LaLicious Sugar Kiss Moisturizing Body Scrub Giveaway!

LovingEco is a new members-only shopping site that offers unsurpassed and innovative eco-friendly products at exclusive price points (up to 70% off retail), without compromising style. By working closely with the top brands, they bring you amazing discounts through private sales. LovingEco recognizes that people will continue to consume, but as we change our purchases to products that are better for the environment, healthier for our bodies and committed to doing good, we together will help change the world.

For each purchase, LovingEco donates 3% of its net proceeds to a social or environmental cause. For founders Justine Lassoff and Melinda Moor, an important goal in founding the site was to give back and to create a sustainable way to raise critical funds for non-profit organizations that are fostering important change for our community and our world.

Not only does LovingEco believe in giving back, they also believe in giving away. This week, they’re giving away LaLicious Sugar Kiss Souffle Moisturizing Body Scrub! This highly moisturizing, all-natural body exfoliator combines notes of Vanilla, Citrus and Rose. Before you get out of the shower, scrub all over your body and rinse with warm water. Skin is left soft, smooth and moisturized.

To enter, follow me on Twitter (I'm @spoiledpretty), then tweet this message:

Follow @spoiledpretty and @loving_eco & RT to win a LaLicious Sugar Kiss Moisturizing Body Scrub! http://bit.ly/kdqnaC #giveaway #contest

The deadline is Friday, June 24 at 5pm ET. I'll choose FIVE winners - and will DM them to contact me with their mailing address. Contest is open to U.S. residents only. Good luck!

Closest Shave Ever

Pregnancy hormones have sent my hair follicles into overdrive. It's gotten to the point where I've got a 5 o'clock shadow on my legs at, like, 2pm. And thanks to the ungodly heat and humidity in Philly right now, hiding my grizzly gams under long pants isn't exactly appealing...especially considering that I'm having one long hot flash right now.

So I recently got reacquainted with my favorite scrub - KP Duty by DERMAdoctor - and it gave me the closest shave ever. Yeah, using it adds an extra few minutes to your shower routine. But it exfoliates so well that it allows your razor to cut super close so that you can go longer between shaves - which is great for me because:

a) no one actually enjoys shaving and

b) in my current condition, the act of shaving my legs is like pregnant Cirque du Soleil.

Oh, and you won't be able to stop petting your legs because they'll be ridiculously smooth. I know I've said it before, but it bears repeating. KP Duty Body Scrub runs circles around that scrub you've got sitting on the edge of your tub.

H&M To Launch Bath & Body Line!

H&M, the international fashion retailer known for offering fashion-forward apparel and quality basics, just announced its first ever range of skincare with certified organic ingredients.

Debuting in stores at the beginning of March, the range of everyday essentials includes shower gel, body scrub, body lotion, hand cream and lip balm, all of which are based on natural and organic ingredients and are certified by Ecocert (Europe's biggest certification body for organic and natural cosmetics). The products are available in the fragrance combinations of raspberry and melon or lavender and mint, and are accompanied by make-up and toiletry bags made from organic cotton.

"It felt like a natural step, since we've worked with organic cotton garments for a few seasons now. There's also a strong demand from our customers for organics, and I hope they will be as excited as I am about the new products," says Ann-Sofie Johansson, H&M's head of design.

Shower gel contains the juice of organic apples, while organic apple juice and apricot seeds are key ingredients in the body scrub. Organic apple juice and oils from sunflower seeds make up an essential part of the body lotion, while the hand cream has organic apple juice and oils from organic almond seeds. The lip balm has the key organic ingredients of jojoba and beeswax, and all of the products are scented with natural perfumes derived from essential oils, sold in recyclable packaging.

Prices range from $4.95 to $7.95:

Shower Gel $4.95

Body Lotion $4.95

Body Scrub $4.95

Hand Cream $4.95

Lip Balm $4.95

Toiletry Bag $7.95

Makeup Bag $4.95

DERMAdoctor Giveaway Winner Writes Back!

Suri, winner of the DERMAdoctor giveaway, just wrote back to rave about the DERMAdoctor KP Duty Body Scrub she won as a prize:

Hey Daneen. It's Suri, the winner of the DERMAdoctor. Just wanted to let you know I received it and tried it last night on my upper arms where I have KP. Amazing! My skin was sooo soft and the texture already started feeling smoother. I'm so happy I got a chance to try this. Thanks!!

