Temptalia’s $500 ULTA Gift Card Giveaway – 5 Winners

It’s become an annual tradition to kick off the sale extravaganza that is Black Friday/Cyber Monday with a giveaway!  We’ve partnered with Ebates to give away five (5) $100 gift cards to Ulta to help you with your holiday shopping.  The giveaway is open to U.S. residents with a valid Ebates account!

Black Friday Beauty Busters at Ulta

Shop Ulta beginning 11/23 at 5PM CST for these Beauty Busters!  You’ll get double cash back (6%) if you’re an Ebates member during the sale!

• Anastasia Glow Kits, 40% off
• First Aid Beauty Might Marvels Set for $12.50 ($22 value)
• philosophy The Microdelivery Exfoliating Face Wash for $15 ($45 value)
• philosophy Shower Gels for $12 (regularly $18)
• Urban Decay 24/7 Glide-On Lip Pencils for $10 (regularly $20), Vice Liquid Lipsticks for $9 (regularly $18)

What’s Ebates?

Ebates helps you save money by giving you cash back on your online purchases at over 2,000 retailers, including ones like Sephora, Ulta, and Nordstrom! Right now, you’ll get a $10 welcome bonus when you join and make your first purchase of $25 or more.

For example, if a retailer has 10% cash back, and you make a $50 purchase, you’ll get $5 cash back (plus your $10 welcome bonus if it is your first purchase of $25+ through Ebates), which is paid out on a quarterly basis by check or PayPal. There’s no cost or fee to you; you just have to shop through Ebates before you make your purchase. To get the most out of Ebates, you can download their browser button that will keep you notified about the latest coupon codes, promos, and cash back.

Top Beauty Cash Back Deals | Now through 11/26/2017

• Neiman Marcus — was 3%, now 10%
• Sephora — was 4%, now 8% (through Ebates’ mobile app only, through 11/24!)
• Saks — was 4%, now 8%
• Lord & Taylor — was 4%, now 8%
• Bliss — was 4%, now 8%
• Dermstore — was 4%, now 8%
• shu uemura — was 3%, now 8%
• Ulta — was 3%, now 6%
• Barney’s — was 3%, now 6%
• Macy’s — was 3%, now 6%
• Neiman Marcus — was 3%, now 6%
• JCPenney — was 4%, now 6%
• and many more!

P&G is celebrating their 175th Anniversary!  To commemorate this momentous occasion, P&G Beauty brands are creating a time capsule filled with your favorite P&G beauty products that have helped you create the iconic beauty looks over the past years.  Brands like COVERGIRL, Olay, and Pantene have rich beauty histories and decades’ worth of products that have been incorporated into many of our lives, and this is a moment to think about how beauty trends have changed and how beauty products have innovated over the years.  P&G wants YOU! to vote for your favorite products to be included in the beauty time capsule.

VOTE NOW for your favorite beauty products!

To mark the year, P&G is also going to include iconic products that you can’t live without in 2013, and they’re looking for your suggestions!  Is it an iPad? This year’s best-selling book?  A peplum top? Can you imagine how much more will change and happen in the next 25 years?  The beauty time capsule might provide some comic relief when it is reopened in 2038!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Check out vintage looks at P&G Beauty through the years!

1951 50th Anniversary Ad for Gillette

As a young teen, my first shaving experience involved the Gillette Venus razor in pink. Even in the past decade, since first using one, there have been improvements and changes to the product. I had no idea how long Gillette has been a brand and how far they’ve come. Isn’t it crazy that they’ve been improving razors since 1901?

1973 Head & Shoulders with Scratch & Sniff

The boys in my life all seem to have had long-time relationships with Head & Shoulders. I remember my dad using it for ages, and my husband, Shaun, uses it religiously. He even tried to stray from it one time, and it was such an awful experience that he’s fully committed to Head & Shoulders for the long-haul! (You can read his “review” here, one of my favorite lines: “I imagine the people at Head and Shoulders are Witches and Warlocks who sit over a boiling brew stirring their magical elixir and having forest animals bottle it. It’s magic!”)

1974 Herbal Essence Ad

When I was old enough to pick out my own shampoo, I immediately went for Herbal Essences. I remember my sister and I would both use the giant bottles you bought at Costco.  There is something about the scent of Herbal Essences that takes me back, instantly, and is comforting as a result.

Here are some more vintage looks at P&G Beauty brands through the years…

1986 Olay – Dawning of a Beautiful Ritual

1989 Aussie Product Line-up

1935 Clairol Print Ad

Debut of CoverGirl CG Smoothers Hydrating Lipcolor

Pantene Department Store Display

Just in time for your Mother’s Day gift giving, Ebates has you covered with Double Cash Back at your favorite retailers, like kmart, QVC, Sephora, and Amazon!

Ebates gives you cash back every time you shop! Joining is free, and it costs nothing. Shop, get cash back, and Ebates will mail you a Big Fat Check four times a year or more.  I’ve been Ebates member for over a year now myself!

