NARS Cosmetics just about NEVER has discounts, so it looks like 11/11/11 is you’re lucky day! Flock to their NYC store then for 20% off, one day only!
Refinery29 Teams Up with Skyn Iclend (+Last Hurrah for BCA Month)
As October winds down there are quite a few promotions and partnerships that are only valid through the end of the month. First off fashion/beauty trend experts, Refinery29 have partnered with skincare brand, skyn ICELAND to bring us the Exclusive R29 Brighten Up Kit for $39 (retail value $90). Targeted to replenish, renew and brighten skin in 3 easy steps, the kit includes a deluxe-sixed Pure Cloud Cleanser, with 100%muslin cloth, deluxe-sized Pure Cloud Cream, full-sized Arctic Brightening Serum, and a reusable coated canvas skin ICELAND bag. Offer ends 11/1 and is is available on http://reserve.refinery29.com/offer/145/skyn-iceland
Also as Breast Cancer Awareness month comes to a close, there’s still a few days left to take advantage of the great products companies have created to raise money for research to irradiate this disease. Earlier this month I posted a more complete list of BCA products (click HERE if you missed that post). Additionally below are some highlights and a few new ones we’ve come across. Please note all the below offers below are valid through October 31st.
Aveda is bringing back their Limited-Edition Pink Ribbon Hand Relief offering $4 for every purchase to The Breast Cancer Research Foundation to support cruelty-free research.
Dior launched their 4th annual Dior Online Auction with 100% of the proceeds to benefit Look Good Feel Better. Fans can visit www.diorauction.com to bid on items to support this cause in three categories: Luxe Trips, Elite Experiences and Lavish Products.
Stila – Get empowered in pink with Stila’s limited-edition Positive and Pretty Palette featuring four award-winning Eye Shadows, a Cheek Color and a Highlighter. A mirror is included for on-the-go application and a detailed face chart offers how-to tips and tricks. 10% of the proceeds will go to a variety of BCA charities including the Breast Cancer Research Foundation. Price: $14 (a $62 value).
Cricket has created a limited edition link of Pink Power hair styling toolsincluding hair dryers and flat irons, with a portion of the proceeds to be donated to Breast Cancer Research.
Fergie Footwear AWARENESS Shoe ($79.99) – Created by Fergie herself to support Breast Cancer Awareness, the 4 inch hot pink sparkly pump put our office in an ordering frenzy (ho great do these look on our colleague, Yadi?). Available on www.fergieshoes.com, the company is donating $20,000 to Susan G. Komen for the Cure® in connection with this program.
Brands Supporting Breast Cancer Awareness Month
October is special month, when brands rally together to help raise awareness and funds to help fight against breast cancer. This year for BCA month, I received a record number of emails by brands participating, so as I weed through (and I’ll try to update this as more come through), here’s a list of how some companies are showing their support:
**assume all of these product promotions are for the month of October unless otherwise stated**
Dior fans can go to www.diorauction.com to bid on items in three categories: Luxe Trips, Elite Experiences and Lavish Products as well as a “Shop Now” section, where customers can purchase items like a Christian Dior book or an engraved Dior Blue Tie palette, all available exclusively through Dior and select partners. 100% of the proceeds benefit Look Good…Feel Better, an organization dedicated to helping women deal wit the appearance related effects of cancer.
Catwalk for a Cure – Tickets ($100) to this annual breast cancer charity event in benefit of The MA Affiliate for Susan G. Komen for the Cure foundation hosted in Boston on October 13th includes a cocktail hour, hors d’oeurves, silent auction, fashion show, reception and gift bag. When: Oct.13th from 7-11pm at 60 State Street, Boston, MA. Click HERE for tickets.
Stila – Get empowered in pink with Stila’s limited-edition Positive and Pretty Palette featuring four award-winning Eye Shadows, a Cheek Color and a Highlighter. A mirror is included for on-the-go application and a detailed face chart offers how-to tips and tricks. 10% of the proceeds will go to a variety of BCA charities including the Breast Cancer Research Foundation. Price: $14 (a $62 value).
