I have a very exciting tip for you, readers. Today and tomorrow, the Nordstrom NARS counter at the Dallas Galleria is offering a gift with purchase.

This NARS beauty event is actually happening all over the country, but the dates vary, counter to counter. At most counters, you get a gift with $150 purchase, BUT the counter at Dallas Galleria has special dispensation to award the gift-with-purchase at only $100 (!!).

The Galleria counter also has options: you can choose either a set of four mini nail colors (Chinatown, Arabesque, Candy Darling, and Saratoga) OR a compact containing two Multiples (Maldives and Riviera). Both AWESOME options, but sounds like some counters only have the polish set.

Also: buy one of NARS' new Tinted Moisturizers, get a free mini Orgasm blush (it's so cute!).

Even if you don't live in Dallas, you can take advantage of this offer over the phone. Call 972-702-0055, and speak to Michael at the NARS counter. He'll also ship anywhere in the U.S. for free. Oooh, ahhhh.

Click here to revisit swatches of NARS' spring collection.
Click here for swatches of the Larger Than Life lipglosses.

I am quite a fan of NARS' Larger Than Life franchise. The first time I tried on Larger Than Life Lengthening Mascara, people asked me if I'd gotten lash extensions. Last summer, I found their Larger Than Life eyeliners to be amazingly longwearing, heat- and humidity-proof. Now lipgloss is joining the family? Sign me up.

Larger Than Life glosses are $26 each. "Regular" NARS glosses come in a frosted plastic tube; LTL glosses are in clear, shiny, hard plastic. They have a short, dense brush, which (by virtue of its length) is not very flexible. That's great for precision application to your cupid's bow, but you may have to "re-dip" to get all the product you need. The gloss itself is unscented, and feels slightly thick and not-as-sticky as you'd expect from a longwearing lipgloss. If you have chronically chapped lips, you're probably going to like the comfort these provide.

Spring Break is a Sephora exclusive, a pale, milky peach/pink (it looks like a creme, though it has ultra fine gold shimmer in sunlight). Gold Digger is a very sheer nude peach with gold multicolored sparkles. Tiber is a brown-mauve. Odalisque is peach-pink. Piree is a warm pink. Como is a grape-rose with gold sparkles. Norma is warm, lush cherry red. Place Vendome is a bright, hot, warm red-pink. Coeur Sucre is cool Barbie pink with silver sparkles. Born This Way is a light, milky, pale, pastel lilac.

This is a quickie picture of me wearing Norma (I wasn't expecting to post this, but since everyone on Twitter last night asked what I was wearing, I figured I'd better share). Norma is one of those pigmented-but-not-full-coverage glosses (like Viva Glam Cyndi). It's a semi-sheer, juicy, glossy, shiny, super-pretty shade.

I know the whole world wears lipstick and gloss together, but I'm lazy, and I wear my lip products one at a time. Norma, by itself, is definitely a berry-red, a pink-red on me (sheer lip products do vary, person to person, because your natural lip color shows through the gloss a bit). That luscious color you see in the photo lasts 20-30 minutes, then it starts to fade (as lipgloss always does, when it spreads/settles). As it wears, it fades to a sheerer pink. I'd say I get about three hours of feeling I have lipgloss on.

Compared to MAC's Pro Longwear Lipgloss, the NARS LTL glosses are glossier/shinier. MAC's are a little more opaque, a little more like liquid lipstick in finish. MAC's are also thicker and stickier.

Another magnificent guest swatch from AlexandraRC of Sparkly Vernis (and another magnificent glitter polish from Butter London).

I learned (from the internet) that "Rosie Lee" (not to be confused with Annabel Lee) is English slang for "cup of tea." Rosie Lee (the polish) is a rather fantastic — and quick-drying, AlexandraRC says — dense pink glitter.

Glitters can be annoying to remove, but I read about this Incoco Instant Nail Polish Remover on Sparkly Vernis. (And it smells good, you say? I'd give it a try.)

Butter London polishes are $14 apiece.

Endless thanks to AlexandraRC for letting me publish her ever-amazing swatches. For more photos of this manicure, visit her post.

Also, speaking of Incoco, I am minorly obsessed with this nail sticker. Duuuuude.

Estee Lauder's Topaz may not shout from the display, but it's one of my favorite spring collections so far.

