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

My New Arm Candy: Rebecca Minkoff Swing Bag


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

Bust a Move On Over to Saturday.com


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

Hair Styling

Emmys 2009 Beauty: Blake Lively

Posted on by daneen in Celebrities, Extensions, Hair, Hair Styling | Leave a comment
emmys+2009+blake+lively+2 Emmys 2009 Beauty: Blake LivelyFor the 2009 Emmy Awards, celebrity hairstylist Renato Campora was inspired by the modernity and elegance of Blake Lively‘s red Versace gown. He created a goddess style, braided updo using products by Frederic Fekkai.

To get the look, Renato started out by applying Fekkai Coiff Strong Hold Volume Mousse onto wet hair. Next he blow-dried the hair smooth and applied the Fekkai Coiff Extra Control Styling Gel to prep the hair. He then teased all the hair and pulled it up into a high ponytail. By adding some hair extensions to the ponytail, he created extra length for a more dramatic look.

Afterward, he braided the entire ponytail and fastened at the end. Campora finished by applying Fekkai Coiff Magnifique Ultra-Light Finishing Creme throughout the entire look for a smooth and sleek effect.

emmys+2009+blake+lively+5 Emmys 2009 Beauty: Blake Lively emmys+2009+blake+lively+4 Emmys 2009 Beauty: Blake Lively
Photo Credit: Getty Images

Emmys 2009 Beauty: Heidi Klum

Posted on by daneen in Celebrities, Hair, Hair Styling | Leave a comment

emmys+2009+heidi+klum Emmys 2009 Beauty: Heidi Klum2009 Emmy Awards nominee Heidi Klum walked the red carpet in a Marchesa gown, Lorraine Schwartz jewels, hair styled by Michel Aleman for Frederic Fekkai and make-up designed by Linda Hay.

Michel created a 50s inspired updo with a modern interpretation – ultra feminine with a bit of volume. To get the look he crafted soft texture with slight waves pulled back to softly frame the face. A strong middle part was accented by a chignon positioned back of the head at ear level. Michel started off by applying Fekkai Coiff Bouffant Lifting & Texturizing Spray Gel to create some texture and then blow-dried the hair. Once dry, he applied Fekkai Coiff Oceanique Tousled Wave Spray to create the soft waves. He created a middle part and two pony tails in the back of the head at ear level, making sure the hair in front is smooth but pulled back softly. He teased each ponytail to create the volume and then brought together into one dramatic chignon. Michel finished off with the Fekkai Advanced Brilliant Glossing Sheer Shine Mist.

The simplicity of Heidi’s gown inspired Linda Hay to keep her makeup minimal and fresh. She used a palette of pale pinks and apricots for her eyes and cheeks. To begin Hay used Brightener around her eyes, nose, and the corners of the mouth, blending everywhere to even out Heidi’s complexion. She followed this with a very light touch of cream powder blush on the cheeks.

On the eyes Hay used a selection of pale pink and lavender shadow’s from Victoria’s Secret, applying the pale pink to the lid using a flat shadow brush, lavender in the crease using a pointed shadow brush and a silver to highlight just under the eyebrow. Under the eye Hay applied a touch of lavender using a small pointed shadow brush and then added a touch of silver to the inside corner of the eye to make it pop. Next she curled the lashes + applied 3 layers of Black Mascara to the top and bottom. Individual lashes were applied to the outside corners to make the eyes pop. The lips were lined with a nude lip liner then painted with a beige lipstick. She finished off Heidi’s look with Victoria’s Secret Body Perfecting Spray to make her skin glow.

Photo Credit: Getty Images

Emmys 2009 Beauty: January Jones

Posted on by daneen in Celebrities, Hair, Hair Styling | Leave a comment

emmys+2009+january+jones+2 Emmys 2009 Beauty: January JonesMark Townsend, Matrix’s celebrity stylist, helped Mad Men star January Jones get glam for the 2009 Emmy Awards. According to Townsend, “Working with January for any event is always going to be fun and inspiring.”

Mark was blown away with the detail and craftsmanship that went into making January’s stunning Versace gown. “While getting January ready, we had the dress hanging close by so I could see it while doing January’s hair, and that proved to be the inspiration for her overall look,” says Townsend, who loved all the lines and cut-outs of the dress, and wanted the hair to have the same feeling.

