Cult of Pretty

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

Pssst I swear I exist.  I’ve been traveling like a maniac but I’m back to share with you what’s been in my bag, along with a 200lb laptop and a bunch o business cards -> the new Maybelline Color Whisper lip … lip … I don’t even know what to call it.

I’m a constant applier of all things tinted lip balm ish, but this is a little bit more than that - it has the creamy feel of a lipstick but the sheer look of a tinted balm.

When I had the opportunity to pick these up c/o Maybelline, I couldn’t stop myself from buying the hot pink Faint for Fuchsia, but obviously hedged my bets like the lame adult I am and also bought the shade literally called One Size Fits Pearl. 

That was not necessary. I was so pleasantly surprised when the pink turned out to be completely wearable - it’s like that bright matte pink you’re dying to wear with a grey t-shirt, jeans and Ray-Bans, like you’re some kind of retro downtown Nicki Minaj … but it’s really just the idea of that and not the (potentially so wrong) reality. It’s toned down and shined up just enough to not cause your man/woman, your boss, or your reflection to wonder where the real you went.

The sheer pearl is the easiest thing on earth - I use it on days that start with my favorite lip stain, to moisturize and create dimension. 

My advice -> look at the shades in the tube, pick the lipstick shade you always wanted to wear but didn’t dare, and buy it - because what this actually is … is the wearable version of it.  Trust.

Does this: Lipstick, but not, yet more lipsticky than a tinted balm
Is this: Maybelline Color Whisper
Get this: Your local drugstore or Drugstore.com
Price: About $7.50

Maybelline New York’s Color Whisper™ by Color Sensational® empowers you to make a statement in soft, sexy sheer color. Because sometimes a whisper says more than a shout. Dare to whisper for a chance to win fab prizes: http://www.maybelline.com/colorwhisper.aspx

Disclosure: Compensation was provided by Maybelline via Glam Media.  The opinions expressed herein are those of the author and are not indicative of the opinions or positions of Maybelline.

Silver lining

Image: Zhang Jingna

Should I just move to Spain?  Everything in Vogue Spain is perfection to me (see my style blog Lady, where every other inspiration is from the pages of … )

Image: like I said

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

Matte red is retro delicious ... backstage at Badgley Mischka FW13

Hair: Moroccanoil; Makeup: M.A.C.; Nails: Deborah Lippmann

Image: The Greyest Ghost for Cult of Pretty

Killer look … backstage at The Blonds FW13

A little Jack backstage at The Blonds FW13

Hair: Tigi Catwalk; Makeup M.A.C.; Nails: CND

Image: The Greyest Ghost for Cult of Pretty