Mom and me, circa 1979
Disclosure: This post is sponsored by CoverGirl.
Mother’s Day is this Sunday and I’m so excited. Not just because Mr. Spoiled Pretty and my son, Westley, are treating me to a decadent brunch. But because it’s an opportunity to celebrate my hero, Andrea Stamps.
I must admit that until two years ago, Mother’s Day was just another CONTINUE READING
At Christmastime, I agonized over what to get my son's daycare teachers. There are 12 of them - and even though he has his two main teachers, they all have interaction with him and take excellent care of him. So I needed to buy 12 gifts to show my appreciation, without breaking the bank. $10 each seemed doable, except CONTINUE READING
As a beauty expert, I’m embarrassed by how late I am to the BB Cream party. In the past year, so many friends and colleagues have asked me about BB Creams—what’s the buzz, which brands are the best, etc. —and they would look at me funny when I admitted to not having tried BB Creams yet. I mean, they CONTINUE READING
I’m very fickle about my fingernails. Before I paint my nails or get them professionally did, I spend a inordinate amount of time pondering my polish options. I consider the season, recent trends, my wardrobe that week and anywhere special I might go. But despite all of this planning, I’m usually over my polish choice before it even dries.
Not CONTINUE READING
After beauty products, handbags are my secondary addiction. But when it comes to arm candy, I have discriminating taste. For me, the perfect handbag seamlessly marries fashion with function, is handcrafted from high-quality materials, has really unique hardware and is classic but edgy - all at the same time. I don't like to carry the of-the-moment "it" bag. I CONTINUE READING
Earlier this month, Kate Spade (aka creator of cuteness and the reason why I can't seem to keep money in my wallet), launched a brand new line called Kate Spade Saturday.
Kate Spade Saturday is a new global lifestyle brand created to channel the spirit of Saturday seven days a week. This younger, more accessible sister to kate spade new CONTINUE READING
The Winter-Spring 2010 issue of NewBeauty spotlights four bloggers with their “fingers on the pulse of the beauty world”…and I’m one of them! Obviously I’m thrilled about being featured (it’s a great piece), but even more exciting is the fact that I got my own page. OMG, right?
Aly Walansky, Annie Tomlin and Nadine Jolie are also featured. Visit your local newsstand to pick up the latest issue and read all about Aly’s winter trend predictions, the one product Annie won’t leave home without, and Nadine’s favorite brands.
This morning, I appeared on the NBC 10! Show, to share my absolute favorite holiday beauty gift picks…
Godiva Home Fragrance Collection: Godiva Chocolatier unveils a new way to indulge in the sensorial decadence of its chocolate – the Godiva Home Fragrance Collection. These scented candles of deep chocolate-colored wax infused with cocoa butter are the brand’s first foray into the home fragrance category in its over 80 year history. These ready-to-gift candles are available in both travel and full sizes and the sumptuous scents are sure to please each and every chocolate connoisseur. The collection includes the following fragrances: Milk Chocolate Truffle, Raspberry Ganache, White Chocolate Magnolia, Peppermint Bark, Black Almond Truffle. The candles retail for $22.50 (Regular Candle 7 oz) and $12.50 (Travel Candle 4.4 oz) and are available at Neiman Marcus and Bath & Body Works.
Clarisonic Mia Skin Cleansing System: From the creators of the Sonicare toothbrush comes the Clarisonic Mia Skin Cleaning System, featuring a handy to-go sized version of the original, groundbreaking skin care Clarisonic Brush. The sonic frequency moves Clarisonic’s soft, gentle brush back and forth at more than 300 times per second, thoroughly clearing pores and skin surface. The Clarisonic Mia removes makeup six times better than traditional methods, clears pores and reduces the appearance of pore size, cleanses so thoroughly that skincare products absorb better, creates noticeably healthier looking skin. The Clarisonic Mia Skin Cleansing System includes: Clarisonic Mia One Speed Brush, international charger for worldwide use, sensitive brush head, 1 oz Gentle Hydro Cleanser. The Clarisonic Mia costs $149 and is sold at Sephora and clarisonic.com.
Sephora Fragrance Samplers for Him and Her: These boxed ensembles are the perfect gift of fragrance when you’re not sure which one to choose. The sets include samples of Sephora’s top-selling fragrances to try, a gift voucher that can be redeemed at any Sephora store for a full-sized bottle of any one of the samples included, and a fragrance guide. The Collector’s Edition Samplers are $75 and the Deluxe Samplers are $50.
Zoya Holiday Minicure Gift Set: This kit contains essentials for the perfect manicure, in the perfect miniature gift set: Zoya Remove+ (polish remover), Armor Top Coat, Anchor Base Coat, and Hurry Up Speed Dry Drops. This incredible value set ($15) is a perfect stocking stuffer, office gift or a personal treat.
Felix Rey Cosmetics Cases: How many makeup bags are so gorgeous that you could carry them as an evening clutch and be the chicest gal in the room? Not many…and I would wager that most of them come courtesy of Felix Rey, a sophisticated and ultra-feminine luxury brand of accessories founded by Lily Rafii Band and Sulaika Zarrouk. The cosmetics cases run the gamut in terms of size, style, print and price ($24-120) – so you’re sure to find the perfect present for that makeup-loving gal on your gift list. Leighton Meester, Hayden Panetierre, Hilary Duff, Penelope Cruz and Fergie are all fans of Felix Rey.