To get January’s hair from this glamorous event, Mark first sprayed Biolage Bodifying Spray Gel in her damp hair and blow dried it with a medium round brush. Then, he took sections of her hair pulled and pinned them back one at a time. January has shoulder length hair, so he needed to pull the hair back in sections because it is too short to pull it back all at the same time. Mark wanted the style to look like a textured chignon and by pinning sections at the back, he was able to achieve exactly that. He finished the chignon with Vavoom Shape Maker Hairspray to give the style some hold, and purposely let some hair fall loose around the front to catch the light and to give it more of a “fashion” look.

emmys+2009+january+jones+1 Emmys 2009 Beauty: January Jones

Photo Credit: Getty Images

New York Fashion Week: Lela Rose, Spring 2010

Posted on by daneen in Fashion, Fashion Week, Hair Styling, Nail Polish, Nails | Leave a comment

Lela+Rose+Spring+2010 New York Fashion Week: Lela Rose, Spring 2010The inspiration for the makeup at the Lela Rose New York Fashion Week Spring 2010 show was Venice Beach. “The Lela Rose girl has been on the beach all day,” said Sarah Lucero, Key Makeup artist for Stila/Beauty.com. “At the end of the day, she grabs her towel and heads out for dinner. So she needs a look to play up her sun kissed tan.”

To create the look, Sarah used evened out models’ complexions and gave them a “clean, healthy glow” with Stila Sheer Cover Tinted Moisturizer SPF 15. Stila Convertible Color in Camelia, Eye Shadow Duo in Fandango and Cobalt Smudge Pot were applied to eyes. Sarah gave cheeks a little color using Stila Pomegranate Crush Lip & Cheek Stain. Camelia Convertible Color did double duty on the lips. Finally, lashes were inked up with Major Lash Mascara in Black.

lela+rose+beauty+1 New York Fashion Week: Lela Rose, Spring 2010

lela+rose+beauty+2 New York Fashion Week: Lela Rose, Spring 2010

When I asked Sarah to recommend one Stila product that every woman should invest in, she quickly answered Stila’s soon-to-be-released One Step Makeup – which is primer, foundation and concealer (oh my!) all in one fantabulous formula.

lela+rose+makeup New York Fashion Week: Lela Rose, Spring 2010
Sarah touches up Lela’s makeup.

Next, I stopped by Ted Gibson’s station to inquire about the hair, and was surprised at what I saw. Since I started covering New York Fashion Week four seasons ago, Ted has been the Head Stylist at Lela Rose – and their collaborations typically yield sophisticated, polished hair. Not this year. “This season, the hair is an interesting departure from what we usually do,” Ted said. Inspired by the beachy theme, and the collection’s wave details, he created a slightly messy mane. First, he sprayed hair with Build It Blow Drying Agent. Then he twisted small sections of hair before blasting them with a blow dryer. After repeating this process all over the head, Ted gathered hair in a ponytail and secured with an elastic. The pony was then back-brushed to give it volume and set using Beautiful Hold Hairspray. “This look is easy to replicate and is very wearable,” he said. “If you’re a little more adventurous, leave the hair down.”

A beachy, soft, nude nail – courtesy of Deborah Lippmann – complimented Lela’s collection. Lippmann Long Wearing Nail Lacquer in Fashion, an opaque beige – is a “modern take on the old-school matchy match mani/pedi,” Deborah explained. “The color extends the skin, and you can imagine that toenails adorned in this color would just disappear in the sand.”

lela+rose+lippmann+nail+polish New York Fashion Week: Lela Rose, Spring 2010

It’s not often that I have a tête-à-tête with a nail authority, so I took the opportunity to ask Deborah about emerging trends and nail don’ts. She officially pronounced French manicures and pedicures as DEAD, noting that they should have disappeared along with the Betamax. “The French manicure is dated and uninspired. Many women tell me that they like a French manicure because they’re looking for a natural look. Problem is that no one has a white, white tip. Opaque beiges and tans are the new way to wear a neutral nail. I also love that these opaque nudes can do what pale, sheer pinks can’t: they cover imperfections better, result in less streaks, and make fingers look longer and leaner.”

#NYFW

New York Fashion Week: Alice & Olivia, Spring 2010

Posted on by daneen in Blush, Eye Shadow, Fashion, Fashion Week, Hair Styling, Highlighter, Lipgloss, Lips, Lipstick, Shoes | Leave a comment

alice+and+olivia+spring+2010+rtw New York Fashion Week: Alice & Olivia, Spring 2010For the Alice + Olivia Spring 2010 presentation, MAC created two very different makeup looks. The first was a black super smoky eye, worn by The Plastiscines, who performed at the show.

The models, on the other hand, sported two different shades of pink shadow (Rosy Outlook and Perky) along with a white shade (Just So). Irridescent powder was applied to the cheekbones and the inner corner of the eye. Cream blush in So Sweet was blended onto the cheek, and the above pink shadows were blended together and layered on top. The brow shape was kept natural and kept in place with brow gel.

Angel Lipstick (Kim Kardashian‘s fave) was applied to lips, with Lipglass in Underage and English Accent on top. Silver dust was also mixed with moisturizer and applied to the entire body, for a ethereal glow.

Key Makeup Artist Nadine Luke emphasized that the look flatters a wide range of complexions, as evidenced by my backstage photos.

Alice+and+Olivia+Spring+2010 New York Fashion Week: Alice & Olivia, Spring 2010

“The hair for Alice + Olivia is a crossroads of edgy and girly,” said Frédéric Fekkai. “We created a look for funky, confident women.”