OLEHENRIKSEN is offering a special 1.7 oz. size of their best selling Truth Serum in BCA packaging ($65), with a portion of the proceeds going to the National Breast Cancer Foundation available at www.olehenriksen.com and Sephora.
Clarisonic is donating a portion of the proceeds of its “Pink” products to Look Good…Feel Better throughout the year as well as $15 for each specially designed, limited edition Almond Blossom Plus Skin Cleansing System ($235) sold during October to LGFB available at Clarisonic.com, Nordstrom or the Ritz Carlton spas. Additionally for the month of October, Clarisonic will donate $1 to Look Good…Feel Better for every Facebook “Like” they receive (Facebook.com/clarisonic). They have also partnered with The Ritz-Carlton who is working with them and Skin Authority skin care company to offer an exclusive Look Good…Feel Better facial in select Ritz-Carlton spas. With every LGFB facial performed, $15 will be donated to Look Good…Feel Better ($5 each from Ritz Carlton Spas, Clarisonic and Skin Authority). The facial will be available through November 5, and costs $180 for 50 minutes.
Bumble and Bumble is donating $5 from every purchase of Spray de Mode on bumbleandbumble.com to The Breast Cancer Research Foundation.
Skyn ICELAND – For the 7th consecutive year, skyn ICELAND is releasing a limited edition Pink Detox Kit ($45), donating $5 from the sale to Cancer Support Community.
AHAVA – For every purchase of their Hope Blossoms Mineral Bath Salts ($22), AHAVA will make up to a 15% donation to the National Breast Cancer Foundation in support of their mission to help fund research and promote education and early detection. These mineral-rich salts contain 21 essential Dead Sea minerals, including Magnesium, Potassium and Calcium that work to melt away stress, while providing essential moisture to skin and relief to tired muscles.
CND launches Pink Wishes Colour & Effect duo nail polish set ($20) to help raise awareness against breast cancer and commemorate women everywhere fighting against it. Plus what better way to match that pink ribbon then with some extra pride on your fingers and toes? Available for a limited time, visit CND.com for locations.
TIGI’s BCA Collection – With each purchase of TIGI’s pink ribbon products, TIGI will donate a portion of the proceeds to City of Hope, a leading research, treatment and education center for cancer and other life-threatening diseases.
Darphin is donating $15 for every specially packaged Redness Relief Soothing Serum in pink ($85) sold to the Breast Cancer Research Foundation. This high potency
DVF at Lucky FABB + TODAY ONLY 20% off Harper-Connect Bag!
Last month, the Pretty Connected team attended Lucky Magazine’s 2nd annual Fashion and Beauty Blogger (FABB) Conference. Highlight of the day was keynote speaker Diane von Furstenburg, who’s all around fabulousness inspires us to no end.
Her energy, her innovation and her support of women motivates us to be the entreprenuers we strive for at Pretty Connected –especially with our recent incorparation of our sister consulting company, Pretty Social (website and more info to come!).
We’re so used to women in this industry being powerhouses or workaholics (we’re slightly guilty of that), so to see the mother-ship of powerhouse women be so calm, collected and balanced made us hang onto her every word and feed off her advice. She stood before us composed, head to toe in her signature label; slim, tan and gorgeous (as always), spreading her message of ‘you can have it all; a great career, a wonderful family and healthy lifestyle’.
As she spoke out to a room of 250 predominantly female bloggers, she listed these three things all women should have (surprisingly enough a DVF wrap-dress was not one of them):
1. The most important relationship you will ever have is the one you make with yourself.
2. All women should have children.
3. It is very important for women to have an identity outside of their career.
To each their own on #2 (especially since we’re not there yet, but look forward to that day), but we couldn’t be more thrilled and in agreement over #1 and #3; which we take to heart as we navigate to find a healthy work/life balance.
She also made a great social media point about when she tweets (yes when she signs ‘love Diane’ at the end of the tweet, it’s actually her!), that the non-sales, non-promotional, more heartfelt tweets are always the ones that get the most attention and responses!
