I have another batch of lipsticks to show you; apparently I have a lot of lipsticks.

Lancome Le Rouge Absolu: Beach Flame

Beach Flame + MAC Soft & Slow

Estee Lauder Pure Color: Pink Parfait

Pink Parfait + Nars: Female Trouble

Hello readers!  It appears that my readership is growing and I suspect that part of it is from the Cosmetics Settlement.  So thank you!  Please feel free to comment and let me know what you love and don't!

Much of my day yesterday was spent in line.  There was a marketing job fair or so I thought; it ended up being a 2.5 hour wait for a 10 minute conversation with a staffing agency representative.  Certainly not my idea of fun, but hopefully it will be time well spent.  I will post my makeup in a later post, which I had taken care to do since I was under the impression that I would be meeting a number of companies.  Oh wells, it doesn't hurt to look professional.  What did hurt was standing in 3 inch heels for 2+ hours. As they say, dress for the job you want, not the job you have.  In this case, it would be no job, so does that mean no makeup?  After ensuring that my resume would be at the top of their list, I realized I was near a mall, so it was time to shop for free.  What?  How is that possible?

I was at Valley Fair, where there is both a Nordstrom and Macy's, so I decided to stop by and pick up my free product from the settlement!  My first stop was Macy's, but I was rather surprised to see a long line.  I mean, the line was through the cosmetics department, out into the mall, and out the front door.  Seriously?  I didn't realize that it would be this popular!  I was beginning to think that I should have gone yesterday when everyone was watching the inaguration!  But I would not be denied free cosmetics, so I headed down to Nordstrom's.  It was much better here, where there were maybe 10 people in line; you had to sign your name saying you had purchased something from May 29, 1994 through July 16, 2003.  I did and then picked up my free product. Score.

Before I reveal what I picked up, I understand the Giorgio Armani ACM Shower Gel listed is a mystery to many people.  I asked the Giorgio Armani Associate if she knew what the ACM shower gel was and she said she "thought" it was Armani Code but didn't specify for Men or Women.  She made a point of telling me that it Giorgio Armani has little to do with the settlement and associates have been instructed not to talk about it.  I understand that it's probably costing the company quite a bit of money, so if anybody nabs it, let us know!

Okay, so what did I get?  Remember my post here? I said this:

So there you have it.  20 products, you choose 1.  What would you get?  My picks would be any of the Lancome Mascaras, the Skin Defense, or the full size shower gels and lotions.  Unless you need a travel size of the Advanced Night Repair, pass on it since Estee Lauder usually includes it in a gift with purchase.  The Clarins items would be worth a try.  And the fragrance items are way to small, especially compared to the value of the full size items.

Find out what happened after the break.

REMINDER! THIS IS TODAY!

Attention!  In 1 week, on January 20th, head to your local department store and pick up your choice of a free product.  Thanks to a cosmetics settlement, consumers are welcome to select their choice of a number of products.  Who doesn't love free stuff, especially in these economic hard times?
A couple of guidelines though. First off, you can only select one of the following products, not one from each brand.  Secondly, it's first come first serve, so plan accordingly.  Third, here are the stores you can get your free product:

• Bergdorf Goodman.Bergner’s.Bloomingdale’s.Boston Store.Carson Pirie Scott.Dillard’s.

Gottschalks.Herberger’s.Macy’s.Neiman Marcus.Nordstrom.Parisian.Saks Fifth Avenue.Younkers

I'm not sure what stores carry what products though, so if you have your heart set on something, I'd check to see if a store normally carries it.

And lastly, what can you get?  I've found descriptions for the products, so you don't have to!  Some of the products are full size, others appear to be a sample.  I've included the prices and pictures of the retail product, as I'm not sure what the giveaway will look like.

Boucheron: Femme Eau de Toilette (1 oz) sample size
1.7 oz retails for $76 at Dillard's                          
"A classic floral with an Asian influence."

Coco Mademoiselle Body Lotion (3.4 oz) sample size
6.8 oz retails for $47.50
"a modern oriental fragrance, fresh and sensual."

Christian Dior: J'Adore Eau de Parfum (15 ml) sample size
1.7 oz retails for $68 at Nordstrom's
"a brilliant bouquet of orchids, the velvet touch of damascus plum and the mellowness of amarante wood."

Clarins Energizing Morning Cream (30 ml) sample size
1.7 oz retails for $59 at Nordstrom
"An innovative complex that minimizes the appearance of fine lines and promotes skin's suppleness."

