They will receive a Fabreeze Noticeables Candle, comfy slippers, Olay Ribbons Body Wash and Olay Quench Body Lotion, a reusable bath caddy, and a year’s subscription to Allure.
Check back soon for the next Spoiled Pretty giveaway!
If you pick up the latest issue of Woman's World (Paula Deen is the cover girl) and turn to page 42...BAM! There I am!
Seriously, though...I am beyond flattered that the magazine asked me to participate in their You Deserve The Best column, which features product picks from "in-the-know experts."
Women's World asked me to name the best candles, and they included a quote about one of my faves from Yankee Candle. Click the image above to read why I love it so.
Here are some other luminaries that love:
Shampure Soy Wax Candle by Aveda: It might be a stretch to call Aveda’s Shampure Candle the best-smelling candle of all time, considering that I've only been on this earth to judge for 32 years. But I'm going to give it that title anyway because I dare someone to find me one more wonderfully fragrant. Its calming aroma of 25 pure flower and plant essences, which reminds me of a trip to the spa, helps me to unwind at the end of the day. This candle smells so good, I want to petition Aveda to create a body wash, lotion, perfume and deodorant in the same scent (they already have a Shampure shampoo and conditioner). It’s that good!
Godiva Home Fragrance Collection: Last year, Godiva unveiled a new way for chocoholics, like me, to get their fix. The Godiva Home Fragrance Collection included five scented candles (Milk Chocolate Truffle, Raspberry Ganache, White Chocolate Magnolia, Peppermint Bark, Black Almond Truffle) of deep chocolate-colored wax infused with cocoa butter. Unfortunately, these mouth-watering candles were limited-edition and they don't really sell them anymore...not really sure why, considering they are AMAZING! Anyway, I recently did some Internet sleuthing and located some at bathandbodyworks.com (they just sold out there, but you can also purchase at Amazon.com). They make the perfect holiday gift, so I snatched up a few - and I'm giving them to the wonderful teachers at Westley's daycare to thank them for taking such great care of my baby.
Bougie Candle: I recently discovered Bougie Candle, a wonderful collection of seven candles made with all natural soy wax that is free of any genetically modified materials, dyes, herbicides or pesticides. And because they are scented with essential oils, the candles provide aromatherapeutic benefits. My favorite is Nurture, a blend of vanilla and ylang ylang that has calming properties.
Do you have a favorite candle? I'm always on the hunt to try new things, so share your faves in the comments section below.
After a long hiatus, Spoiled Pretty is back on the giveaway train. This week, I'm partnering with P&G Beauty and Grooming and we're gifting five readers with The Winter Revitalizing Spa Kit. Available at WalMart, it's an affordable gift option for anyone on your list.
The Winter Revitalizing Spa Kit gives even the most hectic hostess some much needed holiday season R&R. Turn your home into a pampering paradise with a Fabreeze Noticeables Candle, comfy slippers, Olay Ribbons Body Wash and Olay Quench Body Lotion. Housed in a reusable bath caddy, the kit also comes with a special gift for you or the beauty fanatic in your life – a year’s subscription to Allure!
Enter to win by leaving a message in the comments section. Make sure to leave your email or another way for me to get in touch, just in case you get lucky!
Contest is open to U.S. residents. The giveaway ends at noon (EST) on Wednesday, December 22, 2010. Good luck!
I'm so excited to announce the winners of the Aveda Shampure Soy Wax Candle Giveaway because it's, literally, the best smelling candle ever. So without further ado, the lucky winners are Satvi and swankygirl.
Ladies, be sure to check your email because I'll need your real names and addresses to ship your prize. And please let me know how you like the candle, though I'm sure you'll agree with my rave review.
Many thanks to Aveda for sponsoring the giveaway - and for making such an ab fab candle, natch.
It might be a stretch to call the Shampure Candle the best-smelling candle of all time – considering, well, I've only been on this earth to judge for 31 years. But I'm going to give it that title anyway because I dare someone to find me one more wonderfully fragrant. I triple dog dare you.
This candle smells so good, I want to petition Aveda to create a body wash, lotion, perfume and hand cream in the same scent (they already have a Shampure shampoo and conditioner – which are on my "next to try" list).
The aroma of 25 pure flower and plant essences - including certified organic lavender, petitgrain and ylang ylang – soothes the senses. And the candle, housed in a 95% recycled glass holder, burns cleanly and completely for up to 50 hours.
I'm not content to enjoy this candle solo – so, in honor of Earth Day (April 22) and Natural Woman Week, I've teamed up with Aveda to share two with you!
Two winners will receive Aveda's Shampure Soy Wax Candle – and I dare them to tell my challenge my 'best-smelling candle of all time' theory.
