expert advice: lancome's tarek abbas

Yet another reason to get to the Windy City...or a great way to spend a day if you're already there. Stop by Nordstrom Chicago this Friday (5/29) or Saturday (5/30) for some hot new makeup tips from Lancôme National Makeup Artist Tarek Abbas. For advice that will truly highlight your individual features and skin type, book a one-on-one appointment to get an inside look at the season’s hottest beauty tips and learn how to create a flawless finish for summer. Tarek has been creating glamorous looks throughout the years and has touched the faces of the most beautiful celebrities and models including Elettra Wiedemann, Juliette Binoche, Selena Breed, Eva Longoria, Goldie Hawn and many more. He is one of Lancôme’s go-to makeup artists and has become Lancôme spokesmodel Arlenis Sosa’s favorite artist. Tarek created Arlenis’ fabulous look for the Met Ball this May. Check out the schedule below or go to www.lancome-usa.com for more specifics.

Nordstrom Michigan Avenue on 5/29

10:00 am – 6:00 pm

55 East Grand Avenue, Chicago IL 60611

Number to book appointment: 312-464-1515 ext. 1427

• 10:00 am – 11:30 am – General appointments. There is a $50.00 reservation fee fully redeemable towards Lancôme products.

• 11:30 am – 1:30 pm – One-on-one appointments. There is a $100.00 reservation fee fully redeemable towards Lancôme products.

• 1:30 pm – 6:00 pm – General appointments. There is a $50.00 reservation fee fully redeemable towards Lancôme products.

Nordstrom in Oakbrook on 5/30

10:00 am – 6:00 pm

10 Oakbrook Mall, Oakbrook, IL 60521

Number to book appointment: 630-571-2121 ext. 1064

• 10:00 am – 12:00 pm – One-on-one appointments. There is a $100.00 reservation fee fully redeemable towards Lancôme products.

• 12:00 pm – 6:00 pm – General appointments. There is a $50.00 reservation fee fully redeemable towards Lancôme products.

expert advice: makeup artist sandy linter for lancome, part 2

Lancome's Sandy Linter shares her beauty advice, personal regimen and favorite products of the season.

Her advice for beauty phobics: Look at the magazines. Try to identify with a model or actress, someone whose looks speak to you. Go to a professional makeup artist with a picture and tell them you like the feeling of the makeup that you see in the picture. Even if the photo is very natural, a good professional can look at you and suggest products to achieve this look. A good professional can also tell you to find another person to identify with.

Her personal beauty routine: I put my hair back with a headband and apply the Absolue Premium Bx Cleanser on my entire face, cotton ball it off, go over it with Absolue Toner, then apply Platineum Night on my face and neck and rub some on my hands. In the morning, I go over my face with the Absolue Toner, and use Absolue Premium Bx Lotion as my moisturizer (great for any age). When time permits, I use Hydra Intense Masque, and Resurface Microdermabrasion on my body. I also use Absolue Body which has a wonderfully light texture.

Her favorite products for spring: Lancôme has a complete line of products. Skin care is among the best in the world and the makeup is always client friendly. The colors are not aggressive. The color palette is meant to make a woman look approachable, beautiful and fashionable. Even an "edgy” style is made easy to do. All women can use Lancôme. There is a lipstick shade and consistency for everyone. Same with foundation and powder. One of my favorite products for spring is the High Definicils mascara. I fell in love with the new brush and the formula keeps my lashes separated. Also, get every shade of La Laque Fever gloss! I have not tried a color I don't like.

Check out www.lancome-usa.com to find more great spring/summer products.

expert advice: salon owner Rodney Cutler

So times are tough and we're not supposed to be spending frivolously... But when it comes to beauty, who's to decide what's frivolous? I asked Rodney Cutler, owner of Cutler/Redken salons, how to maintain a hair cut and color without breaking the bank. "At CUTLER salons (in midtown Manhattan and SoHo), an average cut costs $100 – much more affordable than $200 at most other high-end salons," says Cutler, whose sleek salons offer exceptional service without the pretentious vibe. Cutler adds that in these tough times, it's important to look and feel your best in order to keep your spirits up. "Find a way to treat yourself without spending a lot," he recommends. "It will help you get through the tough times." According to Cutler, you don’t have to give up on your color either. "Talk to your colorist about ways to lengthen the time between color touch-ups," he says. "There are creative ways for colorists to do color placement so that you don’t have to get your hair colored as often.” For some budget-friendly treatments, try Cutler's Recover at Cutler (let's hair recover after brushing, blow-drying and styling), Strengthen Up (brings back strength and vitality to color-treated hair), No More Fading (prevents fading of your natural color due to stress and the environment), Soft and Silky (moisturizes brittle dry hair) and Get It Straight (gives you a silky, smooth, frizz-free finish). Each only $35, or $25 when combined with another salon treatment. Go to http://www.redken.com/ for more info or www.cutlersalon.com to see a treatment menu and find out how to schedule an appointment.