Stay tuned for the next Spoiled Pretty giveaway. The next contest is just around the corner.

Once You Go MAC Style Black, You Never Go Back

Haven't you heard? Black is the new black.

For the past six months, I was anxiously counting down the days until September 24th. Not because it was my birthday, but because I had insider information that MAC was re-releasing its Volcanic Ash Exfoliator as part of the Style Black Collection. If you're a Spoiled Pretty regular, you've probably heard me mention it once or twice...or, possibly, a million times. That's how much I adore this scrub.

I’ve tested an excessive amount of exfoliants, so it takes a serious scrub to even get my attention...and the Volcanic Ash Exfoliator is, hands down, the best EVER. Yes, I said ever - as in since primordial soup 'til today.

Originally released as part of MAC's Future Earth collection last summer, it became a cult classic. Those who missed out were singing the shoulda woulda coulda's. And those who got a taste were wishing they could jump in a DeLorean, rev up the Flux Capacitor and go back to June 2008 and snag a lifetime supply. I fell into the second category, rationing my Volcanic Ash Exfoliator like it was a bag of beans on a season of Survivor.

Now that MAC has answered my prayers (and even packaged it in a convenient tube), I've stocked up and I suggest you do the same. It's already sold out on maccosmetics.com, so I suggest you do your best Sherlock Holmes impression and sleuth that sh*t out (hint: Macys.com and Nordstrom.com still have it in stock).

And don't just buy one lonely tube. Ah, naw. by the time you buy one, try it, and realize you can't live without it, exfoliating fools will have wiped out the supply. So just trust me on this one, act like you're at Costco, and buy in bulk.

The Style Black collection also includes these other gems:

Volcanic Ash Thermal Mask, $19.50
Formulated with volcanic ash and natural oils, this ash-black facial mask simultaneously deep-cleanses and treats the skin. When water is added, the mask heats up and the oils instantly lubricate the skin, leaving it feeling soft and clean. Helps keep skin moist, clean, soft and evenly textured.

Mineralize Eye Shadow, $19.50
Cinderfella: Mineralize black with silver pearl (frost)
Gilt By Association: Mineralize black with gold bronze pearl (frost)
Blue Flame: Mineralize black with blue pearl (frost)
Young Punk: Mineralize black with pinkish purple pearl (frost)

Cream Colour Base, $16.50
Black: Creamy true black
Bat Black: Blackened burgundy with pink pearl

Penultimate Eye Liner, $16.50
Rapidblack: True black

Greasepaint Stick, $17.50
Intense black

Eye Kohl, $14.50
Smolder: Intense black

Cremesheen Lipstick, $14
Black Knight: Creamy true black

Mattene Lipstick, $14.50
Night Violet: Deep purple grape
Midnight Media: Dense matte black

Glimmerglass Lip Gloss, $18
Bling Black: Sheer black with gold pearl (as seen at NYFW Fall 2009)
Blackfire: Sheer black with pinkish purple pearl
Blackware: Creamy true black

Nail Lacquer, $12
Seriously Hip: Black with gold particle pearl
Baby Goth Girl: Black with pinkish purple pearl
Nocturnelle: Black as night black

214 Short Shader Brush, $23


The Style Black collection is now available at MAC counters, stores and maccosmetics.com.

Winners of the DERMAdoctor Giveaway

Congrats to Suriyati Barnes and Faith Perfecto, winners of the DERMAdoctor giveaway. These ladies have won the best body scrub ever, DERMAdoctor's KP Duty Body Scrub. This amazing exfoliator acts as a chemical peel and microdermabrasion session in one - leaving skin resurfaced, retexturized, soft, smooth and radiant. I am 100% confident that Suriyati and Faith will love it as much as I do!

Many thanks to DERMAdoctor for spoiling these readers pretty. Stay tuned for your next chance to win. The contest I have cooked up for later this week is hot like fiya!

Until then...

DERMAdoctor Giveaway

Remember the DERMAdoctor KP Duty Body Scrub I told you I can't live without? Well, I don't want you to exist without it either. Which is why I am partnering with DERMAdoctor for a giveaway! We're hooking up two lucky winners with the BEST SCRUB EVA!

