
goodness, I need it all….under eye circle creams, wrinkle creams that work, etc.
I’ve been curious about Bio Oil and I’d like to know what you think.
Sound like a fantastic book! It would be fun and a learning experience to read. My sister and I have problems finding a good mascara. We want one that cover the lashes, doesn’t look clumpy, but natural and lengthens. Thanks,Cindi
I second the hair remover and pore reducer. Also, what about nail polish that won’t chip off in 3 days? What’s the proper combination of base coat and top coat that will keep the red on my toes without shelling out the big bucks for a pedicure?
What is REALLY the best anti-friz hair product. My STRAIGHT hair is always full of fly-aways and I could use some help cuz I keep buying stuff that either makes my hair crispy or works just long enough for me to make it to work…you know – where people can see me – before it gives out! I finally got a perm (thinking it would help-ha!) 3 months ago and I look frizzier than ever.
Do I really have to buy the $120 CHI flat iron or will any ceramic model do?
Same with hair dryers – do I really need the $100 over the $29.99 model?
How about a lip gloss that doesn’t get my hair stuck in it?
A nice jewelry cleaner that will get the cookie dough out of my wedding ring for less than $15?
Okay – better settle myself down before I scare you…!
Count me as a vote for dealing with undereye circles. They’ve been my worst beauty problem for years and now the constant lack of sleep with young kids is making it worse.
Ok… the under eye circles has been covered so I will jump to another situation. EYELINER.
For example, how to put it on so it flatters your face without you feeling like you just smudged a giant black crayon all over your eyelids. And what is a good eyeliner out there. Most seem to tear off 37 layers of skin.
This book sounds riveting!
I would love to see more comments about hair products. I have curly hair and straighten it on occasion. I would love info on how to do this better and what tools to use.
I’d also love to learn how to pick a naturally looking blush.
I love the site – by the way!! I’ve already switched to some of the recommended products.
How about a review of a moisturizer for combination(dry&oily)/sensitive skin. How’s that for a combo?
I love my Voluminous mascara by L’oreal, doesn’t anybody else? Also, my cheapest, best working, fast result beauty secret is….Vaseline. I use it at nighttime, after my face is all clean, around my eyes and I ALWAYS can see a reduction in fine lines by the morning. It’s amazing. If you don’t believe my then believe Tyra Banks! She does it too (she also applies it to her dry elbows) and she must the best of beauty products in her bathroom drawers. Please can I win that book?
I see so many products on how to get your skin to look younger, but I’m only 24!! so I don’t need those products. But I would like to know what products/routines I can do to KEEP my skin looking young. Besides sunscreen, I’m not really sure what else to do.
And I have my wonderful hair straightener, which is the Helen of Troy (Gold Series or some such ‘specialty’) and it’s getting kinda old. Any good replacements? I’ve tried a couple cheapos and haven’t liked them. I’ve had my Helen since high school and looove it. Thanks for the great advice, and the wonderful giveaway!
I’d like to know what face powder is best. I’ve tried loose, pressed, and a bunch of different brands. I’ve been told that pressed is best but I find it looks dried up half-way through and I end up throwing out half of it because it doesn’t work anymore.
I have gray almost invisible eyebrows, pencil is just not an satisfactory option, love to see some suggestions for dyeing or something similar. Also would love a shot at that new book too!
I`m voting on eyebrow advice. I need to know how to deal with all 4 of mine.
Review of adult acne products. That would be awesome
Hi! Thanks for sharing information and asking what we want/need! I have a problem with razor burn (especially under my arms – but on my legs too.) I’ve tried so many sensitive skin products but have had no luck. If I shave too often under my arms I keep razor burn and then don’t feel comfortable wearing sleeveless tops. Any suggestions? Thanks!
Hmmm…I would love a wide review on facial moisturizer. I can’t find the right kind.
I hate to be unoriginal, but the undereye circles are the curse of my life. I’d also like to know which base coat and/or top coat is best to keep an at-home pedicure looking good.
Other than the oft-mentioned undereye circles, I’d like to know more about make-up for sensitive skin in general – specifically, concealors.
Thanks much and congrats on being discovered!
Anti-wrinkle/anti-aging products!
I’ve recently begun to use waterproof mascara, and boy is it waterproof. I have a heck of a time trying to get it off at the end of the day. I need to know what’s out there that removes waterproof mascara.
Eyeliner that doesn’t wear off throughout the day! Oh, and maybe a primer too. Maybe that’s why my makeup wears off!
i’d love reviews of shaving creams or the best ways to avoid bumps and cuts. you’d think by age 30, i’d have figured this out by now!
I’d love some tips on the best way to apply eyeshadow to make it stay without making it too chemical laden! Also how to get rid of undereye circles too!
I have dark circles under the eyes issues. I would love to know about products for covering those bad boys!
Thanks for giveaway!
Thanks for all your reviews – I love reading them!! I would like to see a review on bronzer and how/where to apply it for the best effect.
I’d love to know if it is worth replacing my old reliable hair dryer with an ionic one.
And is there anything I can use to hide my varicose veins and other nasty flaws on my legs now that panty hose are a fashion no-no?