Yes it is our end of summer giveaway! And thanks to Sephora we have an amazing line of really cool products that you can win! Now these are some of my summer favorites, and they feel great on the skin, as well as smell great too! And one lucky Couture in the City reader will win the whole set! So here is what’s up for grabs.

Win this! SuperStars - Super Shield Skin Saver SPF 30 - Valued at $10.00

This is the perfect way to save face for shade worshippers everywhere. This groundbreaking formulation is fantastic for face and body and for all skin types. It’s ultra-light, oil-free, and absorbs quickly, leaving pores clog-free and your skin with the most advanced UVA/UVB protection available. Not to mention, it contains skin-strengthening collagen, antioxidant vitamin complex A, C, and E, and soothing anti-aging botanicals to keep you gorgeous - no matter the weather.

To use: Apply liberally to face and body one hour before sun exposure. Re-apply every two hours to ensure maximum protection - more frequently when swimming or sweating.

Did we like it? Absolutely! Don’t think because summer is nearing it’s end that you don’t need an SPF skin protector. Because you do. Sun rays can still affect sensitive skin, even on cloudy days.

Angelique - The Editor’s Pick- Win the Sephora Peach Blossom Body Butter - Valued at $16.00!

What it is: A rich, lightly scented cream for the entire body.

What it is formulated to do: This thick, luxurious moisturizer rejuvenates skin with natural shea butter and beeswax, which softens skin and prevents against moisture loss.

What did we like about it the most? The smell is absolutely fabulous! And smells decadently like a beautiful peach orchard in the summer. Very dreamy.

Jacqueline - Senior Writer’s Pick - Sephora Peach Blossom body scrub - valued at $16.00!

What it is: A lightly scented body exfoliator.

What it is formulated to do: Using small Jojoba beads, this gentle yet effective scrub stimulates the skin while polishing away dry, dead cells. Macadamia Seed oil softens and hydrates the newly revealed skin.

Did we like it? I loved it! It is one of my favorite summer picks from Sephora. Again the scent is really amazing and fills the whole shower with an exotic and peachy aroma. I found this to be very therapeutic for the soul. And a sure winner. Five stars for me.

So if you wish to win this wonderful set of goodies from Sephora, then enter here. Now if you already subscribe to Couture in the City, you are automatically put into the pool of picks. The giveaway will run until September 9th. So good luck to you all my beautynistas!

Source: Sephora

Popularity: 4% [?]

Fall beauty is going dark and sensuous. Dark aubrey and chocolate colors are in. Deep and glossy or dark and matte is the look to achieve. The chocolate look is very decadent and rich. To get the look, we get advice from top notch make-up artists in the biz.

Make Up For Ever’s makeup artist, Fulvia Farolfi, gives us all the motivation we need to go all out for wildly red lips. She loves ultra-dark reds, burgundies, and blacks, mostly paired with pale skin.

First, outline lips with dark liner, blending the color in towards the center of the lip. Next, use a lip brush to apply deep-tone lipstick, so you can get it just right. Fill in between the lines, and blend well. For an extra dramatic finish, apply a lip mattifier to remove all shine.

Go to Classic Glam to get the look.

Smashbox Cosmetics gets wicked this season with their 2008 fall line up. Now I personally love these colors and this look. I was in a Sephora store the other day and tried the Smashbox look. I loved the Wickedly Lovely Lip Gloss in Sultry. Great color, goes on smooth. And leaves a rich bold glossy finish. Almost like wearing coffee and chocolate on your lips!

Now embrace the dark side with a sinfully bold black cherry pout paired with soft smoky eyes and flushed cheeks!

For bold color that lasts, line and fill in lips with LIP PENCIL in TEMPT, then apply LIP GLOSS in SULTRY for dimension and shine.

The Wicked Lovely Lip Gloss collection from Smashbox cosmetics. I love it!

Source: Smashbox cosmetics, Sephora

Popularity: 5% [?]

Ok my beauty divas! Here is your chance to become the next Breakthrough In Beauty star! Ok, so you’ve had that really good idea in the back of your head about creating that next cosmetic brand. Or that all natural anti-aging skincare line. Maybe you have even gone as far to create that basement chemist lab! But here is your chance. To create something great! Because Breakthrough In Beauty is here to make that dream happen.

Beauty entrepreneurs can submit innovative beauty products and ideas for consideration to become the next $100 million beauty brand. (Wow!) All up and coming beauty visionaries can submit their products only until August 30, 2008 at www.BreakthroughinBeauty.com. Finalists will be announced in late September and will participate in a two-day “Breakthrough in Beauty” event for a final round of competition to determine the winner of this year’s search!

Only the Best will compete for this incredible offer - be in the spotlight - and become the next beauty product Star!

“Breakthrough in Beauty™ represents a new, more personal era in beauty retailing,” explained Marina Randolph, Founder of Breakthrough in Beauty. “By continually searching for and accepting only the very best in undiscovered concepts, incubating them and providing them with growth opportunities and guidance, we enable innovators to thrive. Their products become irreplaceable – and more importantly, accessible – in women’s lives.”

2007 Breakthrough in Beauty™ winner: Timeless Secret®

Now is the time to live your dream. If you’re anything like me -aka - a product hound! And you have that fantastic idea, create it, deliver it, and make it special. And you may just be the winner of this exclusive competition! Good Luck to you all my beauty-nistas!

Enter now at the Breakthrough In Beauty submissions!

Source: Breakthrough In Beauty

Popularity: 5% [?]

