More Gifts and Freebies

It's not just the big department stores that want to give us stuff in October. There are a couple of seriously cool draws and contests in magazines and blogs. Here's the info:

Elle Magazine makeover challenge: Give yourself a makeover, send the before and after photos to the Elle editors and add a short testimonial about the change you've undergone. The winner will be selected on October 12th, flown to NYC the following week to meet with editors, have a portrait shot by a top magazine photographer after a hair and makeup session with some big industry names. The result will be featured in January 08 issue of Elle.

Allure Magazine doesn't require any effort on your side, other than to give them your details. In return, you will be entered into a draw for a huge haul of some of the best and most popular beauty products, worth around $3500. Among the names mentioned are Smashbox primer, Nars the Multiple, Shu Uemura eyelash curler and many others.
The winner will be picked on October 29th.

And last, Ellen from Lipstick, Powder 'n Paint is having a daily contest throughout October to celebrate her one year anniversary of blogging. The prizes seem quite impressive (Benefit Cosmetics, Bliss, Lancome and many other big names). Check out her blog.

Very Light Reading

This is probably not the greatest beauty book ever, but still worth mentioning. Allure editor-in-chief Linda Wells and her team of beauty editors have summarized all the ideas, facts and techniques that one needs to know when it comes to makeup and skin care. It takes a couple of hours to read, you might want to take a couple of notes while doing so, but mostly it's like an extended beauty section in a magazine. There's no new gospel here and their simple how-tos will not make you into the next Bobbi Brown, but the advice is sound, the facts are established and everyone can learn something.

I especially liked the myth busting. If enough people read it and pay attention, maybe we'll stop seeing the stupid advice to use toothpaste on pimples on every beauty message board.

What I found most useful is the part about ingredients in skin care products: what to look for according to specific needs, what should be in a good anti-aging product and why we need to use it. It puts order in the chaotic and saturated market.

They don't talk about any brand and don't make specific recommendation. But you do get the tools to use when shopping- the lingo and the labels are explained, and that's what important.

The bottom line: It's worth a couple of hours of your time even if you're well seasoned in makeup and beauty products, and would make a very nice gift to anyone who is just starting.