Up for grabs are two 16 oz tubs of this amazing body exfoliator. It acts as a chemical peel and microdermabrasion session in one - leaving skin resurfaced, retexturized, soft, smooth and radiant.

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 "DERMAdoctor Giveaway." The contest ends at midnight (EST) on Sunday, August 30th. Two winners will be chosen at random from among the entrants. On Monday, August 31st, I'll announce the winners' names. Please, only one entry per person; duplicate entries will not increase your chances of winning. Contest is open to U.S. residents.

Good luck!

Best Body Scrub Since Ever!

There really aren't enough superlatives in the English language to adequately describe how I feel about DERMAdoctor's KP Duty Body Scrub. It has got to be the best body scrub ever...and I dare someone to prove me wrong. After using it, my skin rivaled my pal Julia's; which, if you met her, would convince you to go out an buy KP Duty this very second.

KP Duty is a dual-action chemical and physical exfoliator that blends the best of a chemical peel and microdermabrasion into a single, easy-to-use treatment. Dermatologist-recommended chemical exfoliants dissolve the glue that cements epidermal cells together, while non-abrasive synthetic beads lift away dead skin cells without inflicting trauma to the epidermis. So, in layman's terms,this product runs circles around that scrub you've got sitting on the edge of your tub.

To use, apply a small amount of the scrub to dry skin and gently massage it in with your fingertips. Rinse, pat dry, and marvel at the smoothness. You won't believe that the skin you're touching actually belongs to you.

I'm an exfoliating fool, so when I say KP Duty is the best I've ever tried and you NEED to try it too, you know this is sage advice. I really can't say enough wonderful things about this scrub. It's one of those rare beauty products that comes along once in a blue moon and blows you away. Use it on arms to reveal skin you never knew was underneath there. Use it on legs for the closest shave you've ever had. Use it all over to remind your man why he got with you in the first place.

Quite simply, it's life changing.

DERMAdoctor KP Duty is available at Sephora and dermadoctor.com.

*This product is not intended for use on the face or for those with sensitive skin. But it works wonders for those of you who suffer from dry skin and/or keratosis pilaris (a common skin disorder typified by "chicken skin" or bumpiness on the surface of the skin).

MAC Paints It Black For My Birthday

I don't usually enjoy knowing what I'm getting for my birthday. But I think I'll be able to find it in my heart to forgive MAC for opening its lipglass lacquered trap a few months early.

Turns out that the highly-anticipated Style Black collection will be released on my birthday. What makes this such a treat is that the collection will resurrect my favorite scrub of all time...like a phoenix rising from the ashes!

Since last spring's limited edition Future Earth collection, I've been rationing my Volcanic Ash Exfoliator like it was a bag of beans on a season of Survivor. With no idea that MAC had intentions of bringing this beauty gem back from the dead, I've been reserving this primorial soup-esque scrub for special occasions. But now that I know I can stock up come September (you've never seen hoarding like the kind I'm gonna do this fall), I'm gonna indulge in a little Volcanic Ash scrub-a-dub on a weekly basis.

Mark your calendars for September 24th, when these babies hit real and virtual shelves. Take it from me...you definitely don't wanna play the 'shoulda woulda coulda' game with this holy grail scrub.

The Style Black collection also includes:

Lipstick ($14)
Black Knight: Creamy true black (Cremesheen)

Mattene ($14.50)
Midnight Media: Dense matte black
Night Violet: Deep purple grape

Glimmerglass ($18)
Bling Black: Sheer black with gold pearl
Blackfire: Sheer black with pink purple pearl
Blackware: Creamy true black

Mineralize Eye Shadows ($19)
Cinderfella: Black with silver pearl
Young Punk: Black with pink purple pearl
Gilt by Association: Black with gold bronze pearl
Blue Flame: Black with blue pearl

Grease Paintstick ($17.50)
Black: Intense black

Penultimate Liner ($16.50)
Rapidblack: True black

Eye Kohl ($14.50)
Smolder: Intense black

Cream Colour Base ($16.50)
Black: Creamy true black
Bat Black: Burgundy black with pink pearl

Nail Lacquer ($11)
Nocturnelle: True black (cream)
Seriously Hip: Black with gold particle pearl (frost)
Baby Goth Girl: Black with pink and purple pearl (frost)

#214 Short Shader Brush ($23)
Short, rounded, double-chiseled brush with soft, natural bristles. Can be used with shadow to line and smudge around the lash line and very effective for densely shading lids.

