Achieving the Vegas glow

Jennifer Prosser

Tuesday, Jan. 30, 2001 | 4:43 a.m.

Beauty shops in Vegas are as varied as our casinos - some are flashy, some more muted, but all are colorful. Whether you're looking for a youthful, in-your face look, something more refined, or a natural glow, Vegas cosmetics stores cater to all tastes and styles.

Sephora - Bright, colorful, and airy, Sephora makes it a joy to shop for makeup. The sales associates are happy to answer your questions, but don't hover, and the store's layout is easy to navigate. Fragrances range from the standard perfumes and body sprays to such quirky items as tomato cologne spray, $15 for 1 oz. You'll smell like you were picked right off the vine. The selection of makeup ranges from the youthful Hard Candy line, with such names as trauma, trailer trash and pinkeye for its eye shadows, to the more expensive Christian Dior and Shiseido. One of the best things here, however, is the lipstick - the Sephora brand tells you the exact texture, action and result. For example, lipstick that is creamy and brilliant will moisturize and protect, and the result is that it brings out one's natural color. Also, check out Sephora artist's lip palettes ($24), in which five tones of one color (red, brown, etc.) can be worn separately or combined to match skin tone.

The store also offers a complete line of hair implements, styling products and skin care items - it's a wealth of beauty products. Take your time and experience all the store has to offer. For those who want to create their own gift baskets, Sephora is the perfect place. It has a variety of items under $10 to mix and match. Gift-wrapping is complimentary. Sephora is located at:

Guerlain - French beauty shop Guerlain is right at home in the Bellagio. The store is set just inside the parking garage entrance and is connected to six other boutiques, including Judith Lieber. Rich in dicor and style, the Guerlain boutique offers free makeovers, but heed this caveat: once you have a Guerlain makeover, you'll be hooked. Although on the pricey side, Guerlain's premier product, Meteorites, is worth the money. The divine finishing powder evens out the skin and adds radiance. Skip the cheap knock-offs and splurge. A two-year supply is $42, special applicator brush, $28. Also worth a try is Issima Blue Voyage, a moisturizer that reduces the effects of environmental stressors and fatigue. Located at:

Estee Lauder - This store is one of the prettiest in town. Shelves and display cases are adorned with porcelain trinket boxes and large bottles of Estee Lauder's signature fragrances have prominence. A large makeup table sits right inside the entrance and the consultants go out of their way to help you find the perfect color to match your skin tone. Specialty compacts can then be made and range from $50-$350. In addition to makeup and fragrances, Estee Lauder offers a complete line of skin care and skin firming products. The gentle eye makeup remover is a great deal at $12.50, for 3.4 oz. If you're a fan of Estee Lauder, you won't want to miss this store; if you're not, this store might change your mind. Located at:

Clinique - Clean and crisp like its products, Clinique, located in Desert Passage, has one of the best layouts in town. With products arranged by group, patrons can shop with ease. And if you don't know quite what you need, the experienced consultants will happily help you out. It's evident they take pride in their products. Since everything is 100 percent fragrance free and allergy-tested, anyone can wear Clinique. If nothing else, you'll want to take home their signature scent, Clinique Happy, a delicious light and citrusy perfume, $47.50 for 3.4 oz. And the three-step skin care system is a steal at $20. Make sure you take a look at the beautiful eye shadow and blush duos - they contain some of the prettiest colors around. Located at:

Aveda - No beauty store promotes good health the way Aveda does. Every item the store sells is plant-based and pumped up with vitamins and minerals. The eye shadows and blushes contain vitamins and antioxidants (compacts range from $5.50-$22); the lipsticks have anise, peppermint, cinnamon and basil ($14). And the rosemary mint shampoo sounds zesty and invigorating. Aromatherapy candles and fragrances are a delight for the senses; the Lavandou fragrance, purported to smell like a French meadow, is light and pleasant. Yes, health and harmony is sold here. Located at:

Origins - This store is home to the most fragrant skincare items in Vegas. Lotion enthusiasts will go ga-ga over the store's Ginger Souffle whipped body cream. Origins newest scent will perk up your senses while combating that nasty dry skin. Not only does it smell great, but also the texture is rich and creamy. A 1 oz. tub will costs $25, a 3.4 oz. tub, $47.50. Also wonderful is the salt scrub, which is great at sloughing off dead skin, 21.2 oz., and $28.50. Try it when you feel the need to be pampered. Located at:

L'Occitane - If you're looking for all-natural products, L'Occitane is where you'll find it. The beauty shop, which features items exclusively from Provence, France, offers wood soaps, shower crhmes and other bath items. But the Shea butter hand creme, at $20 a tube, is marvelous - it moisturizes without leaving that greasy feeling on your skin. The store will also put together gift baskets for all occasions - prices range from $25 for a small basket to $180 for a large. Be sure to grab a catalogue on the way out - you'll invariably think of something you wish you purchased later. Located at:

Victoria's Secret Beauty - The success of the famous lingerie store prompted the folks at Victoria's Secret to come up with their own beauty line and the Desert Passage at Aladdin has the only free-standing Victoria's Secret Beauty in town. The store's Pure Reflection lipstick line is quite glamorous, but the real deals here are the beauty kits. The "Gift of Glamour" collection includes a lipstick, lip pencil, lip enhancer and gloss in a cosmetic case for $80, and the "Top Secret Perfume Collection" which includes six miniatures, is only $29, normally a $72 value. Located at: