Philosophy Divine Illumination Blushing Bronzer Giveaway Contest

Congratulations to MamaVal!

Philosophy's Divine Illumination Blushing Bronzer is a three-in-one multitasking satin-finish illuminating powder. It will give you a fresh, lively blush of color and make your face glow with the warmth of a subtle bronzer. It's available in four shades. I have one to give away in Light.

This lovely powder is perfect for anyone who wants instant color and vibrance and the perfect blend of blush and bronzer in one sweep. It's suitable for all skin types.

Why is it different? This blushing bronzer is designed to give you the perfect balance of blush and bronzer in one easy sweep for a classic, fresh glow. Featuring a unique blend of shades, this product was created to take the guesswork out of finding the perfect bronzer and blush for your skin tone. Micro-fine pigments help the color blend seamlessly and evenly for a silky, satin finish that won't settle into fine lines or imperfections. Use it on your cheeks or anywhere you want a healthy, happy glow that looks lit from within.

How can you enter to win? Here's the "fine print."

There are a few simple steps. First, all you really have to do is leave a comment on this feature. After you comment here, feel free to send me an e-mail at bestthingsinbeautycontests@gmail.com and identify your comment. You can never be too careful about sharing an e-mail address you care about on a blog, so feel free to follow this step (an alternative is to code your e-mail, e.g., myname at gmail dot com, in your comment).

You can earn extra entries. Follow this blog (through an e-mail subscription or though one of the many Google readers - see sidebar at right) to earn a second entry. You don't have to follow to enter. I want everyone to have a chance, but I also want to reward my followers.

You can earn a third entry by tweeting this contest. Just make sure to include "@BTiBeauty" (without the quotes) in your tweet. I have tweeted the contest, and you can simply retweet it to earn that second entry. Only one tweet will be counted as an entry. I appreciate multiple tweets, but it's not necessary.

The deadline for entries will be Saturday, August 13, at midnight. The next day, I will use a random number generator (random.org) to select the winner. I will e-mail the winner on Sunday. The winner will have 48 hours to reply to my message and provide a shipping address. After 48 hours, the prize will be forfeited, and another winner will be selected. Make sure to check your e-mail - and look in your spam folder - when the contest ends.

This contest is open to anyone anywhere. Here are the terms. I will carefully pack and ship the prize (as I always do). I cannot insure the prize for overseas shipment - it's amazingly expensive to do so because of the way I have to send insured mail. If it's lost or stolen in transit, I won't be able to replace it with another. I'll do my best on this end; let's see if your mail service does right by you on the other end if we have an overseas winner.

Good luck!

Photo courtesy of QVC

Philosophy Friends & Family Sale

Fabulous deals may be the only upside to this brutal recession. The latest Friends & Family sale to hit my inbox is at Philosophy.com, where you can get a 20% discount on all orders through December 14. If you spend $50 or more, you will "earn" free shipping. Enter code 2giveis2receive at checkout.

Just the other day, Chris Coles at Nordstrom was telling me how nice the Snow scent is. I don't like it as much as Chris does, but Philosophy has something for everyone. If you are still undecided on those office gifts that are so hard to choose (carefully selected, not too personal!), you might want to check out Philosophy this week.

P.S. Feel better, Chris! Your Nordstrom shoppers need you!

Photo courtesy of Philosophy

Philosophy Supernatural Cream Blush Giveaway Contest Winner

We have a giveaway contest winner. Congratulations, Toye B!

Toye, you will be wearing blush again! This super-blendable, creamy, natural mineral blush from Philosophy moisturizes, energizes, and adds sheer, healthy color to cheeks for a very natural-looking blush. You can build the color, so start with a little and add more until you glow. You can read more about it at this Best Things in Beauty link.

Many thanks to all of my cat-loving readers who understood the crushed box "purr-fectly." As usual, I wish I had a blusher to send to each and every one of you! Thanks for entering the contest. Your e-mails were delightful.

Our next giveaway contest has a sensational prize. I'll be posting it soon. Until then, Happy Reading!

Photo courtesy of Philosophy

Philosophy Supernatural Cream Blush Giveaway Contest

Philosophy's new The Supernatural Lit from Within Healthy Cream Blush ($22.50) is a beauty. This super-blendable, creamy, natural mineral blush moisturizes, energizes, and adds sheer, healthy color to cheeks for a very natural-looking blush.

You can read about The Supernatural Collection at this Best Things in Beauty link. The products are full of minerals, plant extracts, fruit extracts, vitamins, and antioxidants. They don't contain parabens, phthalates, mineral oils, talc, sulfates, propylene glycols, pegs, or fragrance.

Philosophy says you need this blusher if:

• you want natural-looking healthy color;
• you want a super-blendable, creamy blush;
• You want a good-for-your-skin formula that brightens and protects your skin; and
• you want sheer color and a soft, radiant glow.
  

Who doesn't?

The Healthy Cream Blush is available in three colors. I have one Lit from Within in Bare Your Soul to give away. It's a pretty pink-peach blend that will work well for many complexions.

