Cult of Pretty

It’s #giveaway Friday!  Or #getaway Friday, if you win it!

I have long been a fan of Stephanie Johnson’s incredibly chic and useful travel bags - I have a bunch of her pouches in my bag for personal items and biz cards, and recently I was lucky enough to receive the Jenny Train Case in Napa.

This raffia and patent friend is perfect for anything from weekend travel and overnight biz trips to actual vaycays (what are those? I forget).  The big section in the front is great for palettes and loose items; the little zip pouch is ideal for brushes and to throw in your bag for the evening; and the back zippered section is where I put all my shampoo and such.

You can win this $70 bag and jet off somewhere awesome - or just get your stuff super organized under your bathroom sink - just follow the below!

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, if you were stuck on a deserted island with only your Stephanie Johnson bag and 3 beauty items, what would they be? {Assume you also have food and water!}. Mine would be … Eve Lom cleanser, Rosebud Salve, and Neutrogena sunscreen!  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.

Contest ends Friday May 10, 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 Stephanie Johnson

Image via Vogue Italia

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

It’s GIVEAWAY Friday!  Finally - it’s been a while! Today I’m giving away $112 worth of natural(ly amazing) hair & body products from famed stylist Janet Waddell.

So obviously around here I’m a big supporter of woman-founded companies - so many cult beauty brands fall under that header - and I recently discovered the site Plum Alley, which offers awesome deals on products from companies founded by women - from jewelry to housewares to art to beauty and beyond. (Sign up here to get these gems in your inbox).

The UK-born, NYC-based hairstylist and product creator extraordinaire Janet Waddell is featured on the site right now.  She crafted a hair and body product line with the cultish potion called emu oil, used by Australian Aborigines for over 2000 years and known for it’s soothing, healing attributes.

Gorgeous Shampoo 6 oz | Flawless Conditioner 6 oz | Genius Hair Balm 4 oz | Beyond Body Lotion 8 oz 

Each is paraben free and contains 100% natural and botanical ingredients.  Her philosophy? “I wanted to make products that actually made a difference…” These definitely do - the shampoo formula is especially unique, like a fluffy rich creamsicle … you kind of have to experience it to understand it!

You can win the complete collection valued at $112.

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 current female idol - whoever inspires you to pursue your dreams - and why!  Can be a celebrity, businesswoman, your mom, whatever!  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 Friday March 22, 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 Janet Waddell & Plum Alley

Image via Trendhunter

And the giveaway love continues! For me, the holidays have several distinct stages … eating … family snuggling … sentimental movie watching … and then right before the New Year, a thorough cleansing and refreshing of cabinet, hair, skin, self etc.  I like to kick things off with a fresh start.

The folks at DDF thoughtfully sent me two beautifully wrapped Revolve 400x Micro-Polishing Systems - one for me to try and one for a friend. But since my whole beauty jam *revolves* around you all, of course that lucky friend is going to be ONE OF YOU.

The DDF 400X Revolve Micro-Polishing System offers gentle cleansing that’s 8x more effective than a scrub alone.  It comes with self-warming polishing crystals and both a cleansing brush and a soft polishing pad (which I really liked for applying the scrub).  It’s small and battery operated, which I think is a major plus for travel when you simply aren’t going to lug a charger around.

It’s valued at $98 and you can win it by entering as follows:

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, what’s your favorite holiday ritual?  Watching Love Actually?  Egg nog by the fire?  Taking a walk after an early dinner?  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).

Contest ends next Friday December 28, 2012 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.

Good luck!  And click here to enter all the current giveaways!

Image: Via TFS

Hello! The giveaway madness here on Cult of Pretty starts today and will run through January 17th so get psyched! You guys deserve it! 

Kicking it off today with this awesome little kit from Benefit. Primping with the Stars couldn’t be a better “best of” my cult faves if I curated it myself … In addition to the cult classics, the set contains some new additions that topped my list this year: Stay Don’t Stray is the concealing love of my life, They’re Real is at the top of my mascara list and on my lashes as I type, and the POREfessional is my preferred primer on those days when my pores are … more.

Set contains: 0.08 oz Stay Don’t Stray Stay-Put Primer; 0.12 oz Some Kind-A-Gorgeous Foundation in Medium; 0.13 oz Benetint Rose-Tinted Lip & Cheek Stain; 0.25 oz The Porefessional Pro Balm; 0.25 oz Girl Meets Pearl Liquid Pearl for Face; 0.1 oz They’re Real! Beyond Mascara in Black

To enter to win this treasure trove of mini gems valued at $32:

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, if you could primp for a holiday party with one star, who would it be (future or past).  I guess I’d choose Kate Moss - she seems like she’d be fun to get ready with, I picture champagne and some good British rock happening … and maybe she’d let me borrow some clothes?  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).

