Y’all wanted some J.R. Watkins prizes, huh? Well, the time has come to announce the winners. Looks like the new year is off to a beautiful start for Nancy J. She is the brand new owner of the Lemon Cream Dream Kit. Equally lucky is Beth (bethersparker) – she will receive the Treat Your Hands & Feet Kit.
Thanks for doing your part to make 2007 such a memorable and special year for me. I appreciate your support of this blog more than I can articulate. So please accept my most sincere thanks.
The last five months have been fun, but the next twelve are going to be fierce. I’m just getting warmed up! If there’s any way I can enhance your reading experience, don’t hesitate to let me know. I welcome your suggestions and feedback.
Be sure to come back and visit me regularly – I so enjoy your company. Bookmark the site, or subscribe to receive updates in your email – so you can get spoiled every day! And don’t forget to tell your friends and family…I guarantee you all know a beauty addict who would also enjoy this site.
I wish you a happy, healthy, prosperous, and pretty 2008. Make a resolution to live every day to its fullest!
Thanks to a tip from the Beauty Blogging Junkie, I took a trip to a kiosk at the Montgomery Mall, outside of Philadelphia. This stand sells Obey Your Body, a complete line of skin care and spa products that are made in Israel using original Dead Sea minerals, water, and mud.
If you’re in the Philly area, I highly recommend that you pay this kiosk a visit. But don’t plan on drive-buy (your visit will take 10-15 minutes) – because the salesman is all about showmanship. He’s going to do demonstrations, tell jokes, and enlighten you about the healing powers of the Dead Sea. The routine almost takes on a magic show-esque quality. But trust me, it’s all worth it...because when you get the products home and try them for yourself, that’s when the real magic happens.
My mom, sister, and I all purchased The Ultimate Nail Care Kit, which contains a nail file, buffer, cuticle oil, and hand & body lotion. But the standout of the bunch is the nail buffer – which is unlike any other I have ever used. In the time that it usually takes for me to locate my bottle of clear polish, I buffed my way to super-shiny nails.
I took some before and after photos (left) – and while impressive, my digital camera could not accurately capture how reflective my nails look. Unfortunately, it can only be appreciated in person.
Don’t live anywhere near Philadelphia? No problem. You can still Obey Your Body by visiting the website.
It’s the last day of the year, so it’s only fitting that I summarize for you the products that spoiled me prettiest in 2007. For your convenience, I’ve linked each product to the corresponding review.
If a product does not have a link, this indicates that I have not had an opportunity to write a formal review just yet – but look for those posts in the near future. These products are listed in no particular order - it was hard enough narrowing it down to seven in each category!
Thanks for your support in 2007. I hope you find something on this list to spoil you pretty in 2008!
I still don’t have any plans for NYE. It might be a quiet, romantic dinner with my hubby. Or a raucous celebration with friends at a bar. Or I might just sit on the couch and blog my way into the new year. Whichever it is, here’s the makeup look I will be rocking.
I didn’t have a particular look I was going for. It really just started with Diane Brill’s Liquid Eye Liner in Lace Diamonds – and evolved from there. I didn’t expect to go so over-the-top. But once I started, I found it hard to stop…hence, my glittery glamtastic eyelids that rival the Times Square Ball in sparkle.
Once I finished piling it all on, I was afraid it was a little too Amanda Lepore for my liking. But it has since grown on me, and I hope you’ll agree that it looks quite pretty in pictures.
(top photo - naked eye lined with Diane Brill Liquid Eye Liner in Lace Diamonds; bottom photo - finished eye, after step two)
Step Three – Cheeks: Dot DuWop Blush Therapy (in Hug) on apples of cheeks, then blend with fingertips.
Step Four – Highlighting: Dot Freeze 24/7 Freeze & Go down the bridge of the nose and on cheekbones, then gently tap with pad of finger until blended.
