I wouldn't have thought the women - and a smattering of men - who showed up at 8 a.m. Saturday for Nordstrom Arden Fair's Summer Cosmetics Trend Show would have both eyes open, but everyone was bright-eyed, eager - and hopped up on hot coffee. Good thing, too, because there were hot tips for everything from hair care and makeup to bronzers and self-tanners.
The popular event, which sells out every time it comes to the store, is a beauty bonanza. Hosted by Nordstrom beauty director Joelle Russo, the show mixed both video and live presentations, with plenty of well-turned-out models in bikinis, cute summer dresses - and really great shoes!
Nordstrom also was able to lure some of the country's most prestigious beauty and fragrance experts to appear, including Martin Montoya (pictured left with model Bianca), who presented designer Tom Ford's Black Orchid fragrance.
Other notables? Becky Watkins from Christian Dior with a new waterproof cream blush; Allison Moss with samples of the Narciso Rodriguez fragrance, For Her; Rita Brown, Shu Uemura's featured makeup artist, who introduced the audience to several products from the line (also new to the store), including a cleansing oil, and John Fussell, Chanel's national makeup artist, who whipped the crowd into a frenzy with lip gloss and a new Sublimage eye cream.
Tons of products were raffled off, including Philosophy skin-care kits and makeup artist Bobbi Brown's new book, "Living Beauty."
While the show itself was as energetic and entertaining as they come, the frenzy to get downstairs to the cosmetics department afterward was a study in how many people can crowd an escalator.
Every counter from M.A.C to Estee Lauder was then swamped with customers shopping for the trendy items they just saw in the show, while others waited for one-on-one beauty appointments.
I managed to escape with some of the Narciso fragrance, which is perfect for summer, and one of Smashbox cosmetics' Glam Boxes, a Nordstrom exclusive.
By 10:30 a.m., I was back home and ready for a nap!
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