Check out these double cash back offers:

Mother’s Day Double Cash Back

• Avon – 7.0% Cash Back
• Blue Nile – 5.0% Cash Back
• Coach – 3.0% Cash Back
• QVC – 3.0% Cash Back
• eBags – 12.0% Cash Back
• FTD – 20.0% Cash Back
• JCrew – 6.0% Cash Back (plus save 25% off all orders with code SPRINGBEST, expires 5/3)
• Lands’ End – 6.0% Cash Back
• jcpenney – 8.0% Cash Back
• Kohl’s – 6.0% Cash Back
• LivingSocial – 4.0% Cash Back
• Macy’s – 6.0% Cash Back
• Magazines.com – 40.0% Cash Back
• Nordstrom – 5.0% Cash Back
• philosophy – 10% Cash Back (plus, up to 40% off on selected products!)
• Sephora – 8.0% Cash Back
• Teleflora – 20.0% Cash Back

Join Ebates today and start getting cash back on your online purchases!

April is National Stress Awareness month, and whether you’re preparing your tax return or taking midterms or final exams, we all have plenty of stress in our lives. It’s important that we take time for ourselves, which in itself can be a relaxing time, learn how to manage our stress, as well as look for products that will help save us time. P&G Beauty asked me to share how I deal with stress, so here are seveno f my tips to managing your stress levels and staying beautiful and lovely every step of the way.

1. Lists! I like to make big picture lists, but I also like to make more manageable lists, whether it’s broken out into daily tasks or weekly tasks. When I put what I need to do on paper (or digital paper–I’ve been using Wunderlist a lot lately), it makes everything seem more doable. It is also such a fantastic feeling whenever you get to cross or check off an item on your list! You feel accomplished and you can really see the progress you’re making through the list, which in turn makes the things you need to get done seem more and more possible!

2. Make your makeup last! When we’re busy, we don’t have time to touch-up throughout the day, and more importantly, we just don’t need to be worrying about whether our foundation is melting, our blush is fading, or our lip color is MIA. I might let myself be lazy about using primers and creating the best, most long-lasting base when I know I’m hanging out at home or only going out for a few hours, but when I need my makeup to last all day, it’s worth a few extra minutes to layer your products so they’ll last all day long or invest in products that are long-wearing. For example, when I’m at a conference, I make sure to apply primer, then foundation and concealer, and then everything gets set with powder. I even set my pencil eyeliner with powder eyeshadow!

• P&G Beauty Recommends: COVERGIRL Outlast 3-in-1 Foundation ($9.99), comes in 14 shades, and it includes a primer, foundation, and concealer in a single formula, plus it includes broad spectrum SPF 20.

3. Prevent scheduling conflicts! Try to schedule your longer appointments before or after big events, tests, etc. If you normally go to get your hair colored every two months, try to schedule appointments away from when you know you’re going to be so busy that the last thing you’ll want to deal with is a two-hour hair appointment! If your appointment falls right in the middle of exams, try at-home coloring to keep your hair color going between visits.

• P&G Beauty Recommends: Clairol Nice n’ Easy Root Touch-Up ($6.99), which comes in 20 shades, sold more than 25 million boxes, and is supposed to get rid of roots in just 10 minutes.

4. Stay positive! When I was high school and for the first year of college, I was totally Negative Nancy. At some point, I just got tired of being negative, sounding negative, and feeling negative all the time and decided to approach life with a “can-do” spirit. It’s absolutely true what they say about being positive: it helps you achieve your goals and keeps you feeling happier. Sure, we can’t always be positive, but we can try, and we can try to see the brighter sides of obstacles ahead of us and find ways to overcome them, rather than drown in thoughts of “I can’t.”

5. Exercise! Take time out of your busy schedule to run? Walk? Jog? Swim? Yoga? Yeah, I’m the Queen of this excuse, “But I don’t have time!” But it really does reset your stress levels. The physical activity is just good all-around, even on a mental-level. I personally find yoga to be my favorite, because I can push myself as hard (or as little) as I want that session, and it helps to stretch out all my tense muscles, which I inevitably get from being at the computer all day.

• P&G Beauty Recommends: Secret Clinical Strength Stress Response ($7.99 to $9.99), which is designed to fight all three sources of sweat (heat, exercise, and stress), contains the maximum level of anti-perspirant active offered without a prescription, and is proven to be “4x more effective at preventing stress-induced underarm wetness than a regular APDO.”

6. Make your products multi-task! Multi-tasking products are a great way to save money, because you don’t have to buy all of them individually, but they can save on space in your makeup bag. They can also be time-savers in a pinch! For instance, if you take your favorite lipstick and dab it on your cheeks, you’re got yourself a DIY cream blush! Or, take your favorite red lipstick and lightly pat it on and then apply balm and you have a lip stain.

• P&G Beauty Recommends: Olay Regenerist Micro-Sculpting Eye & Lash Duo ($24.99), which combines an eye cream with a lash serum designed to hydrate and firm the eye area while providing moisture to lashes.

