Winner of the Gillette Valentine's Day Giveaway

Congratulations to Julie Luhtala, winner of the Valentine's Day Giveaway, sponsored by Gillette. Julie has won "The Perfect Gentleman’s Guide" - which has everything your man needs to make Valentine’s Day a hit, including:

• $100 AMEX gift card to pay for the romantic dinner
• A heart-shaped box of chocolates to enjoy after
• Fresh + Clean Body Wash in two NEW scents, Arctic Ice and Cool Wave that provide freshness beyond the shower
• Gillette Odor Shield antiperspirant and deodorant provides odor protection in the most high pressure situations

Julie, please email me with your mailing address asap so that Gillette can make sure your prizes deliver on Monday.

Thanks to everyone who entered. For those of you who didn't win - make sure to enter my other Valentine's Day giveaway...and keep your eyes peeled for another giveaway which will be announced very soon.

Valentine's Day Giveaway Sponsored by Gillette!

Gillette has a treat for Spoiled Pretty readers with boyfriends/husbands who may need a push in the right direction when planning a romantic evening for Valentine’s Day.

Gillette knows exactly what women want for Valentine’s Day – a fresh smelling, clean shaven, well-groomed gentleman, armed with a box of chocolates and plans for a romantic night out. However, we all know some guys who are a little more clueless than Casanova.

That’s why Gillette Fresh + Clean is gifting one lucky reader with "The Perfect Gentleman's Guide to Valentine's Day" - complete with a prize pack to make any guy a valentine worth remembering. 

"The Perfect Gentleman’s Guide" has everything your man needs to make Valentine’s Day a hit, including:

• $100 AMEX gift card to pay for the romantic dinner
• A heart-shaped box of chocolates to enjoy after
• Fresh + Clean Body Wash in two NEW scents, Arctic Ice and Cool Wave that provide freshness beyond the shower
• Gillette Odor Shield antiperspirant and deodorant provides odor protection in the most high pressure situations

Enter to win by telling me about your worst Valentine's Day experience. Leave your 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 11 a.m. (EST) on Friday, February 11, 2011. Good luck!

Winners of the Gillette Venus Spa Breeze Giveaway!

Congrats to the following winners of the Gillette Venus Spa Breeze Giveaway:

Diane Baum
EDRing
Gamagoo
mediumcrazy
MrsAdorkable
Nikki J
Rai
Sarah D.
Shel
sksweeps

The Venus Spa Breeze features built-in "shave gel bars" with white tea scent, 3-blade for an ultra close shave, interchangeable blade refill cartridges, a shaving compact for in-shower refill storage, and a soft grip handle for no-slip control.

Many thanks to Gillette for spoiling these readers pretty.

Stay tuned for Spoiled Pretty's next giveaway announcement!

Gillette Venus Spa Breeze Giveaway!

When I meet a beauty product that blows my mind, there are – typically – two things that come to mind. First, I ask myself, "Self, how have you lived your life thus far without this product in your possession?" Secondly, I strategize, "How can I hook up my Spoiled Pretty peeps?"

This was exactly my thought process when I tried Venus Spa Breeze for the very first time, last week.

This new Venus incarnation has built-in shave gel bars infused with the clean, fresh scent of white tea to provide a light lather as you shave, eliminating the need for a separate shave cream. I have to admit that, as a fan of the Schick Intuition razor, I wasn’t immediately impressed when I saw Venus Spa Breeze's tiny little 'shave gel bars.' My pregnancy hormones have sent my hair follicles into overdrive, and I was very skeptical that there was enough gel to handle one leg – let alone all of my hairy situations.

But the Venus Spa Breeze pleasantly surprised me. First of all, I'm going to go on record as saying that my armpits have never been so bald, smooth and moisturized, post-shave, than after using the Venus Spa Breeze. And the razor delivered such a close shave that I didn't have any stubble the next day! Lastly, the shave gel bars that I originally dismissed just kept going…and going…and going. They lasted through many a shave session and the triple blades stayed razor sharp.

I'm so impressed with Gillette that I'm partnering with them for a giveaway! Ten lucky winners will receive the Venus Spa Breeze, which includes 1 Venus Spa Breeze Razor, 2 refill cartridges, and 1 Shaving Compact. With warmer weather almost upon us, think how much this razor will come in handy. No more fussing with shaving cream…no more rust rings on the side of your tub…and no more buying those stupid mini cans of shave gel for vacations. Venus Spa Breeze is all you need.

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 Monday, March 22, 2010. Good luck!

Venus Razor Giveaway Winner

Congrats to Casie Starr, winner of the Venus Razor Giveaway. Casie has won:

* Venus Embrace and Embrace replacement blades
* Gillette Satin Care Lavender Kiss Shave Gel
* Olay Touch of Sun Quench Plus
* Fedora hat with changeable black ribbon around the brim
* Colorful oversized beach towel
* Mara Hoffman bikini

Big thanks to Gillette for sponsoring this giveaway. Casie is one lucky gal.

All of you ladies who were hoping to read your name in this post, don't get discouraged. Check out the other contests that are currently running.

Have a great weekend, y'all!

Happy Birthday, Bikini: Venus Razor Giveaway

It’s hard to believe, but this month marks the 60th anniversary of the bikini in America. When the first bikini was launched, it caused an explosion on the fashion scene, and through the years that little piece of fabric has gone through quite an evolution in length, fabrics, colors and cuts. Today, the bikini is a defining force in summer style.