Volcanic Ash Thermal Mask ($19.50)
Heats when mixed with water to remove impurities from skin.

Remember my sneak peek of Bling Black Glimmerglass at Donna Karan, Fall 2009?

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.

Soap & Glory Spa Sugar Crush Body Scrub

My friends at College Candy just tipped me off to a product I'll find a way to justify blowing some of my rent money on - Soap & Glory Spa Sugar Crush Body Scrub.

Out of all the scrubs we’ve tried, this one definitely takes the cake. It smells absolutely divine — so sweet, yet somehow not cloying. And our skin is left feeling so silky smooth without even a hint of dryness or ashy-ness. What could be better?

Check out the other beauty must-haves they've become completely enamored with in recent weeks.

My Favorite Skin Care Products EVER: Amala

It's really difficult to admit this, but I used to be very dismissive of natural and organic beauty products - particularly skin care. I used to believe that I needed to patronize products with harsh chemicals to get my problem skin to act like it had some sense. In fact, I would often joke that I didn't care what damage a product did to my insides, as long as my outsides were looking good.

But I've done a complete 180 since discovering Amala, a luxurious collection of skin care and body care products with 100% natural formulas.

Earlier this month, I began testing Amala's new Purify line - for Earth Day editorial consideration. Purify is a collection of products formulated for oily and acnegenic skin types. The products help control excess oil and shine, clear clogged pores, and prevent and heal blemishes and blackheads with treatments inspired by the healing plants and flowers of Eastern Asia.

So for three weeks, I've been religiously using the Purifying Gel Cleanser, Purifying Face Polish, Purifying Toner, and Purifying Moisturizer. And I have to say that besides feeling like I'm indulging in an extravagant spa treatment every time I use these citrus-scented products, my skin hasn't looked this good in years.

My acne is now very mild, if not practically nonexistent. And my skin is so radiant that many of my friends have remarked about the drastic improvement in my complexion.

While Amala's Purify price tag isn't exactly recessionista-friendly (products range from $30 to $136), these products are, in my expert opinion, an absolute steal for the results you'll see.

I am so enamored with the Purify line that I want to tell every person I meet about this brand. I would gladly be the company's spokesperson and do commercials - because I feel so strongly about how the treatments have transformed my skin. Hell, I'd do it for free...in exchange for a lifetime supply of this stuff.

Amala is available at Barneys New York and amalabeauty.com.

Mr. Spoiled Pretty's Review of Clinique Face Scrub For Men

A few weeks ago, Mr. Spoiled Pretty told me he was in the market for a new face scrub. So I told him that I’d do some research and get him anew scrub to try, with one small condition…he had to pinky swear that he would provide a product review for Spoiled Pretty. But after a few feeble attempts to get him to write a formal review - to which he gave me one word answers or sentence fragments - I just sat him down for an interview.

So without further ado, here is a Q&A with Mr. Spoiled Pretty about his experience with Clinique Skin Supplies For Men Face Scrub.

DB: How do you use Clinique’s face scrub?
MSP: You put it on your face.

DB: No, I mean do you use it in the shower or at the sink?
MSP: In the shower. I don’t do anything at the sink except brush my teeth, wash my hands, or shave.

DB: Okay. So how do you apply it?
MSP: You smear it on your face and rub it in?

DB: You mean, like, massage it into your skin in a circular motion?
MSP: Yeah.

DB: Okay, so what does it feel like?
MSP: Like 160 grit sand paper, which is a good thing. I feels really, really good. It scraped off my face and made me feel like a new man.

DB: How would you compare it to other face scrubs that you’ve used in the past?
MSP: I used to use the Nivea face scrub and that was pretty good. But it’s not as high-quality as the Clinique face scrub. With the Clinique stuff you can tell that it’s actually doing something to your face.

DB: Is that it?
MSP: The only thing bad about it is that you can’t use it every day because it would hurt too much. It might scrape your face clean off.

DB: But you’re not supposed to use it every day, Graham. With a serious face scrub like that, you should probably only use it a couple of times a week, max.
MSP: Says who?

DB: Says me. I’m a beauty expert, remember?

Clinique Skin Supplies For Men Face Scrub is available at Macy's, Nordstrom, Sephora, Clinique counters and clinique.com.