Step Five – Lips: Finish off the look with a few swipes of MAC Lustreglass – I used Budding, but I think it’s been discontinued. Venetian is somewhat similar, but tad bit deeper – though still sheer.
That’s the recipe. I hope you had as much fun reading about the look as I had creating it! If you're looking for more NYE makeup ideas, my friend Marina at Makeup Loves Me has a bunch.
So with that, I’m going to conclude this post with the immortal words of my man, Prince. Every NYE, you’re bound to hear “1999” at least a couple times, so allow me to introduce you to another oldie, but goodie – a little ditty Prince recorded with Sheena Easton. Remember her? "Sugar Walls"? Okay, now I'm showing my age. Just watch the video.
Some of you have entered Spoiled Pretty giveaways by leaving a comment, but did not include your email address or a name - as I instructed in contest rules. Because some names are very common, please include your full name (or first name and last initial) - so that when I announce a winner, I can be as specific as possible. Also any comment without an email address in it (I need it to get in touch with you, in the event that you win) will be declared ineligible. So when in doubt, enter by emailing spoiledpretty@gmail.com. Thank you.
Celebrities are expected to always look put-together and polished. They have the privilege of working with the most talented and sought-after pros in the beauty biz. The January 2008 issue of In Style has an article entitled “365 Star Style Secrets” to help women boost our style quotient with some celebrity know-how. The piece features insider tips and tricks – so you won’t end up on the 'What Were They Thinking' list.
Here are a few of my favs:
“To make lips look naturally pink, I put on – then wipe off – red lipstick and then apply clear gloss.” –Halle Berry
“I use Omega-3 oil – I love light oil on my skin. It’s one of my favorite feelings in the world.” -Gwyneth Paltrow
“My mom taught me to moisturize with cocoa butter because it’s natural.” –Eva Mendes
One of the best things you can do for the health of your skin is to drink more water. Still, I admit to reaching for a glass of Diet Coke before a bottle of H2O.
I’ve promised myself that I’m going to drink more water in ’08 – and I think this will be a resolution I can stick to, because I’ve found a way to be stylish while staying hydrated.
Combining function and fashion, SIGG’s lightweight aluminum bottles come in 144 unique designs. And with 22 different interchangeable lids available, you can find a combination that expresses your personality. SIGG bottles are manufactured in an ecologically-friendly environment and are 100% recyclable after their very long lives.
So throw a lemon slice in there, fill it up, and drink to your (skin’s) health in the new year!
I’m a brown girl. So when I tried PlumpLips IceSticks from Freeze 24/7 in FirstFrost (iridescent bubble gum pink), I expected disaster. I don’t usually gravitate towards pale lip colors because they wash me out. And I’ve been burned, quite literally, by irritating lip plumpers in the past.
So when I looked in the mirror, after applying FirstFrost to my lips, I was shocked…in the best way possible. The product soothed, subtly plumped, and gave my pout a sheer wash of color – without any stinging or pain, just a cool tingle. The formula is soft and moisturizing, so tackiness isn’t an issue. The most exciting feature of the PlumpLips IceSticks is its ability to enhance the natural color of your lips – by increasing circulation to the lip surface.
Jennifer Aniston, Halle Berry, Katie Holmes, and Renee Zellweger are reported fans.
I'm glad that I kept an open mind, because I love this lip product. I would absolutely purchase again…and I am anxious to try the other seven shades (Brr..Berry, WindChill, ArcticGlaze, FrostBitten, PlumCicle, CherryIce, and Clear).
Burberry will release its sixth fragrance, ‘The Beat,’ in March. The women’s perfume is described as a “sparkling woody floral scent,” and incorporates three principal notes - Ceylon tea, iris accord, and bluebell. Other key notes include bergamot, cardamom, pink pepper, mandarin, white musk, vetiver and cedarwood.
If industry rumblings are any indication, Justin Timberlake may be the face of the next Parfums Givenchy men's fragrance. Here’s to hoping the SexyBack singer and French fashion house can get in sync.