When it comes to donning a bikini, confidence is key...and, smooth skin can help. According to a recent survey, almost 75% of women said that they felt more confident after shaving. Research also shows that shaving makes women feel more feminine, polished and beautiful.

So, before slipping on that swimsuit, be sure to get your south of the border in order with Venus Embrace. The first five blade razor for women, Venus Embrace has a ribbon of moisture and hugs every curve for a close shave and dramatically smooth skin.

To help celebrate the bikini’s birthday, Spoiled Pretty is partnering with Venus for a giveaway. One lucky reader will win:

* Venus Embrace and Embrace replacement blades
* Gillette Satin Care Lavender Kiss Shave Gel
* Olay Touch of Sun Quench Plus
* Fedora hat with changeable black ribbon around the brim
* Colorful oversized beach towel
* Mara Hoffman bikini

This giveaway's approximate retail value is $250!

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 "Bikini Birthday Giveaway." The contest ends at midnight (EST) on Wednesday, August 5. One winner will be chosen at random from among the entrants. On Thursday, August 6th, 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. residents.

Good luck!

Bumpy Ride: A Long Journey To Rid My Legs Of Hair Bumps

Since I hit puberty, I've been cursed with hair bumps on my legs. Because the hair on my legs is coarse and grows in a curly pattern, sometimes as the hair grows out, it curls back under the skin into the same follicle. And because the hair is trapped under the skin, even after I shave, I still have many unsightly ingrown hairs.

The condition isn't physically painful, like razor bumps; but it is emotionally painful, as I've spent many years hiding this condition beneath long skirts and pants - even during the dog days of summer.

For half of my life, I've had a serious case of leg envy. Every time I see a woman with silky smooth gams, I selfishly hope that she silently suffers from stretch marks, bacne or some other embarrassing ailment that isn't apparently obvious. It just isn't fair!

I've tried a million and one products and techniques to solve the problem...and while I've yet to discover a panacea, I have found a temporary solution.

To keep hair bumps to a minimum, here are my shaving suggestions:

1) Don't start shaving as soon as you get into the shower/bath; allow the steam and warm water to soften the skin and hair.

2) Next, exfoliate (like all get out) with a scrub that won't irritate skin. Right now, I'm enamored with LaLicious Coconut Cream Sugar Soufflé Scrub, an all-natural sugar scrub made with coconut oil that absorbs quickly and easily into skin, leaving it moisturized and protected without feeling greasy. Pure cane sugar crystals buff away dead skin cells while sweet almond and vitamin-e oils condition, moisturize, and smooth you to perfection. And it smells amazing; if heaven has a tropical all-inclusive resort, this is probably what it smells like. By exfoliating, you will release the ingrown hairs that are trapped beneath the skin.

3) Slather your legs with an ultra-hydrating shave cream; I'm a fan of eos Shave Cream, which is so moisturizing, you can shave wet or dry (though I recommend wet). Then shave with a new or relatively new razor; the sharper, the better. Gillette's Venus Embrace razor takes shaving to a whole new level of smoothness with 5 blades that deliver a dramatically close shave.

4) Finally, when you emerge from the bath/shower, don't towel off completely. While your legs are still a smidge wet, slather on lotion or body butter. Palmer's Cocoa Butter Formula Lotion is an excellent choice because it heals, softens, and tones - plus an 8.5 oz bottle costs less than $5!

Even if you don't have issues with ingrown hairs (I hate you...just kidding...okay, not really), you can benefit from my bumpy journey to smooth stems. The above routine is highly recommended for achieving your closest shave ever.

DIY Spa Tips and Beauty Picks From Bobbie Thomas

Has the economy caused your relaxation and pampering to take a backseat? Beauty and style guru Bobbie Thomas gives tips on how to create a 'spa-tacular' sanctuary right in your home by using items that are inexpensive or found at your local drugstore. From lightly scented candles to homemade foot scrub, make an appointment to indulge your senses and to pamper yourself without putting a hole in your wallet.

I asked Bobbie to share her top five at-home pampering product recommendations, and she gladly dished the deets (just for Spoiled Pretty readers!):

Essence of Beauty Soy Lotion Candles ($9.99)
A luxe little secret! These soy lotion candles not only smell delish, but actually melt down to offer you a warm body indulgence. Burn for approximately 30 mins, and the special formulation can be used as a massage oil or body crème!

Venus Spa Breeze Razor ($11.99)
Transform your shaving routine into a treat! The Venus Spa Breeze is another scent-sational favorite of mine because it features flexible shave gel bars infused with the clean, fresh scent of white tea. With no shaving cream or soap needed, just add water to indulge your senses! You (and your legs) will feel beautiful and refreshed with a close, smooth shave, and lovely scent that lingers.

Aegean Apparel's Shower Wraps ($38.99)
My must-have in the summer (and fall!) No need to overheat in a heavy robe. Blow-dry your hair or lounge by the pool in these one-size-fits-all towels-to-go.

John Frieda Frizz-Ease Overnight Repair Serum ($8.99)
Give bed head a whole new meaning! You can mend your mane without leaving residue on your pillow. Literally get your beauty sleep and wake up to silky smooth tresses.

White Pearl Teeth Whitening Pen ($19.95)
Another nighttime tool I love! So easy, brush on and smile for 30 seconds before bed. Then let the solution work its magic while you dream and brighten your smile before the break of dawn.

Click here for more of Bobbie's fabulous tips and product picks for summer!