Avon.com

It’s a really pretty bracelet – reminds me a little of the friendship bracelets I wore when I was a kid a century ago.

Last week, Avon actually invited me to a private screening of the new movie Precious, and it conjured up a lot of the same feelings this bracelet does –wearing it is a symbol of unity that represents a future without limitations for all women — and in the movie, we saw Precious with the most incredible odds stacked against her – and her being victorious in the end.

Bracelet proceeds will be used to create a new Avon Empowerment Fund and the first $500,000 from bracelet sales will be matched by the Avon Foundation for a total donation of $1 million to UNIFEM, the United Nations Development Fund for Women, for projects that will empower women around the world.

So, even though I am giving a bracelet away, I really really hope all of you go to the site and BUY one. Buy it for yourself, buy it for your family, your friends, every awesome woman in your life – can you think of a more meaningful stocking stuffer? Really.

But if you want the one I am giving away – share one thought on what women can do to empower each other in the here and now. Deadline is December 1 – good luck!

Post from: eBeautyDaily

Blu Salon

Because of that, I was super grateful when New Jersey’s fabulous Melina James, owner of Blu Salon invited me out for a day of recoup (and beauty!).

Melina is the sweetest person ever, and her entire staff clearly likes each other. I told her how rare that is – I’m used to NYC salons where the guy cutting your hair likely last night had a drunken one-nighter with the girl who colored your hair, and now everyone is snickering about it behind their backs. There’s also none of that haute-salon elitism – and you can tell by the huge range in age and lifestyles of the clients who come in throughout the day.

My day started with a relaxing Swedish massage with Albert Agnello, my very first massage from a guy – I think I’m hooked. They are way better at working on those tight spots!

Next, I got quite possibly the best facial of my life with Jill Turano – we gabbed about everything from food to boys as she gave my skin some serious recuperation. We spoke a lot about the products I use, and my skincare regime – as a product junkie, I am not often loyal to a single line or ritual, and this is bad. But the important thing is to cleanse morning and night, no matter how tired or drunk we may be! Jill said though that I had good skin, and we spoke about the importance of keeping it good – and that involves hydration. Since then, I’ve been attempting 8 glasses a day of water, and am seeing a difference already! Later in the day, Jill gave me a makeup touchup – I was looking for that sexy “looks like I am not wearing makeup look, but actually am” – and that’s exactly what she gave me! I maintain that while men THINK they don’t want us wearing makeup, they actually do…and the key to happiness is letting them think they are getting what they want, even though we are.

The rest of my day was just as blissful – Angelica Pulgarin gave my nails and toes a touch of shimmery navy – I’m all about the dark colors in fall, and everyone says they are perfect on me! – and then creative director Stephanie Atwell finished me off with a blowout. I so wish I had taken before/after pix – I feel a little remiss that I forgot to – because by the end of the day, it was truly night and day. I left looking like a princess! A very relaxed one, at that.

I love, love, love Blu Salon – it has a very chic – and I normally avoid using the word chic – oasis-like aspect. Full of comfy couches and girlie colors of pink and black, you feel like you are at a trendy bar, hot spa, and cozy lounge…all at the same time. Plus, they have candy out and about for guests…you ain’t lived until you had m&m’s with your manicure.

And, how’s this for exciting news? ANY reader who goes to the salon and mentions me or my blog during the month of November gets a $20 gift card! As the prices are surprisingly reasonable there – that’ll go a long way!

Post from: eBeautyDaily

Jane Iredale

It’s a six-week sweepstakes that began yesterday, that lets you build a makeup bag (virtually! online!), out of everything you could possibly want to fill it with – up to a value of $1,000. You choose your items based on the huge collection on the site, and then you plea your case by sharing why you chose those items.

Then, you go wild with social networking – promote your entry everywhere you haunt – be it Twitter, Facebook, whatev. If you win, you get everything your bag! That’s like an entire makeup wardrobe!

You ALSO get a trip to NY (where everyone should visit at least once!) and a makeup application by Jane Iredale. (I’d totally enter for that alone.) So, go enter! And tell them I sent you…

Post from: eBeautyDaily

The October issue of Fitness has a huge feature surrounding their 2009 Beauty Awards.

You can check it out for yourself, but among the winners are some of my faves, like Maybelline Lash Stiletto mascara, and Olay Professional Pro-X.

Image: Fitness Magazine

To celebrate this fabulous help – MUCH of the stuff on the list is drugstore brands! – we have a Fitness Magazine giveaway!

One reader will receive a Fitness-centric prize package, including a subscription to the magazine, cosmetic bag, umbrella, apron, floppy hat, notebook, massager, and baseball!

To have your chance at this fabulous prize package, please share your favorite beauty, skin, or hair find of 2009. Earn extra credit by RT-ing this contest (I’m @alywalansky on Twitter). Deadline to enter is October 15. Good luck!

Post from: eBeautyDaily

All glam girls know that hitting the sheets without removing your makeup is a major beauty faux pas.

(Just think about those once-gorgeous-now-ruined satin sheets.)

In fact, dermatologist Dr. Diane Berson told me, “It’s important to remove makeup, dirt and surface oils before going to bed. Not only do they sit on the surface of the skin and clog pores but they may be further rubbed into skin by laying on a pillow.”

