In The Bag Summer Beauty Giveaway: Everyday Bag

The average weight of the contents of a woman’s purse has skyrocketed over the past five years. Exactly how much does the typical gal lug around? More than five pounds of crap – that’s how much! Researchers predict that by 2018, the average handbag will weigh more than 6.6 pounds. High-tech gadgets have been blamed for the 38 percent increase…but lets be real, ladies. Those eight lip products add up.

If you’re anything like me, your purse is chock-full of nonsense…old shopping receipts, gum wrappers, enough Starbucks napkins to last a lifetime, and seven dollars in coins lining the bottom of the bag. I’m not going to be a hypocrite and tell you to throw that mess out. But I do have some suggestions for how you can pare down your beauty stash this summer, and lighten your load by at least a couple of ounces. Summer heat is oppressive enough…and let’s face it – Scoliosis isn’t sexy.

* Instead of tossing your regular hairbrush and comb into your purse, opt for a purse-sized set. But make sure that you invest in quality products…I don’t know about you, but those “nifty” pop-up purse brushes never work for me. And if it doesn’t work, you might as well not carry it. Right?

* Palettes and multi-purpose products are great options…they offer innumerable options without sacrificing space.

* If you’re prone to t-zone oiliness, you could carry around a translucent powder compact. But powder tends to cake in the heat, so you’re better off carrying some blotting papers. Plus you’ll shed some weight.

Today is day three of our In The Bag Summer Beauty Giveaway Week, and to get you over the hump, I'm spoiling you pretty with this handbag from Creations By Kage.


The "Stormy" tote is, in two words, effortlessly sumptuous. The bag is like buttah - all Kage creations are made of the finest Italian leathers. The line is geared towards the girl with very sophisticated taste who wants a really unique bag made of finest materials and the highest quality, but doesn't necessarily have to own a "name" brand. Designer Kristin Holstein says her bags have a certain elegance to them, as they are clean in design, with simple pleats and the Kage signature horseshoe detail. "The symbol of the horseshoe means so much to me. Not only does it represent good luck, but it reminds me of my mother and her love of horses. They constantly give me inspiration, and will always be a significant theme in my design process."

For the winner, this bag will be accompanied by the following goodies:


Cover Girl Lash Blast Mascara: Get a blast of lush, volumized lashes! LashBlast's patented volume-boosting formula and patent-pending brush are designed to max-out each and every lash, leaving you with the ultimate big lash look. This happens to be my Holy Grail mascara.

Goody Mosaic Ouchless Purse Brush: The ultimate in snagless styling. This brush is smaller sized – perfect for travel or on the go styling.

Goody Mosaic Mini Versa Comb: This 3-in-1 comb is small enough to fit in your purse, but large enough to maintain your style.

Tarte Infinite Glow Bestsellers Palette: Get a natural, radiant glow with this chic palette that has everything you need to tan, glow and pout in minutes flat! This bestsellers palette includes Park Ave Princess Mineral Powder Bronzer, award-winning Gel Cheek Stain in Tipsy and a moisturizing 24.7 Lip Sheer in a new shade May Flowers. This luxe faux-croc, compact with mirror is perfect for on-the-go application!

MAX Factor Vivid Impact Eyeshadow Duos in Domino Effect, Emerald Coast, and Peach Basket: Sweep on these loose powder eye shadows for a subtle shimmer or lay it on thick for a metallic effect. The couture-color combinations let you create vibrant shadow effects with the brilliant artistry of a pro.

DentaBurst “Be Ready To Shine” Kit: DentaBurst Freshening Teeth Cleaners are an effective way to clean teeth and freshen breath on-the-go. Unlike mints or gum, they remove plaque from the surfaces of teeth, leaving them feeling smooth and clean. The kit contains 72 individually-wrapped Dentaburst, a business card case, and a calendar/planner.

RoC Retinol Correxion Hand Repair Cream SPF15: This revolutionary formula not only moisturizes but has been scientifically shown to fortify the outer layer of skin and is clinically shown to even out the look of discolorations and age spots for more youthful looking hands. In addition, its SPF 15 UVA/UVB sunscreen protects hands from damaging UVA rays that may contribute to skin damage and premature aging of the skin. Allure Magazine Best of Beauty winner.

Clean & Clear Oil Absorbing Sheets: Oil-Absorbing Sheets soak up excess oil and remove shine from your face, without smudging makeup or leaving behind a residue. Use them anytime, anywhere to remove oil and shine throughout the day.

Aveeno Essential Moisture Lip Conditioner SPF 15: This unique lip treatment provides essential long-lasting moisturization to help condition and protect dry, chapped lips. With an exclusive combination of natural oatmeal and natural skin conditioners, including jojoba oil and shea butter, it restores moisture and locks it in long after applying. It contains UVA/UVB sunscreens to protect lips from the sun and is good for daily use.

To enter, send an email to fotohotcewekcontests@gmail.com. Be sure to include your full name. The subject line should read "Creations By Kage Handbag Giveaway." The contest ends at midnight (EST) on Tuesday, July 1st. One winner will be chosen at random from among the entrants. On Wednesday, July 2nd, 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. & Canadian residents only.

And be sure to check out the other bag giveaways. You can enter all of the giveaways, but you can only win once. Good luck!