Andre Rodman, Lead Stylist for Fekkai added a fun, punky edginess to the s weet, girly looks at the Alice + Olivia show. To get the look Andre twirled crimped hair around a double barreled iron in a figure eight pattern. He then pulled the front piece to the side, smoothed it with Fekkai Coiff Magnifique Ultra-Light Finishing Crème and secured it neatly with jeweled pins. Finally, Andre set the style using Full Blown Volume Lifting Hairspray.

nyfw1+014 New York Fashion Week: Alice & Olivia, Spring 2010
Alice + Olivia for Payless shoes

nyfw1+015 New York Fashion Week: Alice & Olivia, Spring 2010

How darling are these labels?

alice+and+olivia+payless+boots New York Fashion Week: Alice & Olivia, Spring 2010
These boots were made for Payless…and that’s just where they’ll be.
One of these days these boots are gonna come on home with me.

nyfw1+016 New York Fashion Week: Alice & Olivia, Spring 2010

Impossibly chic booties – for cheap (also for Payless)!

 New York Fashion Week: Alice & Olivia, Spring 2010
Katty Besnard, lead singer of the Plastiscines (note the sooty black eyes)

#NYFW

The Beauty Girls Giveaways: Day 5

Posted on by daneen in Conditioner, Contest, Fragrance, Giveaway, Hair Styling, Mascara, Perfume, Shampoo, Tools | Leave a comment

the+beauty+girls+giveaway+day+5 The Beauty Girls Giveaways: Day 5Hi, y’all. Today is day 5 of The Beauty Girls’ beautious giveaways! And it’s my chance to host some!!!

Today begins your chance to win some of my FAVORITE products from Lancome, Living Proof, Lola Marc Jacobs and Barbar!

Here’s what’s up for grabs:

LANCOME

15 winners will receive Lancome Hypnose Drama Mascara

LIVING PROOF
4 winners will win:
*Straight Making No Frizz Styling Spray for Fine to Medium Hair
*Wave Shaping Curl Defining No Frizz Styling Spray for Fine to Medium Hair
*No Frizz Shampoo and Conditioner

4 winners will receive the following:
*Straight Making No Frizz Styling Cream for Medium to Thick Hair
*Wave Shaping Curl Defining No Frizz Styling Cream for Medium to Thick Hair
*No Frizz Shampoo and Conditioner

4 winners will receive the following:
*Straight Making No Frizz Styling Treatment for Thick to Coarse Hair
*Wave Shaping Curl Defining No Frizz styling treatment for thick to coarse hair
*No Frizz Shampoo and Conditioner

LOLA MARC JACOBS
10 winners will receive a 50ml bottle of Lola Marc Jacobs

BARBAR
3 winners will receive the 1900 Tourmaline Cordless Combo

To enter the giveaways, send an email to spoiledprettycontests@gmail.com. Be sure to include your full name and mailing address. The subject line should read “The Beauty Girls Giveaways.” Also, be sure to indicate which contests you want to win (for example – “Lancome and Barbar,” or “ALL OF THEM!”)The contests end at midnight (EST) on Sunday, September 20th. Winners will be chosen at random from among the entrants. On Monday, September 21st, I’ll announce the winners’ name. Please, only one entry per person; duplicate entries will not increase your chances of winning. Contests are open to U.S. residents.

A More Perfect Union: Gabrielle Graces Essence Magazine’s September Cover

Posted on by daneen in Celebrities, Hair, Hair Styling, Spoiled Pretty family | Leave a comment

gabrielle+union+essence A More Perfect Union: Gabrielle Graces Essence Magazines September CoverYou know how they say magazines sell more issues based on which celeb is on the cover? Well, even though I know it’s true, I never paid a cover much mind, to be honest. I’m a magazine nut – and if the pages are filled with beauty, fashion and star style, I’m buying it – regardless of who is on the front.

But the September 2009 issue of Essence is a rare exception. As soon as I spotted Gabrielle Union, sporting an espresso bob with side-swept bangs for her 5th Essence cover, I snatched the mag off the shelf and made a beeline for the register.

“She was mad for her new look with the sexy bangs and shoulder-length cut,” recalls Beauty and Cover Director Mikki Taylor, who led the makeover team in creating this transformation.

When I brought the issue home, I showed Mr. Spoiled Pretty. “Isn’t her hair to-die, Graham?” I asked. To which he replied, “Um…isn’t that how you usually wear your hair when it’s down?” Well, yeah…I am pretty handy with the flat iron and this is the look I’m going for. But Gabrielle’s do is the gold standard, and my limited styling prowess has only achieved bronze status – at best.

But you best believe I’m going to tack this photo up and practice, practice, practice to perfect the look. Too bad there aren’t any products to help replicate Gabrielle’s flawless cocoa complexion and girl next door dimples.

The September 2009 issue of Essence is on newsstands now.



pixel A More Perfect Union: Gabrielle Graces Essence Magazines September Cover

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