Whatever Happened To Ultima II?

I might be showing my age with this question...but can I ask, whatever happened to Ultima II? Back in the day, that shiz was my jam. Ultima II was one of my first forays into prestige makeup and I was obsessed. I had this one brown matte lipstick (hey, it was the mid-nineties) that I wore down to a nub. And don't get me started on their Glowtion Skin Brightening Moisturizer.

And when the line popped up at my local CVS, I thought I had died and gone to heaven. Then it died.

A recent Google search turned up a ton of online retailers still hocking Ultima II cosmetics...which leaves me wondering if Revlon is still secretly producing these products, or if the online stores are selling old stock.

Ah, Ultima II...thanks for the memories.

NARS Larger Than Life Mascaras

When it comes to lashes, NARS knows that bigger is always better, and the new NARS Larger than Life Mascaras do not disappoint. Boasting formulas enriched with Vitamin E and Macadamia Nut Oil, these luxuriously rich, deeply pigmented mascaras go on silky smooth with lavish volumizing or lengthening effects. While sumptuous, they dry quickly and beautifully, with no smudging or flaking. NARS Larger than Life Mascaras will bring high definition and over-the-top drama to every fringe.

NARS Larger than Life Volumizing Mascara features a signature, square brush with fibers called honeycomb, designed for maximum product pick-up and perfectly even distribution. With lash volume and curl instantly boosted with every stroke, NARS Larger than Life Volumizing Mascara’s results are dramatically dense.

NARS Larger than Life Lengthening Mascara features a unique conical wand of high-tech fiber bristles encourages separation and definition, and unique nylon fibers cling to lashes for pronounced lengthening. NARS Larger than Life Lengthening Mascara is transformative, leaving lashes visibly sculpted, elongated and defined.

Available now at Sephora.

Giorgio Armani Beauty Fall 2009 Collection: Greige

The new fall dress code for Giorgio Armani is “Greige.” Subtle but distinct tones accentuate a deep smoky eye contrasted with a fresh, luminous complexion and a muted, but intense lip color.

Manta Ray Eye Duo Palettes, $38
The star product of the season is the eye duo palette, which is dressed with an exotic Manta Ray pattern. Inspired by the precious and luxurious materials used in Giorgio Armani fashion accessories, the palettes offer a beautiful selection of color harmonies inspired by nature. The collection features subtle hues that offer a new take on the timeless color “Greige,” create by Giorgio Armani. The rich filtered eye tones, presented in a matte Greige compact, give depth and mystery to the eyes with subtle contours and highlights.

n° 1 – charcoal and Greige: the ultimate eye shadow combination for this season’s smoky eye
n° 2 – deep ocean blue and intense ocean green
n° 3 – pale lilac grey and luminous fuchsia
n° 4 – light blue stone and sandy beige
n° 5 – shimmering lilac pearl and pale green pearl

Liquid Silk Eye Liner n° 1 and n° 2, $30

Armani Liquid Silk Eye Liners in matte charcoal grey or midnight metallic blue contrast the softer Greige tones with a smooth high precision stroke. The formula, which contains microdispersed waxes and micro-fil™ polymer, boosts the deep intense color and ensures a long-lasting, quick-drying application.

Armani Silk Lipstick n°92, $25

This season’s must-have Armani lipstick accentuates the natural lip color, keeping the focus on the eyes. The grey-blue tones in this soft plum lipstick add intensity to the lip without giving a dark contrast, the new alternative to beige. The Armani Silk lipstick formula dresses the lips with a hydrating and silky veil. Specific oils allow the shade to reveal intense and radiant color, resulting in a luminous blush on the lips.

The “Greige” Eye Look by Linda Cantello: “Eye shadow is about shading. Rather than adding shadows, these muted tones contour and define, accentuating the eye and the pupil; the focus is actually on the eye itself. My favorite is the Greige and charcoal duo shade palette, but the pale lilac grey and fuchsia offer a really beautiful pop of color.”

Application Tips:
* Use the Greige shade to contour the eye by sweeping the shadow along the crease of the eye. Follow by sweeping the shade under the lower lash line and over the upper lash line. Use charcoal to add intensity.

* A second option is to sweep the charcoal shadow over the whole lid and use the Greige to blend. For added intensity, apply midnight blue eyeliner along the upper lid lash line.

The Giorgio Armani Beauty Fall 2009 Collection is available for a limited time online at giorgioarmanibeauty.com and at selected fine department stores, including Saks Fifth Avenue, Neiman Marcus and Bloomingdales.