The collection is hot, and for me evoked a sundrenched Caribbean island. Estee Lauder's creative director Tom Pecheux says he was inspired by the Arizona desert. Either way, I feel warmer just looking at it. Topaz is a semi-precious gem that I first think of as yellow (though I've seen blue topaz as well). If, like me, you enjoy collecting random facts, click here to learn more about the gemstone.

The collection includes a Pure Color eyeshadow quint (possibly my favorite Lauder eyeshadow palette to-date) and their second ever Pure Color Illuminating Powder Gelee.

Pure Color Five Color Eyeshadow Palette 21 Topaz Mosaic is glorious. Every shade is so smooth and pigmented. The combination of colors is just neutral enough that I feel like I could wear it often, but includes shades I don't already own (and suddenly need: orange, yellow). It's versatile but not quirky or one-note. I really think this is the best Estee Lauder quint I can remember swatching.

The palette includes a satin pumpkin, a shimmery tawny golden sand, a satin daffodil yellow, a low-shimmer beige-peach, and a satin red wood-brown. It is $45, limited edition.

Modern Mercury (fall 2011) included Estee Lauder's first Illuminating Powder Gelee, a shimmery "gel-powder" that could be applied wet or dry. Because it was the first of its kind, that sparkly beige-pink highlighter didn't have a shade name.

This collection launches the second (also limited edition) Illuminating Powder Gelee, a shimmering, sparkling, warming golden copper highlight that can be used on eye or cheek. It's 01 Topaz Chameleon, $40, and I swatched it dry (first lightly, then heavily, with a triangle sponge).

This collection introduces Pure Color Intense Kajal Eye Crayons, a chubby pencil eyeliner semi-inspired by the chalk-type kajal eyeliners you can so easily buy in India. The sales associate explained (and it makes sense) that the very sharp point will help you draw a more precise line.

Even though it's a simple, basic black eyeliner (and maybe a silly thing to lust over), I adore 01 Dramatic Black. I tried it on at the counter and it went on so smoothly and easily. It was actually very easy to apply a thin black line to my inner rim (I tightlined with it, too). Since I applied in the afternoon on a cold day (difficult  to test heat-/humidity-proofing or wear time), I showered and napped in it — no fallout, no smudging.

The new Kajal Eye Crayon is not the same as taller, thinner Intense Kajal Eyeliner that just came out with the Cyber Eyes collection. These chubby crayons have a little less fallout, and they're a little softer.

Whenever I see the word "kajal" or "kohl" on an eyeliner, I assume it's meant to be used on the waterline (that it depends on the moisture of your eye to fix it). Kohls are usually smudgy when used on the upper lashline.

The Intense Kajal Crayons are $22 each, available in 01 Dramatic Black and 03 Dramatic Teal. And can you believe they're limited edition?? Why oh why?

This collection includes three Sensuous Rouge lipsticks ($28, semi-sheer with a moisturizing core and a vanilla scent). 15 Sublime Nectar is new and limited edition, a sheer creme peach-pink. 03 Sensuous Nude and 02 Sultry Caramel are repromotes from the permanent line. (Sensuous Nude: a sheer peach caramel nude that I'm still in love with. Sultry Caramel: shimmery russet red-brown.)

There's also a new, limited edition Pure Color lipgloss ($22.50). 50 Citron Kiss is sheer yellow with silver sparkles. As I learned with the yellow gloss in Alice + Olivia, yellow glosses settle down into a kind of honey color on the lips. Backstage at fashion week last September, Tom Pecheux explained that yellow gloss is the perfect transitional item to warm up your fall and winter lipsticks, and keep wearing them into spring. Try using it to tone down a too-bright red or pink.

There's just one limited edition nail polish: 28 Teal Topaz ($19). I found a sales associate wearing it, and she agreed to be my hand model.

Teal Topaz is a teal creme that's opaque in two coats (indoor lighting makes it look a little more green). I thought it reminded me of Ocean Dip from last summer's MAC Surf Baby, but it's deeper, more subdued, not as bright. The color also reminds me of this old Chevy I saw at a stoplight.

This collection is available everywhere Estee Lauder is sold, though NeimanMarcus.com is in gift right now (plus free shipping with code SHIPNM).

Do you love this collection as much as I do?