06 | June | 2012 | niftyBA!

I am not a high end kind of person. Sure, I buy some pricey things once in a blue moon, but the thrifty part of me usually ends up purchasing more for less money, which means drugstore or clearance. Nothing’s wrong with saving a buck, but sometimes I kind of want to try those pretty little things in the glass cases. I’m into makeup, but shy away from the nice stuff.

I get flustered even walking by department store beauty departments. Random reasons why?

* I do not want anyone to talk to me or sell anything to me.
* I do not believe I deserve to be there.
* It’s all too fancy, I can’t afford that!

Then again, if I complain that something is too expensive, I am the person who started off her nail polish obsession with a $9 bottle. That was beau coup bucks back in 2009!

Thanks to Stephanie at Imperfectly Painted, this all changed last Saturday, when I found suddenly found myself standing in a bright and shiny beauty department. With all of my friends. In Neiman Marcus. Holding an orange juice mimosa. Boom.

Neiman Marcus at Mall of Millenia held a breakfast for the Central Florida Beauty Bloggers to showcase the products available through their counters at NM, including some exclusives to the store as well. Brands ranged from Kiehl’s skincare to Jo Malone fragrance, and well-informed product specialists were on-hand to introduce us to the brands they represent and the products that make the brand top notch. This was the closest I’ve ever been to the makeup department counters. It is as amazing as it looks when you were hurrying by quickly, and most surprising of all: those people at the counter are super. Not only do they handle sales for their brand products, but they really are knowledgeable and helpful. They know their stuff! This is good to know for a girl who loves to ask a lot of questions.

This was a breakfast meetup, so first up: noms. Very delicious. Makes me hungry just looking at it!

We were divided into four groups to rotate through four different stations. Each station was manned by representatives for all the brands you know, and they pinpointed exactly why these brands are loved. My absolute favorites were Tom Ford and Chantecaille – I love learning more about all of the brands and I would actually make an investment purchase on a good perfume or palette.

Tom Ford

Laura Mercier

Chanel

Trish McEvoy

Yves Saint Laurent

Bobbi Brown

Le Metier de Beaute

Kiehl’s

Chantecaille

Estee Lauder

Giorgio Armani

Deborah Lippmann

Fellow Beauty Bloggers

Neiman Marcus Beauty Department

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From now until June 10, Neiman Marcus is holding a summer special called Camp Gorgeous. With the purchase of $85 or more in the beauty department, you can walk home with a brand new exclusive tote to hold all your goodies, filled with samples from some amazing brands. I saw a small Bobbi Brown palette that is included inside- it would be perfect for on-the-go while on vacation!

Thank you to Neiman Marcus and Stephanie for this amazing experience. The bloggers were also provided with samples and goodies bags and I shall post about those in the near future (going to keep that Chanel paper bag out in my new office to feel fancy!). I feel more comfortable approaching the counter now. Especially for those Tom Ford fragrances…

OOTD
Marshalls striped maxi
WalMart sweater