Clarins Beauty Flash Balm (30 ml) sample size
1.7 oz retails for $45 at Nordstrom
"An exceptional beauty booster which immediately eliminates all signs of fatigue: facial features appear rested and smooth"

Calvin Klein Euphoria Body Lotion (6.7 oz)
Retails for $38 at Macys.
"The Fragrance - Exotic fruits, seductive florals, sensual champaca flower and a rich creamy texture of liquid amber, mahogany wood with an addictive cream accord."

Vera Wang Princess Foaming Body Polish (5 oz)
Retails for $32 at Macy's.
"Playful. Unpredictable. Spirited. A new attitude in fragrance- it plays upon contradictions of a modern princess."

Sarah Jessica Parker Lovely Shower Gel (6.7 oz)
Retails for $28 at Nordstrom/Macy's
"Inspired by her love of layering unexpected fragrances, Sarah Jessica Parker blends a scent of pure innocence with the exotic nature of a precious oil and the sophistication of a fine perfume. Lavender, orchid and amber mingle with apple martini, paper whites and musk"

Estee Lauder Advanced Night Repair (.5 oz) sample size
1 oz. retails for $46.50 at Nordstrom/Macy's
"By night, it uses the body's natural rhythm of renewal to help repair visible signs of aging and speed recovery from UV and environmental damage. By day, it neutralizes environmental irritants, including up to 90% of free radicals, before they can affect skin's appearance."

Clinique Moisture Surge (1 oz.) sample size
1.7 oz. retails for $34 at Nordstrom/Macys
"Enjoy rapid refreshment and a full 12 hours of soothing moisture with an addictive by-a-waterfall feel"

Guerlain: My Insolence Eau de Toilette (15 ml) sample size
1.7 oz retails for $68 at Macy's
"This utterly adorable floral fragrance embraces innocence, grace and spontaneity."

Lancome: UV Expert 20
Retails for $35 at Nordstrom/Macy's
- Minimizes the effects of daily UV exposure, the #1 cause of wrinkles, age spots and loss of firmness.
- UV Expert with MEXORYL™ SX helps protect skin from UV rays that cause premature aging.

Lancome: Cils Design Pro Mascara
Retails for $35 at Nordstrom/Macy's
"Transform your eyes with a true false-lash effect. Create designer lashes in just two easy steps!"

Lancome: Fatale Mascara
Retails for $23 at Nordstrom/Macy's
"Sculpt your lashes with exceptional volume. Glamorous lashes to die for."

Lancome: Courbe Virtuose Mascara
Retails for $23.50 at Nordstrom/Macy's
"A Lancôme first: 100° lash curve with divine length all day. CurlGuard™ formula lengthens and holds a divine lash curve for 12 hours. The KeepCurl™ brush provides an outstanding eyelash curler effect. Long-lasting formula is virtually smudge-proof, tear-proof and easily removable."

Lancome: Primordiale Skin Defense
Retails for $64 at Nordstrom/Macy's
"Fight oxidation, fight aging! Reveal virtually lineless, radiantly touchable skin. Now, Lancôme blocks 99% of damaging free radicals¹ for visible skin perfection."
*editor's note: I'm not sure if this is the right product as I don't see a product by that exact name.  I'm familiar with the line and since it went through a name change, the actual item might be a lotion or a serum.  Whatever the case, this item would be worth it!

Lancome: Hypnose Shower Gel
Retails for $38.50 at Macy's
"Hypnôse is a captivating fragrance for a charming woman with a surprising and intriguing attitude.Slip into this luminous oriental fragrance that instantly captivates with Passion Flower, Vanilla and Vetiver notes."

Ralph Lauren: Romance Sensuous Shower Gel
Retails for $37.50 at Macy's
"Discover the sensual essence of velvety woods, extravagant florals and seductive musk. A timeless scent for all seasons."

Giorgio Armani: ACM Shower Gel
Retails for $29
"Code combines a citron cocktail of bergamot and lemon with soft notes of olive tree blossom, warmed with Guaiac wood and Tonka Bean. A sexy fragrance blend for the contemporary man in the know."
*Editor's note: I think this is for the men's product, but I can't really be sure.  There is an Armani Code for Women.  If it is for men, that's great!

Givenchy: Very Irresistible Eau de Toilette (15 ml) sample size
2.5 oz retails for $70 at Macy's
"A red carpet of rose petals illuminated by star anise and the sparkle of verbena and red berries. Elegant. Spontaneous. Irresistible. A sparkling personality. A certain innocence. An absolute original."

So there you have it.  20 products, you choose 1.  What would you get?  My picks would be any of the Lancome Mascaras, the Skin Defense, or the full size shower gels and lotions.  Unless you need a travel size of the Advanced Night Repair, pass on it since Estee Lauder usually includes it in a gift with purchase.  The Clarins items would be worth a try.  And the fragrance items are way to small, especially compared to the value of the full size items.

Sources: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20