To enter the giveaway, leave a message in the comments section; make sure to leave your email or another way for me to get in touch, just in case you get lucky. Contest is open to U.S. residents only. The giveaway ends at noon (EST) on Tuesday, April 27, 2010. Good luck!
I am way past due on my spring cleaning - and, as a result, my apartment looks like an episode of Hoarders: Buried Alive. But despite the clutter, it smells and feels like Clean House up in here, thanks to my Aveda Shampure Soy Wax Candle. Seriously, light the wick and you'll be amazed at how the fragrance instantly transforms a stifled space into a peaceful retreat.
I'm a connoisseur of candles and the Shampure Candle is one of my absolute favorites. Its calming aroma of 25 pure flower and plant essences - including certified organic lavender, petitgrain and ylang ylang - relaxes and soothes me at the end of a particularly hectic day. Even Mr. Spoiled Pretty raves about the scent.
At $30 for a 9.7 oz candle (which burns for 50 hours), this one is kinda pricey...but it smells so fantastic that I gladly buck up. On the upside, the Shampure Candle is refillable and refills will only set you back $19.
The only way I can see improving upon this candle is if Aveda were to sell it in bulk. Aveda, are you listening? I want to buy in bulk. One Shampure Candle is just not enough.
This morning, I appeared on the NBC 10! Show, to share my absolute favorite holiday beauty gift picks...
Godiva Home Fragrance Collection: Godiva Chocolatier unveils a new way to indulge in the sensorial decadence of its chocolate – the Godiva Home Fragrance Collection. These scented candles of deep chocolate-colored wax infused with cocoa butter are the brand’s first foray into the home fragrance category in its over 80 year history. These ready-to-gift candles are available in both travel and full sizes and the sumptuous scents are sure to please each and every chocolate connoisseur. The collection includes the following fragrances: Milk Chocolate Truffle, Raspberry Ganache, White Chocolate Magnolia, Peppermint Bark, Black Almond Truffle. The candles retail for $22.50 (Regular Candle 7 oz) and $12.50 (Travel Candle 4.4 oz) and are available at Neiman Marcus and Bath & Body Works.
Clarisonic Mia Skin Cleansing System: From the creators of the Sonicare toothbrush comes the Clarisonic Mia Skin Cleaning System, featuring a handy to-go sized version of the original, groundbreaking skin care Clarisonic Brush. The sonic frequency moves Clarisonic's soft, gentle brush back and forth at more than 300 times per second, thoroughly clearing pores and skin surface. The Clarisonic Mia removes makeup six times better than traditional methods, clears pores and reduces the appearance of pore size, cleanses so thoroughly that skincare products absorb better, creates noticeably healthier looking skin. The Clarisonic Mia Skin Cleansing System includes: Clarisonic Mia One Speed Brush, international charger for worldwide use, sensitive brush head, 1 oz Gentle Hydro Cleanser. The Clarisonic Mia costs $149 and is sold at Sephora and clarisonic.com.
Sephora Fragrance Samplers for Him and Her: These boxed ensembles are the perfect gift of fragrance when you're not sure which one to choose. The sets include samples of Sephora’s top-selling fragrances to try, a gift voucher that can be redeemed at any Sephora store for a full-sized bottle of any one of the samples included, and a fragrance guide. The Collector’s Edition Samplers are $75 and the Deluxe Samplers are $50.
Zoya Holiday Minicure Gift Set: This kit contains essentials for the perfect manicure, in the perfect miniature gift set: Zoya Remove+ (polish remover), Armor Top Coat, Anchor Base Coat, and Hurry Up Speed Dry Drops. This incredible value set ($15) is a perfect stocking stuffer, office gift or a personal treat.
Felix Rey Cosmetics Cases: How many makeup bags are so gorgeous that you could carry them as an evening clutch and be the chicest gal in the room? Not many…and I would wager that most of them come courtesy of Felix Rey, a sophisticated and ultra-feminine luxury brand of accessories founded by Lily Rafii Band and Sulaika Zarrouk. The cosmetics cases run the gamut in terms of size, style, print and price ($24-120) – so you’re sure to find the perfect present for that makeup-loving gal on your gift list. Leighton Meester, Hayden Panetierre, Hilary Duff, Penelope Cruz and Fergie are all fans of Felix Rey.
Bath & Body Works Lounge Shea Socks: These super-soft, ultra-pampering socks contain enough moisturizing shea butter to last up to 25 washes. The Lounge Shea Socks are available in 20 different colors/prints.
Members of the studio audience received a pair of the Bath & Body Works Lounge Shea Socks and nail polish from Zoya's Ultra Glitter winter collection. For faithful Spoiled Pretty readers, like you, I'm upping the beauty booty.
