Lancome Gift and Other Must-Haves

 So many products, so little time. There are too many exciting things I've been drooling over to let slide anymore. Seasonal gifts, for example:

Don't miss out!

Pre-selling now and starting May 7th, Lancome at Macy's begins their gift with purchase. This is a pretty sweet deal, ladies and gents. Instead of the usual, spend-a-certain-amount, receive your gift; purchase any two items, and the gift is yours! We're talking an $88 - $105 value at a price you have some serious flexibility to determine!

Another, wonderfully unusual thing about this gift is the amount of choices you get to make. Lancome's infamous for giving you options, but this season they've out-done themselves. 99.9% of this gift is customizable, with a choice between two facial serums, three eye creams, two eyeshadow pallets, two mascaras and two handbags. Also included is a Bi-Facil cleanser. This is quality makeup and something I'll be looking into.

Now, if you're like me, you're one to pinch pennies. Lancome may not be your first choice financially. That's what keeps me from their counter half the time. Being employed with Lancome competitor, Estee Lauder, might have something to do with it, too, but that doesn't mean I don't like to dip my toes in the Lancome pool. I love to experiment, believe in an open mind and venturing out when it comes to product. This is a killer deal, and great chance to explore what Lancome has to offer. I'm in!

In other news--if you're even more like me--you worship the living crap out of MAC lipsticks. They're my go-to when I need lip color that lasts. So what's the latest craze? Pop-stars already dominate the cosmetic, media and pop-culture worlds. Their lipsticks are making headlines.

"Red lipstick all on da paper!!! #RiRiWoo #SOLDOUT #3HOURS #lookatyou #nowlookatus," was Rhianna's enthusiastic Tweet today when her MAC lipstick, RiRi Woo, sold out only three hours after it was released online. Rhianna reportedly insisted during the product's development that, "the color be suitable for every skin tone." I'm already dying to smother my lips in this cosmetic gold. 

Damnit, I blinked!

Until June, we'll just have to settle for Niki Minaj. I'm not a fan of her or her music, but the rapper's Viva Glam pink topped MAC lipstick charts in April. Niki Tweeted so herself:

"#1 selling Viva Glam lipstick of all time. . . thank u for supporting a good cause. mmmuuuaaahhh! ! ! !" The good cause she's talking about, is the 100% of profits made from sales being given to the MAC AIDS fund, designated to helping those diagnosed with HIV/AIDS. A beautiful cause. Too bad I don't find Niki near as breath-taking as her product.

Why, Niki?

I can't deny, Niki's pink is a pink for me. I'm familiar with Viva Glam, owning their Viva Glam II. Its adaptability to different skin tones makes it one of my favorite nude colors. It's creamy, long-lasting and comfortable. Niki, no. Her lipstick, sure. Right after I snag RiRi Woo. 

Lady Gaga, Cyndi Lauper and Ricki Martin have also been names in the Viva Glam line. They won't be the first or last superstars to get their faces plastered along-side makeup products. Hayley Williams, lead singer of the rock band, Paramour, joined the MAC team on April 9th with a fitting collection of orange products that I've got my eye on.

Yum.

That about wraps up my shopping list. (Well, okay. It's a start.) If nothing else, I hope this has been insightful. I like hearing what's out there; even if it's just by word of mouth. Let us know if you snag any of these things before I do. I love reviews, too!