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.

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!

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 fotohotcewekcontests@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!

Shobha Ingrown Relief Lotion Exclusive Discount

My friends at Shobha are treating Spoiled Pretty readers to an exclusive discount ($5 off) on their bestselling Ingrown Relief Lotion!

Ingrown Relief Lotion is a sensitive and effective one-step solution for the prevention and treatment of bumps and ingrown hairs caused by hair removal. Free of parabens, color and artificial fragrance, the lotion is formulated with glycolic acid (exfoliates), tea tree oil (protects), chamomile (soothes), and glycerin (moisturizes). It is safe for all-over body use (bikini, legs, underarms, etc).

Use immediately after shaving to moisturize the skin while soothing irritation and razor burn, or begin using 48 hours after waxing/sugaring to prevent and treat ingrowns. The 2 ounce size is TSA friendly, making it the perfect travel companion to ensure smooth skin when lounging in paradise.

To redeem, use coupon code 0709IRL507. Offer is valid for online purchases only. One redemption per customer. Offer expires at 12am EST on August 1, 2009.

Winners Of The eos Giveaway

Congrats to Diana Antal, TaMyra Harris, Angie Patel, Joanne Willey and Kellie Wilson - winners of the eos giveaway. These ladies have won two bottles of Ultra Moisturizing Shave Cream...one in Raspberry Pomegranate (my personal fave) and another in Vanilla Bliss.

Many thanks to eos for sponsoring this contest. And stay tuned for the next giveaway!

eos Shave Cream Giveaway

Why is it that the hair on my head takes foreva eva to grow, yet my legs have a five o'clock shadow seconds after I've emerged from the shower?

I'm not going to trip and pretend that shaving my stems is one of my favorite pastimes; a necessary evil is what it is. But I've found a pretty fantabulous product that makes this chore much less of a bore. And I'm so enamored that I want to share it with all of my friends.

This week, Spoiled Pretty is partnering with eos for a giveaway. Five readers will win eos Ultra Moisturizing Shave Cream!

This cream is so intensely hydrating, you can shave wet or dry, and it leaves skin soft and smooth throughout the day. The non-foaming cream is enriched with natural aloe, oat, and shea butter - which soothes while boosting skin's moisture level. Antioxidant Vitamins E & C help skin look radiantly healthy. And it comes in an ergonomic, soft-touch recyclable bottle that looks super cute in your shower, but won't leave a rust ring on your tub!

Winners will receive two bottles of eos Ultra Moisturizing Shave Cream...one in Raspberry Pomegranate (my personal fave) and Vanilla Bliss (you know your girl can't resist a little vanilla sugah).

To enter the giveaway, send an email to fotohotcewekcontests@gmail.com. Be sure to include your full name and mailing address. The subject line should read "eos Shave Cream Giveaway." The contest ends at midnight (EST) on Sunday, July 12th. Five winners will be chosen at random from among the entrants. On Monday, July 13th, 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!

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.

Loofah...To The Next Level

If you enjoy exfoliating as much as I do, you absolutely must pick up Dermalogica's Ultimate Buffing Cloth. This cloth emilinates the need for exfoliating body washes and scrubs that can coat your tub/shower with slippery and gritty grains.

Once you use it, you'll tell your loofah to "hit the road, jack" and you'll never look back. The Ultimate Buffing Cloth is gentle, yet effective - and can be used with any body cleanser to reveal smooth, glowing skin. It works wonders on elbows, knees and heels...and is especially handy dandy when used on legs pre-shave. Say sayonara to stubble and hello to silky stems!

Amazing Grace Giveaway!

I’m a fan of potent perfumes, and I’m a little heavy-handed in the application. Mr. Spoiled Pretty benignly suggests that I search for products with subtler notes. And every time I’m in a confined space with my mom and sister, they bluntly accuse me of wearing enough perfume to “choke a horse.” As much as I love my strong scents, I’ll admit that they can’t all be wrong.

So when I received an Amazing Grace gift set from Philosophy last week, I kept an open mind. Amazing Grace is Philosophy’s best selling scent, "created to enhance a woman’s well-being and draw people closer without overwhelming." The products smelled good enough in the packaging, but how would it smell on me? Non-existent, I predicted…I hate fleeting fragrances that last for a hot second then fade away. But I was keeping an open mind and decided to put Amazing Grace to the test.

After a particularly challenging stint at the gym, I was sweaty, smelly and in serious need of a shower. Typically, I would use a deodorant soap or body wash, post-workout. But Amazing Grace Perfumed Buffing Wash helped me get squeaky clean again…in addition to exfoliating and hydrating my skin. Even hours later, the wonderfully feminine fragrance continued to linger on. When Graham returned from work that night and I welcomed him home, he said, “Honey, you smell great.” That’s when I knew I’d found a winner.

But the true test was my sister, who I usually have to bribe for a compliment. This past weekend, I met up with my mom and sister for a late brunch and an afternoon of shopping. When my mom called to say she was a couple of blocks away from my apartment, I quickly sprayed on Amazing Grace Perfumed Body Spritz and headed out the door to meet up with the peanut gallery.

After our meal, we headed to Rittenhouse for some retail therapy…and out of the blue, Lauren says, “What are you wearing? It smells good.” OMG. Stop. The. Presses. My sister just said something nice…to me. Needless to say, Amazing Grace has become a staple in my daily beauty ritual.

Amazing Grace, how sweet the scent,
That saved a wretch like me.
I once was lost but now am found,
Was blind, but now I see!

I’m so wild about these products that I want to share with one of you! This week, Spoiled Pretty is giving you an opportunity to win an Amazing Grace Gift Set courtesy of Philosophy. The set includes:


Amazing Grace Perfumed Buffing Wash has a creamy, gel-like texture and contains gentle exfoliants that help smooth and soften skin without irritation. Use it daily over entire body in your shower or bath to maintain skin smoothness and hydration.

Amazing Grace Perfumed Shave Gel has a creamy, lotion-like texture, which allows your razor to glide over your skin for a gentle, yet close shave. It leave your legs and underarms super soft and silky smooth with an amazingly clean, beautifully feminine scent.

Amazing Grace Perfumed Body Spritz is a lightly scented spray which provides moisturizing and antioxidant benefits. It makes a great fragrance base, and can be enhanced by applying the infinitely clean, beautifully feminine scent of amazing grace eau de parfum to your pulse points as your 'top coat' or feel free to use with any of Philosophy's state of grace fragrances, including Inner Grace, Pure Grace, or Baby Grace.

To enter, send an email to fotohotcewekcontests@gmail.com. Be sure to include your full name. The subject line should read "Amazing Grace Giveaway." The contest ends at midnight (EST) on Sunday, July 13th. One winner will be chosen at random from among the entrants. On Monday, July 14th, 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.

Good luck!