Too Much Of A Good Thing?

Three years ago, Bath & Body Works abandoned its single brand, single price point strategy when it started carrying popular lines like C.O. Bigelow, Frederic Fekkai, and Wexler. Neil Fiske, then CEO, said of the change, "This represents another step in the transformation of Bath & Body Works from raspberry shower gel to a modern apothecary of beauty and well-being."

Now, Bath & Body Works is reinventing itself, once again, by cutting its outside vendor list by 50%. Upscale brands that have left, or are slated to leave flagships by the end of the year include DDF, Peter Thomas Roth, Korres, Juvena, and The Savannah Bee Company. "We still feel very strongly about third-party brands and continue to carry them. We continue to look for not only new items within the brands we carry, but also additional brands," current CEO Diane Neal said. "I personally think we over-assorted ourselves,” she added.

So if your favorite brand is getting the ax, visit your nearest Bath and Body Works store now and adopt a few soon-to-be homeless beauty products.

Go Ahead – Rain On My Parade

Humidity is my hair’s archenemy. Just the slightest bit of moisture in the air results in serious tress distress. As soon as the meteorologist mentions rain in the 5-day forecast, my hair starts misbehaving. So imagine my surprise when yesterday, in the middle of a Philadelphia freezing-rainstorm, I was that girl you love to hate. You know…the girl whose hair always looks divine, rain or shine.

So what’s my hair’s new secret weapon against the evil winter elements? I’ve been using Profound Beauty’s Stylist Linear Serum and Linear Cream.

After washing and conditioning my hair, I mix equal parts of the serum and cream in my hands and apply to towel-dried hair. The lightweight, silicone-based serum seals and protects the hair cuticle; and the cream, a blend of silicone and emollients, smoothes and softens my mutinous mane. The result is sleek, straight hair that resists humidity and doesn’t weigh hair down. In fact, I was somewhat dumbfounded at how the products managed to simultaneously straighten and add volume to my baby fine locks.

If you really want to push it, and have the girls at work seething with jealousy, finish off your do with Structure Shine - a serum that imparts long-lasting luster while protecting hair from heat styling.

Log on to profoundbeauty.com, click ‘Find Your Routine,’ and follow the online consultation. Once you have completed the questionnaire, Profound Beauty will recommend a personalized assortment of products to take you from "yikes" to "yowza."

Win A $50 SpaFinder Gift Certificate!

Merry December - it’s giveaway time again! I know what you’re thinking. You’re saying to yourself, “The last Spoiled Pretty contest hasn’t even ended yet, and now there’s another giveaway?” The answer is a resounding YES!

It’s the season of giving, and I’m in a munificent mood. Christmas, Hanukkah, and Kwanzaa are coming early for some of you - because I’m showering my readers with fabulous products all month long. Wait. Maybe “showering” isn’t quite accurate – it’s going to be more like an avalanche! I’m so excited about the prizes, I can hardly contain myself!!!

The first giveaway of the month is generously sponsored by SpaFinder. SpaFinder offers the only gift certificate and gift card that can be used toward any spa experience offered at over 4,000 fine spas across the nation and world – from a manicure, massage or beauty treatment at a local day spa, to a luxurious spa vacation. Starting at just $50, SpaFinder gift certificates can be easily ordered at Spafinder.com, or by calling 1.888.ALL.SPAS, and arrive in a beautifully wrapped gift box (with optional spa and luxury gifts included). Recipients can log on to Spafinder.com to find their ideal spa experience, a major convenience given the thousands of available spas, treatments and options!

For December’s first contest, two winners will receive a $50 SpaFinder Gift Certificate. And because these certificates are redeemable around the world, everyone is eligible! But this time, you'll have to work for it…

To enter, leave a comment in the comments section below or email me at spoiledpretty@gmail.com by 9 pm EST on Thursday, December 6th - and tell me why you deserve to be spoiled pretty by SpaFinder in four sentences or less. On Friday, December 7th, I’ll announce the winners’ names. Please, only one comment per person; duplicate comments will not increase your chances of winning.

Good luck!

Silver Belles

Want to show your holiday spirit without resorting to candy cane earrings or snowflake sweaters? Why not paint your nails in platinum? Here are a few Spoiled Pretty favorites from Essie - no matter your skin color, they have the perfect shade for you to nail this festive look.


Steel-ing The Scene: burnished pewter, with subtle gold reflections


Silver Bullions: silver and luminescent


Loophole: satiny chrome

The Commitment-Phobe Finds A Fragrance

I recently introduced my sister, Lauren, to Comptoir Sud Pacifique’s line of fragrances – and was surprised by how strongly she responded to their Vanille Citrus scent. You see, Lauren is an incredibly fickle perfume user who never buys full-sized bottles because she can’t commit to just one.

The warmth of Vanille Citrus is nicely balanced by the zest of candied lemon peel, Brazilian orange, and blackcurrant syrup. With this sexy, playful perfume, you’ll be sure to stand out in a crowd of too-serious winter scents.

My sister raved about the smell, which she described as something akin to “vanilla lemon bars.” “It makes you want to eat yourself,” Lauren joked. “Vanille Citrus is not really a perfume to wear during a night out, but makes a great everyday scent – or a nice alternative to your favorite fragrance.”

Sold at Sephora and Amazon.com.

Spoiled Pretty On A Deserted Island

If you ever anticipate being shipwrecked on a deserted island, make sure to pack Maiden Beauty’s Perfect Pout Lip Scrub. This brown sugar exfoliant buffs and refines your lips…and it’s 100% edible!

The scrub comes with your choice of Tasty Tint Lip Balm, a glossy moisturizer featuring a hint of color and a kiss of brown sugar flavor. Balm choices include Pretty (light pink), Smart (sheer caramel) and Lady (cherry red).

Talk To The Hands

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.

Shea 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!