One lucky winner will receive: candles from the Godiva Home Fragrance Collection, Sephora Fragrance Samples for Him and Her, a Zoya Holiday Minicure Gift Set, Felix Rey Leopard Nylon Cosmetics Case (large), and Bath & Body Works shea socks!
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 "NBC 10 Holiday Beauty Giveaway." The contest ends at midnight (EST) on Monday, December 14th. One winner will be chosen at random from among the entrants. On Tuesday, December 15th, I'll announce the winner's name. Please, only one entry per person; duplicate entries will not increase your chances of winning. Contest is open to U.S. and Canadian residents.
I don't get out much. I spend much of my time sitting on my couch, blogging it up. So when I want to indulge myself, but I'm too lazy or exhausted to pamper myself with at-home spa treatments, I simply strike a match and light an aromatic candle.
As I type this, I'm inhaling the clean and soothing scent of Burn Voyage's Silver Springs Candle. With notes of fresh water, ozone accords, pine, alpine herbs, it's like there's a babbling brook running through my living room.
The petite candle packs a punch, burning for 35+ hours. Toss this little luxury in your luggage for a treat when you arrive at your destination. Or take a little trip just sitting on your sofa.
Light the wick and take a whiff…beeswax accord, essence of whipped cream, steamed rice, honey and cognac unite to lace your space with a warm and exotic perfume that defies description. This surprising marriage of fragrances is a breath of fresh air and a welcome alternative to the generic 'holiday' home fragrances that seem to be popping up on every shelf this time of year.
At $32, the 8 ounce candle costs a pretty penny. But it smells divine and burns for 50+ hours, so you can consider it money well-spent. If the price seems a somewhat steep, drop hints to your honey. On the other hand, if you've got cash to burn - take my advice and pick up a colony of these candles!
With the economy being what it is, a trip to the spa is a luxury that many cannot financially justify. But times are tough, and everone needs a little pampering to take the edge off. So draw yourself a bubble bath, light Aveda's Shampure Soy Wax Candle and let the tension melt away.
The calming aroma of 25 pure flower and plant essences—including certified organic lavender, petitgrain and ylang ylang—is one of the cleanest and most relaxing scents you've ever inhaled. And for $30 (around the same cost as a mani-pedi), you get a candle that burns cleanly for 50 hours.
For what seems like forever, I’ve heard beauty editors go on and on about Jo Malone. I had yet to hear someone find fault with the products, which I thought was a bit fishy. So I tried their new White Jasmine & Mint line to see if the brand merits all of the rave reviews. OMG. I am completely enamored with Jo – you don’t even know. The products absolutely deserve every accolade I’ve read and heard. They deserve more, in fact – thus my subsequent stellar appraisal.
Last fall, Jo Malone debuted White Jasmine & Mint Cologne – a fragrance “inspired by a tranquil moment in an English garden when the sun emerges, the dew gently lifts and the blossoms are at their most fragrant. Notes of just-picked white jasmine, chamomile, wild mint, rose and coriander are entwined in this lush combination.”
The quality of these products is beyond compare. If I were to search my mental lexicon and come up with a phrase that best describes Jo Malone, it would be sumptuous indulgence. And the fragrance…where do I begin? The White Jasmine & Mint scent is an elegant, crisp recipe that is decidedly feminine – womanly, not girly.
The White Jasmine & Mint Home Candle is without a doubt, the best candle I’ve ever smelled. Every night this week, I’ve lit the wick immediately upon returning home. It fills my apartment with the most enchanting aroma…I could wax poetic about it all day long. Once you drink in the scent of White Jasmine & Mint, you’ll be a convert too.
Last month at New York Fashion Week, while chillin’ on the steps at Bryant Park, I noticed a woman handing out bars of beautifully wrapped soap. So you know this beauty junkie made a beeline over there and snatched one up.
When I returned home, I took Nima Nyima’s Tibetan Safflower Citrus Soap for a test drive and it was love at first shower. Its creamy formula, a combination of Safflower oil and petals, softens skin and imparts a delicate floral-citrus fragrance. And the soap, itself, is super-cute.
These soaps are perfect for a guest bathroom. Or impress your friends by giving them this chic gift. But if you’ve only got one bathroom (like me), or you’re kinda stingy with your beauty goodies (me again), just buy a whole bunch for yourself. I won’t judge.
And while you’re at it, be sure to try Nima Nyima’s wonderfully perfumed, candles.
Like the soaps, they’re both functional and fragrant. Plus they’re blinged out with gemstones – which, besides being pretty, are also essential to the precious pills of Tibetan medicine.