She also took a moment to show off her new DVF Harper-Connect bag, which looks like any other gorgeous, well constructed, perfect-sized everyday bag and then opened it up to display that it doubles as an iPad case! To die for! And exclusive today only (September 29th) on DVF.com, she’s offering the bag for 20% off!!!! Use the code HARPER20 at checkout to redeem.
So if you have the means, take advantage. We’ll be infinitely jealous of all who do!
Also on our radar, is the new DVF fragrance, Diane, which debut last week at Bloomingdale’s. Described as a floral woody scent that combines the Mastery of the Frangipani Flower with the Softness of Violet Leaves, I’m not sure what that means, but it sounds divine!
GOODNESS Twitter Giveaway: Win Elettra’s VIP Gift Bag from Orange Hat Group!
Earlier I posted about GOODNESS, the full service Fashion Week pop-up restaurant created by supermodel, Elettra Wiedemann.
Taking over the space of Ed’s Chowder House at the Empire Hotel (across from Lincoln Center), from Sept 11th – 14th, 7am – 3pm, GOODNESS will be open for breakfast and lunch to provide healthy and delicious appetizers, entrees and desserts. Free wi-fi provided by the Orange Hat Group.
WIN IT! To help celebrate the launch, Orange Hat Group and the GOODNESS team are giving away Elettra’s VIP GOODNESS gift bag to one lucky winner (as in literally that bag on her arm in the photograph!).
What’s in the bag?
- A certificate for a complimentary pair of Civic Duty “Fascination” shoes (in your choice of color/size).
- Half United Bullet Necklace (for every on necklace sold, Half United donates a week of healthy school meals to a child in need).
- Lancome Bi-Facil Double-Action Eye Makeup Remover (4.2 fl oz), Hypnose Mascara in Black and Bienfait Aqua Vital Continuous Infusing Moisturizer
- Kusmi Tea – Detox (pack of 20)
- Cynthia Rowley BAND-AID (pack of 20)
- TheraPearl Eye-ssential Pack
- VITA COCO 100% pure coconut water (11.1 fl oz)
- The latest issue of The Daily Front Row
All wrapped up in a Radley London tote bag (pictured).
TO ENTER Tweet…
RT & Follow @OrangeHatGroup and @GoodnessBadness to win Elettra Wiedemann’s official #GoodnessNYC VIP Gift bag http://bit.ly/qxA60U
Or
RT & Follow @OrangeHatGroup to win Elettra Wiedemann’s official @GoodnessBadness VIP Gift bag http://bit.ly/qxA60U #GoodnessNYC
**Any condensed link used in the tweet is allowed as long as it links back to this post so anyone who enters may view the prize and rules to enter.
For more information on GOODNESS or to make a reservation visit www.goodnessbadness.com. Please feel free to share our invitation to the pop-up restaurant above. We hope you can make it!
Official Rules:
Get Ready for Fashion’s Night Out
It’s almost that time of year again! On September 8, celebrate Fashion’s Night Out, the annual global event that aims to restore consumer confidence and promote… well… ah… shopping. And when you’re not busy stimulating the economy, you’re apart of one big rocking party! Stores have teamed up with Vogue, CFDA, NYC & Company and the City of New York to bring you NYC’s biggest and most exciting shopping event. The only downfall is you can’t do it all and the crowds be roaring (while the drinks keep pouring). Although the list of what to do in NYC is never ending, here are some highlights you may want to part take in.