In a continuation of our beauty regiment, last Friday we made your eyes look fabulous with faux lashes. After the weekend, (and all that partying!). Your eyes are probably stressed and tired looking. Well again from our friends at Sephora, they have got great tips to make those tired eyes awake again.

Banish those under eye blues with the two-steps-to-pretty approach. First, dab on a light-reflecting primer to brighten things up. It dazzles and distracts so you won’t need as much concealer!

Next, grab a peach- or yellow-toned concealer. Peach wipes out blue hues and yellow cancels purple. Also, don’t forget that dark circles are called circles for a reason, says Sephora Beauty Pro Vanessa Dunn. She recommends dotting concealer all the way around your eye, making sure to get your lids, edges, and that little spot between the corner of your eye and the side of your nose.

Try this product:

Vincent Longo Cream Concealer

Bingo! Eyes that say, “Eight hours every night”…even if it isn’t.

De-puff with a little pre-planning: Stash your eye cream in the fridge the night before for an instantly calming, cooling, and baggage-checking application the next morning.

Need a little more lift? Treat your eyes to an espresso—either with an eye cream containing caffeine or by pressing two cooled-down green tea bags under your eye. A little jolt of caffeine gets blood circulating, and that helps break up those big ol’ bags. (Psst! It’s not a bad idea to help yourself to a strong cuppa joe, either!)

Try this product:

LORAC Undercover Lover

Try this product:

Skyn - Icelandic Relief Eye Cream

Get more great ideas from Sephora’s Eye Q.

Source: Sephora

Popularity: 4% [?]

Get flash with your lashes! Here’s how!

Get dramatic eyes quickly! And go wild with three easy steps to getting faux lashes, with a splash of glam!

1st Step: Start with mascara

Make Up Forever Mascara

Coat lashes with black mascara prior to false lash application; the extra texture will help faux lashes better adhere.

2nd Step: Add faux lashes

Make Up Forever Faux Lashes

Coat the strip of lashes with glue and apply to upper lash lines. Push inner and outer corners down with fingers, and hold for 1 minute until glue dries. For bottom lashes, paste the strip just below the lower lash lines, holding until glue dries.

3rd Step: Top with black liquid liner

Dior Eyeliner

Line over the edges of the faux lashes to hide seams. On upper lids, start line just inside the inner corners, extending 1/2 inch past the outer corners. Mirror this shape along the lower lashes. Add eye shadow for extra drama.

TIP: If you’re a lash novice, try cutting the strip in half, and applying to outer corners only. The smaller the lash strip, the easier it is to make it stick.

Get the look at Sephora’s Beauty Central to learn more!

Source: Sephora.com

Popularity: 6% [?]

My favorite must read of the day fashion blog Chic Stories wrote a great post Straight or Curls

Which do you prefer straight or curly?

Visit Chic Stories for more stories like this one.

Popularity: 4% [?]

Congrats to Mary Beth from Raleigh, NC! Mary Beth is the winner of our Red, White and Beauty Sephora Giveaway!

Sephora Brand Atomic Volume Mascara

Sephora Brand Nail Patches available in red for our giveaway item

*Editor’s Pick: Sephora Brand Flashy Waterproof Liner

Keep a lookout for more great giveaways like this one from Couture in the City! You can win at Couture In The City too…just keep looking for more great giveaways like these! Good luck!

Popularity: 4% [?]

For Today’s Beauty, we are featuring the gorgeous than ever faces of Estee Lauder. And you can’t get more Sensuous than this. Gwyneth Paltrow and Elizabeth Hurley - the iconic faces of Estee Lauder. Are launching the latest campaign for the perfume house and international cosmetic brand. The distinctive perfume line - Sensuous.

Gwyneth Paltrow and Elizabeth Hurley bring on their sensual side for Estee Lauder

The campaign reaches to all women. Here we have the classic American actress Gwyneth. Who brings a softer and emotional transparency to her look. Where as the British actress - Elizabeth Hurley - brings an international confidence to her beauty. Both women uniquely portray themselves. But are excellent choices for such a campaign appealing to the women in their 30’s to 40’s.

Carolyn Murphy and Hilary Rhoda for Estee Lauder

Hilary conveys youth, while Carolyn’s classic look communicates elegance. The perfect look for women in their 20’s and teens. Estee Lauder featuring such a broad campaign has finally started a look that is clean, classic, and widely appealing to all women.

Hilary, Gwyneth, Elizabeth and Carolyn are the international faces of Estee Lauder

Source: Estee Lauder

Popularity: 7% [?]

Couture in the City is proud to present with Sephora our Red, White and Beauty giveaway! One day left to enter.

Sephora Brand Atomic Volume Mascara

Sephora Brand Nail Patches available in red for our giveaway item

*Editor’s Pick: Sephora Brand Flashy Waterproof Liner

So to win the fabulous items mentioned subscribe to Couture in the City! If you already do you are already entered into the pool of picks! The giveaway will run until July 10th.

Go to www.sephora.com to see more of what beauty has to offer!

Popularity: 7% [?]

Couture in the City is proud to present with Sephora our Red, White and Beauty giveaway! Two days left to enter.

Sephora Brand Atomic Volume Mascara

Sephora Brand Nail Patches available in red for our giveaway item

*Editor’s Pick: Sephora Brand Flashy Waterproof Liner

So to win the fabulous items mentioned subscribe to Couture in the City! If you already do you are already entered into the pool of picks! The giveaway will run until July 10th.

Go to www.sephora.com to see more of what beauty has to offer!

Popularity: 4% [?]