Actor Matthew McConaughey will be the face of Dolce & Gabbana's upcoming fragrance, The One For Men, set to hit shelves in March 2008. “I like spicy-oriental notes and we’ve never done these types of fragrances, it’s a little warmer than our other men’s scents,” said Stefano Gabbana. "I wanted it to be a classic — not a banal classic, but a classic men's fragrance that would last for years and be the type of scent that women adore," he added. The fragrance will have notes of grapefruit, coriander, basil, cardamom, ginger, orange blossom, cedarwood, ambergris, and tobacco.
Jennifer Lopez will launch her next fragrance, Deseo, in February 2008. Deseo was inspired by a combination of smells in the singer’s own garden, and is the first of Lopez’s fragrances to reference her Latin heritage. The fragrance’s notes include bamboo leaves, yuzu, bergamot, freesia, star jasmine, pink geranium flower, orange blossom, mimosa, warm amber, oak moss, musk, sandalwood, cedar, patchouli and mineral accord. And Deseo’s bottle was designed to resemble a “diamond in the rough.”
It’s giveaway time again here at Spoiled Pretty. Which means another opportunity to win fabulous prizes! This time, we’re partnering with The Body Shop.
One first place winner will receive a spa in a box; the Spa Wisdom Rainforest Paradise Gift includes: 8.5 fl oz Spa Wisdom Dreamboat Milk Bath, 8.5 oz Spa Wisdom on a High Hydrating Puree, 12 oz Spa Wisdom Africa Spa Salt Scrub, and a delicate Pink PEVA Flower Lily. (a $65 value)
A runner-up will win sugar and spice and everything nice, with must-haves from the Body Shop Vanilla Spice range. The Vanilla Spice Quartet Gift includes: 1.7 oz Vanilla Spice Body Butter, 4.2 oz Vanilla Spice Body Lotion, 0.3 oz Vanilla Spice Lip Balm, 3.5 oz Vanilla Spice Soap. ($25 value)
To enter the contest, leave a comment in the comments section below by 9 pm EST on Wednesday, January 2nd - be sure to include your name and email address (even if you have a Blogger profile). Or email me at spoiledpretty@gmail.com.
Disclaimer: some of you have entered the contest by leaving a comment, but did not include your email address or a name - as I instructed above. Because some names are very common, please include your full name (or first name and last initial) - so that when I announce a winner, I can be as specific as possible. Also any comment without an email address in it (I need it to get in touch with you, in the event that you win) will be declared ineligible. So when in doubt, enter by emailing spoiledpretty@gmail.com. Thank you.
A winner will be chosen at random from among the entrants. On Thursday, January 3rd, I’ll announce the winners’ names. Please, only one comment per person; duplicate comments will not increase your chances of winning. Contest is open to U.S. & Canadian residents. Good luck!
I was shocked when I came across this picture of a certain celeb. I'd never seen her without her signature red lips - let alone, barefaced. Can you guess her identity?
In 2003, Calvin Klein discontinued its line of minimalist makeup and skin care; and beauty junkies around the world mourned the products’ passing. But like a phoenix rising from the ashes, the Calvin Klein color cosmetics line is back – and better than ever.
"We wanted to link makeup back to fashion," said Kevin Carrigan, Creative Director of ck Calvin Klein beauty and apparel. In creating the 200 new products for Spring ’08 (including 27 foundations), the ck Calvin Klein team took inspiration from the runway and the way that color and texture were used in the collections; then they translated them for the face.
According to the website, "Fabrics are reinterpreted – black cashmere becomes a smudge of eyeliner, and slick patent is transformed into a sexy lip gloss." Moving forward, the collection’s direction will be guided by what's going on in fashion. Makeup artists will be called "stylists" - and, each season, they'll be looking at all the latest runway images for new ideas on how to apply the products.
The new beauty line, currently available in Europe and in select stores in the U.S., launches nationwide at Sephora in January.