###
Who: MIU MIU
Where: 57th Street store in New York City
The Happening: “Miu Miu Muses Night”. This special competition will reflect the Miu Miu girl’s inner Muse by inviting her to channel her own interpretation of the 1940’s infused Autumn/Winter fashion show, and will be held simultaneously in both its Milan and New York stores. The attendees of the night will be photographed during the evening and the most inspiring one will be rewarded with an amazing surprise. Hosts Shala Monroque and bloggers, Tavi Gevinson, Jane and Judy Aldridge and young socialites Harry and Peter Brant will welcome guests to the. In the occasion of Vogue Fashion’s Night Out, a preview of the new capsule collection will be presented and will be available exclusively in select Miu Miu boutiques in Milan, New York, Los Angeles and London
###
Who: Clinique
Where: Clinique Counter @ 59th Street Bloomingdales: From 5-8pm
The Happening: Milly designer, Michelle Smith will be making a special appearance and share her expert fashion tips. While you’re there grab the new Milly for Clinique Gift – a limited edition cosmetics bag filled with Clinique’s beauty essentials (receive it complimentary with your $25 Clinique purchase). Guests
Websites, openings and promos to check out…
Welcome YouBeauty.com, a new interactive beauty website developed by Dr. Mehmot Oz and Dr. Michael Roizento arm women with proven tools that use science to measure and improve inner and outer beauty. It offers specialized quizzes on everything from nutrition, relationships, to skincare, forums, and content from celebrity hair and makeup experts and tackles questions like ‘what’s the perfect haircut for your face shape’? Check them out!
Andean Collection will expand beyond jewelry with the introduction of their Antisana line which includes hats, scarves, and belts.
Swarovski is celebrating their iconic Nirvana Ring with a sweepstakes. Enter to win one HERE (or don’t better chance for me!). It’s kind of the most amazing ring!
French Connection is giving away a $1,000 shopping spree to their store + round trip fare and hotel from August 2-3 to NYC and VIP access to Christina Perri’s “lovestrong” summer tour. Enter for your chance HERE.
Mary J. Blige is introducing her new fragrance, My List Blossom exclusively on HSN on 8/13. To celebrate, Carol’s Daughter is running a sweepstakes and giving one lucky fan and a friend an all inclusive trip to meet Mary J. Blige at the HSN premiere and a $250 gift certificate to Carol’s Daughter. For details and the enter click HERE
Kiehl’s finally launched their first spa! Located at 64th Street and Lexington Ave in NYC, they’ve taken their downtown charm to the UES. The full services spa includes facials, massages, face, body and hair treatments as well as men’s grooming services.
L’OCCITANE will open its first boutique in NYC’s Meatpacking District on 48 Ninth Avenue (at 14th St.) and will be hosting a consumer event at 6:30pm on July 28th complete with a ribbon cutting ceremony followed by a small reception. The first 100 customers to make a purchase will receive an exclusive Meatpacking set featuring the brands most iconic products.
Brut (you know that men’s line in the green bottle?) launched BNN, a part sport/humor/fratty video series on their Facebook page, hosted
Taking time with NYC New York and Mathew Nigara (+ Win My Favorites!)
As most of you may have noticed, I don’t shop very often at drug stores for makeup. My hang up is not being able to try the products first and I tend to miss when I’ve attempted –the lipstick shade I chose isn’t right or the concealor is too dark or I don’t like the consistency of the foundation… so ever since the days of Sephora, unless there’s something very specific I want to try, I tend shy away. However, I recently had the opportunity to meet with celebrity makeup artist, Mathew Nigara and play with the NYC New York Color line and I have to say I was impressed!
Although my time never intersected with Mathew’s, we’re both old school NARS Cosmetics employees so I knew he’d let me be difficult and blunt about my expectations. I review based on quality of products, not price. Although I have to admit, every time I’d try a product, then hear the price I was floored. I mean for the price of one single eyes shadow from NARS ($23) I could get a nail polish ($2.49), lip stain ($4.99), lip gloss ($2.49), eye shadow set ($4.99), eye pencil ($1.99) from NYC New York Color…and still have change.
I asked Mathew’s his favorite product. “My favorite product undoubtedly is the new NYC New York Color Smooch Proof 16HR Lipstain. They work so beautifully and the colors are universally flattering. I use them for subtle washes of color, saturated lip looks and even alone as lip liners sometimes. They are amazing”.
I would have to agree. In fact after spending the afternoon trying the different products (and then continuing the relationship at home), I’ve decided to give away 3 sets of all my favorite products to 3 lucky winners!