To enter, e-mail bestthingsinbeautycontests@gmail.com. Let me know why you should be the one lucky gal to win this blusher. Our deadline will be Friday, October 30, at 5:00 pm Eastern Time. Good Luck!

I do have to tell you one thing about this product: My cat slept on the box while I had it next to my computer to prepare for the giveaway contest. The blusher is fine, but the box is a tiny bit crushed. He sends his apologies.¹

I'll be posting this contest on Free!Grechen, which you really ought to check out for all kinds of fabulous contests.

¹ OK, so he's not really sorry, but he is purring with faux guilt. He believes that I shouldn't leave stuff where he likes to nap.

Photo courtesy of Philosophy

Philosophy's Supernatural Collection

Now that I have my hands on my new Philosophy Supernatural Collection pieces, I can tell you what I think. I ordered online from Philosophy or bought (from Nordstrom) two lip glosses, a cream blusher, and the Illuminating Mineral Powder.

The Supernaturals are advertised as skin-loving cosmetics. They are free of parabens, phthalates, mineral oils, talc, sulfates, propylene glycols, PEGS, and fragrance (but they do have "flavor" - see below). What they do have in the ingredients are minerals, plant and fruit extracts, vitamins, and antioxidants. Right off the bat, they get plus points.

The Supernatural Superglossy Lip Glosses with SPF15 are a nice addition to my lip gloss collection - and at this point, I do mean "collection." I love glosses! These are relatively sheer, subtly shiny, liquid glosses that are not at all sticky. It's wonderful that they have an SPF of 15, since my lips can burn in no time. There is a "minty fresh taste" that I could do without, but it's not strong, and it goes away pretty quickly. I still don't understand why cosmetics companies think we want our lips to taste like mint.

I purchased two colors: Smell the Roses, a glistening berry, and Live in the Moment, a glistening pink mocha. Both are great, and I saw other colors at Nordstrom I would buy. Every one of them looked nice. There are also two lip liners.

The Lit from Within Healthy Cream Blush ($22.50) is superb. It's very sheer, and now that I know that, I want all three of them. I have Bare Your Soul, a natural nude pink. It does produce a healthy, radiant, and natural-looking glow - as advertised. Although the directions say to apply with your fingertips, I used a cream foundation brush, and the application was flawless (if I can brag a bit). Feel Warm All Over is a peach/coral with a hint of shimmer, and Look on the Bright Side is a bright pink (but remember, transparent). The way they look in the pot or online in swatches is darker than the way they look on cheeks - even pale cheeks like mine.

There are also some very nice looking Powder Blush Duos ($25), and I may "need" one of these. I saw them in person, and they spoke to me.

Now I leave the party. I do not like the Supernatural Illuminating Mineral Powder in Moonlight ($28) at all. It was hyped as a highlighter that would produce radiant and luminous skin. Unfortunately, it's a glittery powder - such a downer for a line that is supposed to be natural. I just wasn't expecting obvious glitter from the Supernatural Collection. Since I unscrewed it when it came (mistake - that is not how to apply it!), I spilled some; otherwise, I would return it to Philosophy. It's going to my good friend's 17-year-old daughter, who will probably love it. This is not a highlighter I would recommend to anyone over 20.

So, mostly wins and one big miss. That's what I get, though, for my armchair buying habits. There's more to the collection, including a foundation available next month, powder, a bronzer, and a palette. They even offer Supernatural brushes. You can check out all the new products at Philosophy's Web site, Nordstrom, or wherever Philosophy products are sold. They are showing up in stores this month.

Photo courtesy of Philosophy.

Coming Attractions

I had the day off, so naturally I headed out for a beauty fix. Today's destination was Nordstrom at Tysons Corner, where Christopher Coles (my favorite Nordstrom beauty rep - love him) helped me pick out some marvelous new products. I'll start writing them up tonight.

What did I get? New Bobbi Brown Metallic Long-Wear Cream Eye Shadows (shown at left); Philosophy's new Supernatural Lit from Within cream blush; D&G's new fragrance in #3 (a grapefruit blend that is heavenly); The Un Matin d'Orage rollerball I have searched for high and low; and new MAC Fall colors.

It's such a beauty "high," I can't wait to put my fingers to the keyboard! Thanks to Christopher for pointing out the new Dolce fragrance to me! It still smells fabulous - hours after a spritz.

Photo courtesy of Bobbi Brown.

Philosophy's New Supernatural Collection

This is interesting! Philosophy.com's Supernatural Collection will launch online on August 14. Philosophy claims the products will "glorify your skin with healthy, skin-loving makeup options for face, lips, eyes, and cheeks." The makeup collection is free of nasty chemicals and fragrances and loaded with "good stuff," such as minerals and antioxidants. The lip glosses in the advertisement look fabulous. The Moonlight powder with SPF also shows promise.

How I love new things! If you click on the link above, you can see the photos and sign up for an e-mail reminder when the collection goes on sale.

Photo courtesy of Philosophy.

Quick Note for Philosophy Fans

Until August 3, you can get $10 off any $50 purchase at Philosophy. Just enter the code buzzworthy at checkout.

A little weekend Web shopping in your future?

Photo courtesy of Philosophy.