Contest ends next Friday December 28, 2012 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.

Good luck!

If the runway is any indication, Spring 13 is going to be a wet one. Hair-wise. 

But if you’re not that slick (har), your hair can still bask in the glory of the cult product used to create 98% of the amazing sleek looks we saw this season.  It’s called Kérastase Elixir - and you can win all four versions, worth over $200.

CONTEST OVER THANKS FOR PLAYING

These four gems contain light, yet rich and versatile oils that can be used as a pre-shampoo treatment, leave-in conditioner, blow dry treatment, shine serum, or poolside protector.  From left to right, we have the pink Imperial formula, offering protection for color-treated hair; the purple Rose Millennium formula which provides lightweight shine and conditioned for fine and sensitive hair; the green Moringa Immortel for damaged hair; and classic Ultime, ultra rich and for all hair types.

Did I mention they smell amazing?  Obviously.  If you’ve been afraid of hair oils or grossed out by serums, I highly recommend upgrading to the formula that’s right for you (mine is the purple).

To enter to win the complete collection for you and your friends:

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, are you the type to carry an umbrella every day or the type who always forgets (I’m the latter - I shudder to think how much $ I’ve wasted on those terrible umbrellas you buy on the street). Oh, and if you have a cute umbrella please describe : ) 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).

Contest ends next Friday October 5th, 2012 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.

Image: Fashion Gone Rogue

It’s giveaway day! 

So: the summer was pretty rough on my hair, between blow drying and curling on the daily (which is not the norm for me, but I had extensions and you kind of have to work them) … and a lot of sun/salt/pool action. I was definitely in need of a shearing and was willing to let go of length in order to give my hair a fresh start on the road to recovery.

I was extremely lucky to have Paul Labrecque do the honors. He and his team are about simple, sexy, sophisticated - which is really all I can hope for in life.  My hair cannot do extravagant, lush, Kardashian … I just don’t have enough of it.  Paul’s approach was so straightforward and without pretense.  When I asked him about vitamins, volumizers and such for my ultra fine hair, he told it to me straight: “You have the baby hair gene. It is what it is!” and then proceeded to color in dimension and cut it to a chic crop just below the shoulders which I’ve been wearing much like the above.  Thank you Paul!  I love it <3

And now we begin the road to healthy hair recovery (and winnings):

Paul’s Repair line is a 4-step system for dry, damaged and over processed hair.  The complete set includes: Repair Shampoo Restorative Hair Wash, Condition Lemongrass Hair & Scalp Treatment, Style Hydrating Hair Lotion and Finish Grooming Control Cream. It retails for $112.

To enter to win:

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, are you a long, short or mid hair kinda gal and would you ever switch it up? {P.S. my husband gets a truly terrified look when I talk about short hair, but whenever I just go ahead and get a shorter cut he likes it … what is that about?}  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).

Contest ends next Friday August 31, 2012 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.

Image: Fashion Gone Rogue

It’s giveaway time!

As you can probably tell, I’m pretty lax about my skincare requirements when it comes to ingredients - but sometimes - like when I look out the window and see some pouring rai-ain - I just want to feel - rather, I want someone else to make me feel - please make me feel … LIKE. A. NATURAL. woman.

One of my favorite things about truly all natural skincare is the use of pure essential oils, because they take you to that beautiful, fresh expensive spa facial place in your mind. I hope you know what I mean!  If not, here’s how you can go there. Mentally.

Tata Harper created an all-natural and non-toxic luxury skincare line that harnesses what she calls “100% natural technology.” She manufactures on a farm in Vermont and sells at Space NK and other upscale locales.

The scent of the products is derived from flowers (and is thus amazing) … and the anti-aging efficacy is real - I’ve been using the Rejuvenating Serum ($150) and I love it.  I have oily skin, but I need hydration too - I love that this is super-light yet rich at the same time, without having the gross silicone feel of most serums.  It just feels pure.

Today you can win her Deluxe Beauty Set of 8 minis including the Rejuventating Serum, Reparative Moisturizer, Refreshing Cleanser, Resurfacing Mask, and Rebuilding Moisturizer plus 2 other tiny mystery items.  (Similar to this $65 set, but all sample sizes).

To enter to win:

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, what is your favorite flower and DROP A LINK TO A PICTURE OF IT!  For me it’s RANUNCULUS (<- look at it, it’s so pretty!). 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).

Contest ends next Friday August 24, 2012 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.

Image: Scoop Models