WIN THEM ALL!! My favorite NYC New York Color products are:
Smooch Proof 16HR Lip Stain ($4.99) – As Mathew mentioned you can build your color with them and the tip makes it incredibly easy to give an even application all over or as a lip liner. You can also build your color. My favorite shade is Forever Mine Wine.
Liquid Lipshine ($2.49) – I like to use these on top of the Lip Stain, they have a very smooth application and aren’t sticky and give that wet shiny tint to my lips. They are fragrant, which I’m not so into, for instance my favorite shade, Fashion Ave Fuchsia, smells like cotton candy, but it’s mild.
Expert Last Nail Polish ($2.49) – The nail polish dried quickly, had great, even coverage and great lasting power. I was very impressed by this new line and LOVE the Timeless Tangerine shade.
Smooth Skin Liquid Concealer ($3.99) – I use it under my eyes and it has an amazing brightening effect. It’s easy to apply and has a creamy texture that easily blends into skin. Plus it’s formulated with vitamins A, C, and E to help protect against the environmental damage.
IndividualEyes Custom Compact ($4.99) – This palette comes in a variety of colors based on eye shade, I use the ‘Smokey Browns’ kit and find it incredibly convenient. It’s compact and includes an eye primer, illuminator (which I like to use under my eyebrow to bring out my eyes) and four eyes hadow shades that can be used on their own or to smoke out your eyes. My only recommendation is use your own brushes. As with most compacts on the market, you won’t get very far with the one included. And great brushes can make all the difference.
Classic Brow/Liner Pencils ($0.99) – I can’t leave home without a black pencil under my eye. And while this one is slightly a harder tip then I prefer; I’m able to get right into my lash line with exact precision. And I like my black pencils dark, so the ‘Jet Black’ shade is perfect for me.
TO ENTER, LEAVE A COMMENT. Get creative and tell me why you’d like to win! Any (non-spam, happy) comment automatically enters you into the drawing. TWO lucky winners will be chosen at random.
An additional winner will be chosen on twitter that follow me (@PCbeauty) and tweet this promotion using my twitter handle and the link to this promo (here’s a condensed link: http://bit.ly/lHZkAw)!
Official Rules:
- The promotion begins on June 6th, and ends June 14rd at 11:59pm EST.
- Two winners will be chosen at random that leave a valid comment, 1 winner will be chosen at random on twitter that is following @PCbeauty and tweets us the promotion using a direct link.
- Winners will be selected by June 16th and contacted for their mailing information. If no response is given by June 20th, an alternate winner will be chosen.
- No purchase necessary.
- Open to residents of the U.S. only.
- All federal, state and local laws apply.
Good luck!
Disclaimer: This is a sponsored giveaway by a company representative. Pretty Connected was under no obligation to write this post or host this giveaway.
My NEW Ferragamo Bag: Charlize Tote
As many of you know thanks to your countless votes I was the proud winner of the Ferragamo “W List”. The prize was a bag from their Spring/Summer collection (drool).
Last month my mystery bag arrived and to my great disappointment, it was –errr–ahh–not my style (you remember the post I wrote). Unfortunately, when everyone you know and even more people you don’t voted for you, it poses the never-ending chain of emails and Facebook message of “did you get your bag yet?”
Winning a bag out of the support of so many is something I wanted to wear loud and proud, which is why I took a memorable stroll to the counter and exchanged it for what could be the new love of my life. After all of
AVEENO Wants You To Take Steps For The Planet
With Earth Day right around the corner (April 22nd), AVEENO kicked off the month with an ACTIVE NATURALS Forest in New York’s Times Square to launch their BE AN ACTIVE NATURAL campaign. While I’ve been to many pop-up shops, this is definitely my first pop-up forest and most enjoyable (and natural) walk through Times Square!
The forest was part of the AVEENO BE AN ACTIVE NATURAL™ program, which is in an initiative to help raise awareness for healthy living and environmental sustainability. The program, encourages consumers to make small changes in their daily lives and they are rewarding everyone who joins them on FACEBOOK (www.facebook.com/aveeno), and makes a pledge towards a healthier planet. By doing so, you will earn points that