Dania Ramirez Is CoverGirl’s Newest Face

CoverGirl just announced that actress Dania Ramirez is the newest face of the iconic cosmetic brand. Dania is best known for her role as ‘Maya Herrera’ on NBC’s popular hit series Heroes.

“Being a CoverGirl is about recognizing internal and external beauty, regardless of age or background. As a role model, I hope to inspire women to be confident enough to achieve everything they want to achieve,” says Dania Ramirez.

CoverGirl print and television advertisements featuring Dania will launch in January 2010. Dania joins Ellen DeGeneres, Drew Barrymore, Queen Latifah and Rihanna as the newest face of the brand.

Hissyfit Giveaway

Not much makes me happier than giving away my favorite beauty products. So without further ado, I present another Spoiled Pretty giveaway!

This week, I'm partnering with Hissyfit, an Australian line that straddles makeup and skincare. The products deliver 3-in-1 treatment benefits in the form of powerful anti-aging, advanced sun protection and luxurious formulations that wear comfortably and smell divine!

Two lucky readers will win:

Lip Service Anti-Aging Lip Balm: This feather-light lip balm with SPF 50+ broad spectrum protection is the perfect skincare and cosmetic product in one. Wear it alone for gorgeous, glossy, natural lips. Or layer over your favorite lipstick for a soft, supple kissable finish.

Body Double Anti-Aging Body Moisturizer: This advanced natural body lotion provides intense hydration, beautiful fragrance (think a delicate blend of vanilla, almond, orange and grapefruit) and SPF 30+ broad spectrum UVA/UVB sun protection.

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 "Hissyfit Giveaway." The contest ends at midnight (EST) on Tuesday, August 11th. Two winners will be chosen at random from among the entrants. On Wednesday, August 12th, I'll announce the winners' names. Please, only one entry per person; duplicate entries will not increase your chances of winning. Contest is open to U.S. residents.

Good luck!

Rescue Rittenhouse Spa: I Wanna Be Sedated

Lately, it seems like I’ve been around the world and I I I, I can't find my sanity. So I decided to visit Philadelphia’s famed Rescue Rittenhouse Spa for some R&R wrapped up in a little TLC. Rescue Rittenhouse has some amazing summer treatment specials* going on right now, so I opted for the Massage plus Sugar Scrub.

Since it was a two-fer, I assumed it was going to be a rushed rubdown with a smidgen of a scrub- a-dub tacked on to the end. Quite the contrary...it was a marathon massage session so relaxing that, at one point, I had to catch myself from drooling. Seriously, Massage Therapist Alycja will put you in a comatose state.

Everything about her technique was just perfect – from the pacing to the amount of pressure to the amount of massage oil to the temperature of the hot towels…it was Goldilocks' dream come true. And I swear that when I closed my eyes, Alycja sprouted more fingers, because it was like her hands were everywhere at once.

I wasn’t expecting to enjoy the sugar scrub as much as I did because exfoliation isn’t usually a relaxing experience. But as she rubbed the grapefruit/lemongrass/peppermint-scented scrub over my body, I slipped into a deeper level of sedation. The sugar crystals sloughed away months of dead skin and I emerged from the treatment with a brand new epidermis. I can’t stop touching my skin because I can’t believe it’s mine. No exaggerating...it hasn’t been this soft and smooth since 1978.

*Rescue Rittenhouse Spa's summer beauty specials ($100) are good through 8/31 and include:

1. Buff and Bronze and Designer Eyebrow Shaping
2. Massage and Salt or Sugar Scrub
3. Brazilian Bikini Wax and a Perfect 10 Manicure and Pedicure
4. Classic Rescue Facial and Designer Eyebrow Shaping

Visit rescuerittenhousespa.com for other spa services.

Rescue Rittenhouse Spa
255 South 17th Street
Second Floor
Philadelphia, PA 19103
Spa Concierge: 215.772.2766

Bronze Booster Giveaway Winners

Last week, Spoiled Pretty partnered with Physicians Formula for a fabulous giveaway. And now the time has come to announce the winners. Congrats to Kelly Bray, Teresa Nelson and Brandy Wilson!

These ladies will receive the new Bronze Booster collection, which includes three products that give skin an enhanced natural-looking tan glow that goes the distance.

Many thanks to Physicians Formula for sponsoring the contest. Be sure to check out Spoiled Pretty's other current giveaways for more chances to win!