Bath & Body Works Lounge Shea Socks: These super-soft, ultra-pampering socks contain enough moisturizing shea butter to last up to 25 washes. The Lounge Shea Socks are available in 20 different colors/prints.
Members of the studio audience received a pair of the Bath & Body Works Lounge Shea Socks and nail polish from Zoya’s Ultra Glitter winter collection. For faithful Spoiled Pretty readers, like you, I’m upping the beauty booty.
One lucky winner will receive: candles from the Godiva Home Fragrance Collection, Sephora Fragrance Samples for Him and Her, a Zoya Holiday Minicure Gift Set, Felix Rey Leopard Nylon Cosmetics Case (large), and Bath & Body Works shea socks!
To enter the giveaway, send an email to spoiledprettycontests@gmail.com. Be sure to include your full name and mailing address. The subject line should read “NBC 10 Holiday Beauty Giveaway.” The contest ends at midnight (EST) on Monday, December 14th. One winner will be chosen at random from among the entrants. On Tuesday, December 15th, I’ll announce the winner’s name. Please, only one entry per person; duplicate entries will not increase your chances of winning. Contest is open to U.S. and Canadian residents.
This morning, I appeared on Philadelphia’s NBC 10! Show, to share some of my favorite Thanksgiving/holiday themed beauty products:
Sara Happ Lip Scrub, $24 If you’re in dire need of a pucker-perfecting product, look no further than Sara Happ’s Lip Scrub. This sugar-based exfoliant acts like a lip loofah and leaves your pout kissably soft. The Lip Scrub comes in six lip-smacking flavors – three of which are perfect for this time of year: Brown Sugar, Cinnamon Sugar, and Vanilla Bean.
C.O. Bigelow Mentha Lip Cordials, $7.50 Treat your lips to delicious new flavors that’ll remind you of your favorite winter drinks. C.O. Bigelow’s Mentha Cordials combine the high shine and breath-freshening benefits of Mentha Lip Shine with a host of new seasonal flavors: Hot Buttered Rum, Triple Hot Chocolate, Warm Spiced Cider and Vanilla Cream Eggnog.
June Jacobs Perfect Pumpkin Peeling Enzyme Masque, $78 This deliciously spicy, skin purifying pumpkin enzyme masque is a natural, gentle enzyme “peel” designed for home use. Gently digests and exfoliates dead skin cells and impurities as it delivers pumpkin’s botanical repair benefits into the skin. Leaves the skin cleansed, detoxified and silky smooth. Age-fighting anti-oxidants and vitamin A protect and silken the skin. Roughness retreats and dryness disappears.
June Jacobs Creamy Cranberry Cleanser, $44 This hydrating creamy cleanser provides moisture and nourishment to the skin during the cleansing process with a bouquet of fresh cranberry. Active antioxidants and nourishing botanicals soothe and protect from moisture loss leaving the skin revitalized. Completely water-soluble emulsion, rinses off easily, leaving the skin refreshed.
Philosophy Pumpkin Spice Muffin Shampoo, Shower Gel & Bubble Bath, $16 Philosophy Pumpkin Spice Muffin Shower Gel smells absolutely scrumptious. The ultra-rich formula cleanses skin and leaves it feeling soft and hydrated. Not only is the warm, gooey smell of pumpkin spice muffin appealing to the senses – according to scientific research, this aroma has been found to arouse men and women. It’s a smell that’s so irresistible, you’ll lather, rinse, and definitely want to repeat.
Studio audience members received a gift bag that included a C.O. Bigelow Mentha Lip Cordial, and samples of the June Jacobs Pumpkin Peeling Enzyme Masque and Creamy Cranberry Cleanser…but I’m sweetening the deal for one lucky Spoiled Pretty reader. One of you will win ALL of the products!
To enter the giveaway, send an email to spoiledprettycontests@gmail.com. Be sure to include your full name and mailing address. The subject line should read “Thanksgiving Beauty Giveaway.” The contest ends at midnight (EST) on Tuesday, November 17th. One winner will be chosen at random from among the entrants. On Wednesday, November 18th, I’ll announce the winner’s name. Please, only one entry per person; duplicate entries will not increase your chances of winning. Contest is open to U.S. and Canadian residents.
Spoiled Pretty is a finalist for the HLMN’s Best Beauty Blog! It would be a shame if the hours I spent writing my acceptance speech were in vain (kidding), so please show Spoiled Pretty some love and vote for me!
Simply click this link, enter your email address (you can vote more than once if you have more than one email addy), and type ‘Spoiled Pretty’ in the box.
Ideeli, my favorite sample sale website, recently profiled me for their blog. Click here to read about my beauty and style obsessions – and to rock out to my top 10 jams.
And while you’re there, be sure to sign up for membership…it’s free! And don’t miss their Oscar de la Renta giveaway. One lucky winner a one-of-a-kind dress designed by the icon himself. Better yet, in addition to this original creation, the winner will receive a sketch of the dress, signed by the designer.