Do you struggle to remove every last trace of your makeup at night? Do you wake up in the morning with raccoon eyes? If you answered “yes” to either of these questions, then you are the perfect candidate to participate in eBeautyDaily’s Makeup Remover Towelette Challenge!

The first 10 readers to comment below and join in on the challenge will be entered to judge the competition to help us determine which makeup remover towlettes can tackle your longest-lasting, smudge-free makeup.

Judges will receive two unbranded makeup remover towelettes and a waterproof mascara in the mail to test and report back on. AND to thank you for your time and participation, you will ALSO score a $25 AMEX gift card.

The results will be announced after everyone gets back to me with their findings…

Post from: eBeautyDaily

Maybelline

It’s so exciting that I may hang around all day. (Well, between the million other things I have to do that day, of course.)

In a nut shell, professional makeup artists will help women identify their perfect lip shades and will offer on-the-spot mini sensational lipcolor makeovers! (At Rite Aid in Grand Central 8-10am, 12-2pm, 3-7pm and also, outside Grand Central from 3-7pm.)

As if a free lip-over wasn’t enough fun, there’ll also be a free live musical performances by the CHICAGO cast between 3:30 and 4:30pm, during which you may enter to win FREE Tickets to Broadway’s CHICAGO. In fact, you can enter every hour to win these tickets.

Chances are a lot of you will be roaming around the city mid-day anyway – might as well get prettier while you’re at it!

Post from: eBeautyDaily

We all got to take home the products to try out but weren’t allowed to write about them until they were out and available on shelves.

Now they are, and I can gush with freedom! Fresh Effects has a super-awesome Scent Release Technology, that sends out burst of fresh scent at exactly when you most-need it. Also, the Clinical Strength? Well, lets just say I wore it while moving – as in HUGE giant boxes up and down 4 flights of stairs – and never broke a sweat! It has a patented triple-layer prescription strength protection. That’s nothing to sneeze at!

But my favorite is the Secret Flawless Clear Gel – summertime is the best time to switch to a clear gel deodorant – transparent is always a good idea! It’s for the most obvious of reasons – if you are running around in tank tops and halters all day, the last thing you want is white stains on your pits.

Now that I’ve waxed poetic about what I do about my sweat for several paragraphs, I want to hear about you. What are you sweating this summer? Share with us!

One winner will be chosen at random to receive a gift tote including all of the below:Beach tote, Beach towel, Sunglasses, Secret tank, Secret Clinical Strength Waterproof, Secret Flawless Clear Gel, Secret Fresh Effects, COVERGIRL Lash Blast Waterproof Mascara

To be eligble for this giveaway, you must also retweet the contest (I’m @alywalansky) – good luck! Deadline to enter is August 1.

Post from: eBeautyDaily

Purple Lab NYC

The contest surrounds Purple Lab’s Huge Lips, Skinny Hips lip gloss/plumper.

Each gloss is meant to have its personality, based on Karen’s favorite things, and each even comes with a note to explain the inspiration, for instance, there’s Love Your Thighs (self-explanatory) to Red Sole (a tribute to legendary designer, Christian Louboutin).

Anyway, the contest – which, I, too, am entering today – is to choose the shade that represents your personality, vote, view, and share it, and then the grand prize winner will win a trip to NYC with a friend for a tour of all of Karen’s own inspirations. This will include stuff like a shopping trip to Top Shop for Kate Moss designs, pole dancing lessons, and lychee martinis (a shared favorite cocktail of me and the Purple Lab girls!).

Check out the contest here. (And tell them I sent you!)

Post from: eBeautyDaily

Pepsi

Pepsi Natural is a new premium cola made with all-natural ingredients, including natural sugar, natural caramel, kola nut extract, natural apple extract, and lightly sparking water – all that healthy stuff!

It also comes in a glass bottle like in the good ole days. The new cola from Pepsi-Cola offers consumers a taste of all-natural, pure, simple enjoyment, and is currently available across the country.

I think this is the most fabulous idea ever (and a great compromise – you get to have the Pepsi you want, and know you aren’t being bad!). To celebrate this invention, one reader will win the below gift package:

Pepsi Natural re-usable canvas bag -100% organic cotton

· Yoga mat

· Yoga mat tote

· Pepsi Natural canvas hat made from 100% organic cotton

· 4-pack of Pepsi Natural premium cola drinks

To have your chance to win, tell me what you best like to eat with your Pepsi. Earn extra entries by retweeting this contest! (I’m @alywalansky) – deadline to enter is July 30.

Post from: eBeautyDaily

The occasion? Cetaphil is running a stylish promotion, where entrants can share what makes them feel most comfortable “in their skin“, what tropical locale they’d love to visit and which Cetaphil products they’d take with them on their travels.

People who advance to round 2 have a chance to win a trip to a paradise location, to stay at Marriott and Renaissance Caribbean and Mexico Resorts, plus  Cetaphil products, a Kate Spade getaway bag and a $500 American Express gift card to purchase favorite getaway essentials.

While I love any excuse to enjoy bellinis and waffles with my beauty gals, I think this is a great idea! Such a great idea that I plan to enter myself (lord knows I need a vacay…and a new bag!)

Post from: eBeautyDaily