Cult of Pretty

Happy Monday!

Via: Stylist Magazine (UK)

The perfect blend.

Via: SNC

The only white lines you should do, kids.

Via: Antidote

So it’s not Friday, it’s Sunday, but since the next thing that’s happening to you is Monday morning … why not cheer things up with a massive $168 Benefit makeup drawer makeover #GIVEAWAY for Spring!

I had been searching tirelessly for a cream shadow to create a more subtle, everyday version of the glossy look in the editorial above, and I was thrilled when this pot o’ gold (or copper, smoke and nude, as the case may be) landed on my desk from Benefit in the form of their new way-expanded creaseless cream shadow line.

Benefit Creaseless Cream Shadow ($20) in Birthday Suit, My Two Cents, and Holy Smokes!; Benefit Longwear Powder Shadow ($20) in Nude Swings, Pinky Swear, and Thanks a Latte; and Benefit Ultra Plush Lip Gloss ($16) in Lollibop, Kiss You, and Outrageous.

The stunning collection of art-deco inspired newness also includes a whole new range of longwear powder shadow, and three sweet shades of their ultra plush lip gloss for Spring (in packaging that will freak you out with its chic charm), including the pale violet Kiss You.

You can win the complete selection shown above, valued at $168. Here’s how to enter:

1. Do ONE of the following…. follow Cult of Pretty on Bloglovin’ OR be follower of Cult of Pretty on tumblr OR subscribe via email.

2. Leave a DISQUS comment below [click through if you’re reading this in tumblr] and tell me your favorite urban site-seeing attraction in any city you like … tell me your tips, or look some up!  Be clever! (Benefit’s is the Golden Gate Bridge - the inspiration for this packaging range is the art deco design of that famous San Fran landmark).  My favorite is Sutton Place in NYC - where the sunrise scene in Woody Allen’s Manhattan was filmed (read/see what I mean here). Don’t comment in “Ask Me Anything” OR in the “FAN NOTE” area of tumblr <—- guys, click through please, leave a comment on the blog not inside tumblr!

3. You must be 18 or older to enter. (You can ask someone to enter on your behalf if you like, up to you, but the prize will be sent to their attention).

4. This giveaway is for U.S. residents only - due to contents and size we cannot ship this outside of the country.  Sorry!

Contest ends Sunday March 31, 2013 at 11.59pm Eastern.  If you subscribe or follow to enter, you must be subscribed or following at the time of the drawing. Multiple comments DO NOT increase your chances of winning but love ya. Winner is drawn at random.

Products c/o Benefit

Image via Vogue Spain

Electric blue + electric red backstage at Honor FW13 

And that’s a wrap for NYFW!  Thanks to Rachel Scroggins for trekking the city for me, she is my backstage hero …

Hair: Bumble + Bumble; Makeup Stila for Beauty.com

Image: The Greyest Ghost for Cult of Pretty

Definitely the most fun so far … Calla FW13

This feeling ^ … Let’s talk about it.

I wish I felt this way from partying but usually it’s more because a sick toddler slept in my bed or a deadline chained me to my desk. In any case the pain part is usually nothing Tylenol + coffee can’t cure … it’s the UGLY part that’s tough to beat.

I don’t really use eye drops, but these Rohto Cool Redness Relief drops were given to me in a gift bag by this guy and he said the first time’s freeee!! and I tried them because the packaging just looked so refreshing!

And guess what?  They ARE refreshing!  The cooling sensation really wakes you up and they leave your eyes looking sparkly white. It’s kind of like smoking a menthol with your eyeball - jk jk it’s not like that - unless you like menthols, in which case: exactly like it!

I feel like I always read about obscure European eye drops being in Celeb X Makeup Artist’s bag but I never really took note before - they really are a great beauty booster when you’re looking exhausted.

Does this: Refreshing, redness-reducing, sparklifying eye drops.  Also, oddly satisfying bottle design.
Is this: Rohto Cool Redness Relief
Get this: Above
Price: $6.79

Image via, product c/o Bollare

I recently came upon one of my cult favorite beauty boosters in a storage bag under my sink.

It’s highlighter - WAIT!  I know that’s so expected, but I’ve actually had a lot of issues with highlighters and I remember now why I love Dignity from Face Stockholm so much.

It’s slightly off-white, and the yellow really helps it blend into skin.  It’s also not overly concentrated with pigment or sparkle, which I appreciate in a highlighter, because it’s hard to overdo it.  There’s nothing worse than finishing up an eye look with a dab of highlighter in the inner corners and realizing you ruined everything with overly sparkly gunk.  This adds just the right amount of barely-visible glow and reflection to wake up your eyes.  I love it!

I finish evening looks with this, but I also use it when I’m wearing almost no makeup, almost like a concealer - just a touch.

Does this: Perfectly subtle and blendable highlighter - perfect for eye area
Is this: Face Stockholm Highlighter in Dignity
Get this: Above
Price: $25.00

Image via; makeup image via