Sometimes the easiest way to spoil yourself is to light a fragrant candle. My favorites are from Yankee Candle, the largest U.S. manufacturer of scented candles. Renowned for its true-to-life scents, the candle-making giant offers a wide assortment of fragrances and colors; so it’s a breeze to find a candle to match your décor and disposition.
My everyday favorites include Vanilla Lime and Lemon Lavender. For a festive fragrance, it doesn’t get any better than Christmas Wreath – it’s perfect for getting into the ho-ho-holiday spirit!
For $10 off your next purchase of $25 or more, click here. To request a scratch-and-sniff catalogue, follow this link.
Greetings from Spokane, Washington - where I am celebrating my first Thanksgiving away from home, with my hubby and in-laws. Thanksgiving is the ultimate celebration of family, friends, and food...and as a bonus, you get a day off from work, football is on TV three days early, and overindulgence is encouraged! Doesn't it seem unfair that it only lasts one day?
The following products simulate the scents of the season, and will have you giving thanks well into the new year.
Indulge your feet and your senses with The Body Shop's Cranberry Heatable Booties. To use, simply remove the cranberry-scented sachet and heat in the microwave for one minute.
Treat your lips to Philosophy's Kiss Me Lip Trio. There's a flavor for every kiss—Melting Chocolate Lip Shine for a decadent kiss, Cinnamon Buns Lip Shine for a sugary, sweet kiss, and Cranberry Lip Shine for a red, juicy kiss. Spread holiday cheer with these luscious high-gloss Lip Shines. Only at Sephora.
Love chocolate, but watching your waistline? Next time you get a craving, put down the M&M’s (my personal weakness) and pick up one of the following products. They’re sure to satisfy any chocoholic’s sweet tooth!
Bath & Body
Chocolate Milk Body Wash by Philip B is a playful and magical experience that revives the spirit of your inner child and lends a spiritual youth jolt! Nurturing and skin conditioning, the aromatic rich scent is a treat from your nose to your toes and makes you feel 100% delicious.
When times are rough, let nature’s original physical therapist, pure Cocoa Extract, reveal your softer self. Origins Cocoa Therapy Body-Buffing Scrub helps delete skin-dulling debris and excess impurities.
Prepare yourself for pampering with Spa Chocolate Gift Set by Not Soap, Radio - consisting of exfoliating sugared body polish, ultra-whipped cocoa butter body soufflé, and a purifying face mask all made with real cocoa, a dash of vanilla and a hint of nutmeg.
Dangerously alluring and passionately addictive, Comptoir Sud Pacifique’s Amour de Cacao offers a delicate and original alternative for vanilla lovers. With notes of unsweetened dark chocolate, vanilla, and bitter orange, this elegant confection lingers with a powdery exoticism.
Cosmetics
There's just nothing sexier than a juicy, plump, healthy, satin-smooth pucker. Keep your lips in kissable shape with Too Faced Beauty Balm, a seductive lip balm infused with lip loving essential oils. The Chocolate Bunny shade (a chocolate-scented nude) keeps lips soft and supple.
Sweet Beauty Lip Balms are formulated to moisturize, heal and protect, while pampering your lips with the delicious taste of chocolate. They are available in 5 degrees of chocolaty intensity.
If you're not eating chocolate, what's the next best thing? A Cocoa Bar that looks and smells like the real thing...but can hold all sorts of things for you. Slide cards or photos in between the individual "pieces" to hold them up or use it as a soap dish or a paperweight. The possibilities are endless...and if all else fails, you can always take an intoxicating whiff. Chocoholics won't be able to resist.
Laura Mercier Chocolate Truffle Candle diffuses a warm chocolate fragrance throughout the home. It blends top notes of almond with creamy espresso and a hint of Frangelico; the chocolate scent is warmed with a blend of vanilla, sweet maple and honey topped off with rose.
Shedonism votive candle - adds a lush and lavish feel to any room and makes it simple to spoil yourself silly; all natural essential oils, 100% vegetable wax, 100% cotton wick
I don't get out much. I spend much of my time sitting on my couch, blogging it up. So when I want to indulge myself, but I'm too lazy or exhausted to pamper myself with at-home spa treatments, I simply strike a match and light an aromatic candle.
The White Jasmine & Mint Home Candle is without a doubt, the best candle I’ve ever smelled. Every night this week, I’ve lit the wick immediately upon returning home. It fills my apartment with the most enchanting aroma…I could wax poetic about it all day long. Once you drink in the scent of White Jasmine & Mint, you’ll be a convert too.
And while you’re at it, be sure to try Nima Nyima’s wonderfully perfumed, candles.
