Susana Monaco Flutter Tube Dress


I just had to share how much I adore this Susana Monaco 'Flutter Tube Dress' I just bought from Shopbop.com.  I'm usually very hesitant to buy clothing online because I'm short and curvy and I can't be assured that something will look right until I try it on. And even when I do buy clothes off the Internet, they're CONTINUE READING

Kiehl's Friends & Family 2013


It's Friends & Family time at Kiehl's, so if you a fan of their amazing skincare, bath & body and hair products like I am, now is the time to stock up. If you're never tried Kiehl's...gurl, this is the perfect time to get acquainted. Get 20% off all of your purchases at a Kiehl’s freestanding store or on Kiehls.com CONTINUE READING

Beautiful Things My Mother Taught Me


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

Bath & Body Works 3-Wick Candles: 2 for $22


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

IMAN Skin Tone Evener BB Creme SPF 15


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

CoverGirl Outlast Brilliant Shine Nail Gloss in Vio-last


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

Dry Skin

Want Some Free Skin MD Natural Lotion?

Posted on by daneen in Dry Skin, Eczema, Lotion | 1 Comment

md new bottle Want Some Free Skin MD Natural Lotion?
Skin MD Natural is doing a field trial of their shielding lotion and they’d like to invite twelve Spoiled Pretty readers to participate.

They will send you a bottle of the lotion, to do a one-month trial of the product; they are looking for both men and women who suffer from dry skin, eczema, or psoriasis – or want to try it as protective lotion from chemicals, irritants, excessive hand washing, etc. Skin MD Natural is interested in your honest feedback.

All you need to commit to is: 1) using the product for one month, and 2) emailing me a weekly update of your experience with the product (and how it’s working for you). If you’d like to do a photo journal of your skin over the month, that would be a great idea too (but not necessary).

The first 12 people to email me with their full name and mailing address will be entered to participate.

Update: I received 12 responses, so this contest is now closed. Be sure to check out our other giveaway, sponsored by Profound Beauty.

Shiny, Unhappy People

Posted on by daneen in Combination Skin, Dry Skin, Face, Moisturizer, Oily Skin | Leave a comment

I thought I was done being Miss Greasy Face. In September, I waved goodbye to the oil slick that had summer vacationed on my t-zone. Little did I realize it would be home for the holidays.

I love the way super-rich winter moisturizers soothe my chapped, flaky face; my skin is so thirsty in the morning that it just drinks in the moisture. But by 10 am, I’m rummaging in my purse for my powder compact. And at the end of the day, I’m dabbing at my face with napkins left over from my Saladworks lunch.

If I could get away with the same gel moisturizer I use during warm months, I would; but as luck would have it, when I try wearing a lightweight moisturizer in the winter, I end up looking something like this…

crackinup 259 Shiny, Unhappy People
0028 4609 Shiny, Unhappy PeopleWell, thanks to Eve Lom Moisturiser SPF 15, the oil slick took another vacation – which I think will be a permanent one. Somehow it manages to pamper my parched skin, without any shine or greasy residue; I apply a liberal amount in the AM and I’m shine-free all day – and all night. I would recommend this moisturizer to anyone, regardless of skin type. It’s just that good.

Isn’t it time you learned all about Eve? Eve Lom products are available at Space NK and evelom.com.

Down With Dermatitis!

Posted on by daneen in Dry Skin, Eczema, Lotion | Leave a comment

santa skinmd Down With Dermatitis!I have eczema. Not all year round. Just December through March. Sometimes, it’s just a minor annoyance. Other days, I’m covered with dry patches and the itchiness is almost too much to endure. Luckily, this year, I came prepared for battle – and I think I’ve found a product to help me defeat my dermatitis.

Skin MD Natural is a lotion that is immediately absorbed, hydrates without greasiness, and transforms the outer layer of skin into an invisible shield. What I love most about the product is that it protects my skin from the cold weather outside, dry heat inside, and harsh chemical irritants.

Every year, when my eczema starts to spread, I reach for the steroid cream – which I hate to do because it’s very tedious, you need to cover every dry patch to keep it under control, and your skin can become immune to the medicine. This is another reason why I am so excited about this product – it won’t cure my eczema, but it’ll control it so that steroids become a last resort.

I know some of you are thinking, “I don’t have eczema. What can Skin MD Natural do for me?” Because it helps skin to retain moisture and lasts for four hours (even after washing your hands), it is especially helpful to anyone who experiences dry skin – particularly, doctors and nurses who constantly wash their hands, or cancer patients who experience dry skin from cancer treatments.

A 4-ounce bottle (1-2 month supply, with daily use) is $25, but if you plan to buy in bulk, check out the Christmas Specials. And if you’re still not persuaded, Skin MD Natural offers samples so you can decide for yourself. For a $2 postage and handling charge, they’ll send you a two sample packets.

Skin MD Natural is available at drustores, supermarkets, and at skinmdnatural.com.

Talk To The Hands

Posted on by daneen in Dry Skin, Hands | Leave a comment

If your hands could talk, they would probably say, “Quit paying so much attention to your face, and spend some time on us!”

Winter weather can be tough on skin – especially thin skin, like that on your hands. Warm winter gloves and mittens can help shield against frigid winds and cold temperatures; but to prevent dryness, chapping, and cracking, your hands need some extra protection.

 Talk To The HandsShea butter has become a popular remedy for dry skin because it absorbs quickly without being greasy; and one of the best hand care products out there is J.R. Watkins’ Lemon Cream Shea Butter Hand Repair Moisturizer.

Shea butter, cocoa butter and five oils are whipped for a smooth, spreadable feel that’s perfect for in-home manicures and hand massages. Or keep a tube in your handbag for hydration on the go. And the scent (exactly like the Lemon Pastry Creme Girl Scout Cookies) is so deliciously intoxicating that you’ll want to slather all over your body…luckily, J.R. Watkins is one step ahead of us and created Lemon Cream Shea Butter and Lemon Cream Hand & Body Lotion.

Bottom line – this is a rich hand cream, on a pauper’s budget. Visit Target or jrwatkins.com and pick up a tube today!

A Tale of Two Foundations

Posted on by daneen in Dry Skin, Foundation | Leave a comment

Clinique SuperMoisture A Tale of Two Foundations
Yesterday, my quest for an everyday foundation took me to my local department store. I’d seen advertisements for Clinique’s new Supermoisture Makeup in my favorite fashion magazines, so I headed straight to their makeup counter.

On the Clinique website, the Supermoisture Makeup is described as having an ultra-creamy yet refreshingly lightweight formula that goes beyond flaw-fixing, providing a dewy look. Clinique promises that this product disguises unevenness with sheer-to-moderate coverage, resulting in soft and radiant looking skin all day.

Okay, so back to my shopping escapades…the saleswoman warned me that the Supermoisture Makeup is meant for individuals with dry skin. Now, while my skin can be an oil slick during the summer, it gets tight and very dry during the fall and winter months. So I told the woman that I still wanted to give it a try. She color-matched me, and the shade she chose was spot-on. However, it was much too dewy for my taste. In fact – it looked, dare I say, greasy. I would only recommend this product to those with extremely parched skin (think Sahara thirsty).

Clinique Superfit A Tale of Two FoundationsThe story does have a happy ending, though. I walked out of Bloomingdale’s with Clinique’s Superfit Makeup in Nutty – an oldie but a goodie. And the helpful saleswoman threw in a gift with purchase (Colour Surge Eye Shadow Soft Shimmer in Twiglet and Continuous Rescue Antioxidant Moisturizer) to boot.



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