“We help get the information to our customers about the latest products and we track our beauty advisors regarding the latest colors and trends. We also have beauty stylists who serve our customers across all brands, which have been great for beauty, and pride ourselves in sampling our customers. We have regular sample giveaways, the latest is Lancome’s Genifique Youth Activating Concentrate, we offer in-store ‘Style & Fun’ events, and have recently announced our Nordstrom Facebook and Twitter presence,” said Botiz.
 

In addition, Nordstrom participates in The Fragrance Foundation’s Certified Fragrance Specialist program, providing expert fragrance assistance to customers.

Botiz set the stage for the panel discussion saying that spring will bring bright lips, with bright corals, tangerines, and pinks making bold, colorful statements; and brazen colors like hot pink and watermelon becoming the new stars. Botiz introduced the panel, which included Deborah Lippmann, celebrity manicurist and founder of Deborah Lippmann; John Trau, educational director, Burberry; Jerry Johnson, national makeup artist, Laura Mercier Cosmetics, Rick DiCecca, global makeup stylist, Estée Lauder and Ricky Wilson, celebrity makeup artist, Christian Dior. With bright color as the starting point of the discussion, Wilson said that statement lips are the latest trend, and highlighted Dior Addict Lipstick, available in a range of 44 shades, as a standout for its color and creamy, balmy feeling.

DiCecca stressed technology, saying, “With bright colors, it doesn’t necessarily have to be full on. It can be color with gloss or tints.”

The panel agreed that bright color does not need to have a shiny gloss on top of it to make a statement; in fact, the clearer statement came from rich color without the addition of extra shine. Johnson of Laura Mercier described the importance of textures and tones, saying that Laura Mercier made sticks, glosses, clear color, and a selection of what he called his “safe reds,” which include his example, a bright shade called Poppy, which comes in lip gloss, balm, and color all in one. Trau of Burberry cited the brand’s Lip Sheers, highlighting Rosy Red and Feather Pink, two go-to shades from Burberry, featuring embossed Burberry check logo in the lipstick itself, and a new magnetic lipstick case, which will stay closed when tossed in a cosmetic bag or purse with assorted makeup gear. His two recommended must-haves at Nordstrom were Burberry Lipstick and Burberry Foundation.

Botiz picked MAC Sheen Supreme Lipstick in Insanely It, Laura Mercier Gel Lipcolor, in Dollface, and Chanel Rouge Coco Shine in Monte Carlo, as Nordstrom lipstick picks, adding that while color is in, matte lips are also back, and there is still a “gloss girl” contingent confidently working the shine trend.
 

Nails Are Bold and Eyes Add Shimmer

Botiz said, “Bold nails with matching lips are back in style, but customers are adding a modern twist by matching the color, but not the finish. Matte lips with shiny nails are a huge trend, and layering is also hot right now, as it adds an element of the unexpected to final nail finish.” She picked Butter London’s Teddy Girl Bubblegum Pink, Deborah Lippmann I Know What Boys Like Bright Coral, and Chanel Nail Colour in Mimosa.

Lippmann, who has created special nail looks for both Lady Gaga and Anne Hathaway, as well as many other celebrities, spoke about the latest bright colors, naked looks, jewels, sheer colors for spring, and glitter shades currently in vogue. In addition to creating a unique double-layered look for Lady Gaga, called the Parasite Nail, Lippmann also noted the bright trend, citing the popularity of such colors as periwinkle blue, and adding, “I find it’s all about what you can carry confidence wise. You can have nail- and lip-coordinated, or toe- and fingernails-coordinated. If you’re wearing a bright color, it might take time to adjust to it. The first time you put a color on it can be shocking, but just live with it for a while,” she said.

Botiz noted that iridescent eyes bring light and luster to today’s eye makeup looks, saying that customers are now accenting their eyes with shimmery shades of gold, silver and copper. Nordstrom picks include Lancôme Ombre Magnetique in Ultra Lavande, Laura Mercier Baked Eye Colour in Pink Petal, and YSL Pure Chromatics Wet/Dry Eyeshadow in #5.

Jerry Johnson, of Laura Mercier added, “Trends come and go, so it’s important to have the best, fresh skin you can have,” and added, “Laura Mercier said every woman can wear color and iridescence on their eyes, and it really depends on the brush that is used and the application.”

Ricky Wilson, Dior, said, “Balancing your textures is the most important part. I like Earth Reflections by Dior for the eyes. We’re seeing a ‘grunge’ eye, with neutral, warm tones on eyes already a trend.”

He cited Scarlett Johansson’s style on the Oscar runway, with a softer neutral, warm eye, tousled hair look, that he liked, and mentioned the new Rock Coat Nail shade from Dior, which looks like a charcoal stone color when applied to the nails. Wilson said the nail enamel can be used over a color or alone.
 

Lauder’s DiCecca, emphasized the long-lasting technology of Lauder’s Pure Color Lasting Lipstick, which features a new long-lasting flexible polymer, and applies with a satiny finish. Wilson of Dior said, “No matter what color or look you choose for your lips, do your lips two times a day. It’s important to have lips that look fresh.” John Trau, Burberry, agreed, “It’s important to exfoliate your lips and use products that have hydrating properties.” He cited Wild Rose Glycerin, now in Burberry’s new lipstick range.

All the panelists agreed that a woman selects and determines the style she loves and what works for her at the moment. Johnson, Mercier, said, “It’s all about the woman, her style. If you feel confident with a smoky eye and a red lip, then go for it.” DiCecca added, “Yes, makeup is supposed to be fun.”

Layering Across Categories

While the concept of layering in fragrance has long been a technique utilized by many women for nuance, longer lasting scent, and a point of difference, there is now a trend to layering in nail care.

Lippmann cited some of the different looks achieved with layering colors, finishes, glitter, and special effects. She also provided tips for removing hard to remove dark colors or glitter, with particularly strong adhesion, recommending Acetone with Lavender and Oil Treatment for nails, and suggesting that individual fingertips be covered with remover-saturated pads for best results.

She cautioned however, just like with the skin, products should be removed gently.

“Try to think about what you do with your skin and do it with your nails. Don’t rub. You don’t rub your face and you shouldn’t rub your nails. Don’t be so hard on your bodies,” cautioned Lippmann.

The event, which provided a lively discussion of what’s hot in beauty today, also offered a live tweeting forum from the presentation on “NordyTrends,” and Nordstrom will continue to interact in the social realm on Facebook and Twitter, at: www.facebook.com/NordstromBeauty and twitter.com/nordstrombeauty, with additional information available at: www.nordstrom.com.