7. Keep family and friends in the know! You need your support system to know what you’re going through. When it’s a crazy day here at the HQ, I let my friends and family know. They know it’s a red alert and not to bother me unless the sky is falling–but it helps cut down on noise and filters out things like, “Do you know where I put XYZ?” It can also help others know how to help you, whether that’s taking over a chore or two while you study for a big exam or make sure you haven’t forgotten to eat a meal.

There is something so old Hollywood about a simple up-do paired with a bolder–like a red–lip, which is always a classic staple of any red carpet event.  I loved how Beyonce glowed at the Grammy’s with a simple red lip, brightened eyes, and lush lashes. On the other end, many stars let their locks flow freely with soft waves, ringlets, and curls, and often, this style is paired with a softer lip; sometimes it’s a beige, but this year, there was a lot of rose-lipped stars.  You can see it on such stars as Anne Hathaway and Amanda Seyfried. (I also thought it would be fun to channel Jessica Alba’s side-swept part, since it’s something I haven’t done in ages!)

Look 1

Eyes: Define the brow by filling in with a color that matches your natural brow hair–I used COVERGIRL Eye Enhancers Eye Shadow in Brown Smolder filled in with an angled brow brush. Next, sweep on a warm gold (or cool silver) all over the lid–I used COVERGIRL Eye Enhancers 3 Kit Eye Shadow in Golden Sunset–and then defined the outer corner and crease very lightly with a matte dark brown (COVERGIRL Eye Enhancers Eye Shadow in Brown Smolder). I lined the lower lash line with a matte brown (COVERGIRL LiquilineBlast Eyeliner Pencil in Brown Blaze). Apply false eyelashes or layer on mascara, preferably one with defined bristles to minimize clumping and enhance definition; I used COVERGIRL Clump Crusher Mascara by LashBlast.

Face: I began by applying my moisturizer, letting it sink in, and then applying liquid foundation. To set and mattify, I used CoverGirl + Olay Pressed Powder in Medium. Then, I swept on a subtle rosy hue on cheeks (COVERGIRL Cheekers Blush in Brick Rose) with a slight shimmer finish to highlight as well.

Lips: To keep the look soft, feminine, and elegant, I opted for a light, rosy pink lip by using COVERGIRL LipPerfection Jumbo Gloss Balm in Radiant Rose.

Hair: Start by washing hair (I used Herbal Essences Shine Collection Shampoo and Conditioner), then spray on a heat protectant and blow dry locks until fully dry. I used four pumps of Aussie Miraculously Smooth Smoothing Serum (designed to reduce frizz) between my fingertips and then ran my fingertips through my hair to smooth everything out.

Check out look two!

Look 2

Eyes: Define the brow by filling in with a color that matches your natural brow hair–I used COVERGIRL Eye Enhancers Eye Shadow in Brown Smolder filled in with an angled brow brush. Next, sweep on a warm gold (or cool silver) all over the lid–I used COVERGIRL Eye Enhancers 3 Kit Eye Shadow in Golden Sunset–and then defined the outer corner and crease very lightly with a matte dark brown (COVERGIRL Eye Enhancers Eye Shadow in Brown Smolder). I lined the lower lash line with a matte brown (COVERGIRL LiquilineBlast Eyeliner Pencil in Brown Blaze). Apply false eyelashes or layer on mascara, preferably one with defined bristles to minimize clumping and enhance definition; I used COVERGIRL Clump Crusher Mascara by LashBlast.

Face: I started by applying my moisturizer, letting it sink in, and then applying liquid foundation. To set and mattify, I used CoverGirl + Olay Pressed Powder in Medium. Then, I swept on a subtle rosy hue on cheeks (COVERGIRL Cheekers Blush in Brick Rose) with a slight shimmer finish to highlight as well.

Lips: I wanted a more dramatic lip to work with the sleek bun I went for, so I used a glossy, plummy stain in COVERGIRL LipPerfection Jumbo Gloss Balm in Plum Twist.

Hair: Start by washing hair (I used Herbal Essences Shine Collection Shampoo and Conditioner), then spray on a heat protectant and blow dry locks until fully dry. Next, apply two pumps of a frizz-reducing product (I used Aussie Miraculously Smooth Smoothing Serum) to dry hair, and pull into a tight ponytail about half-way on the head. I then twisted the ponytail and wrapped it around the base to create a bun. I used a dozen black bobby-pins to secure the bun in place, then spritzed the whole ‘do with hair spray (I used Herbal Essences Tousle Me Softly Hair Spray).

Whole Foods Market believes it’s important that what you put on your body is just as important as what you put in your body. They have an entire beauty and body care area in their stores devoted to delivering the latest and greatest healthy, natural beauty products for their customers. Their Organic Body Care Standards help to ensure the products you’ll find on their shelves are truly as organic as they say–all personal care products with an “organic” claim must be certified by USDA Natural Organic Standards and contain at least 95% organic ingredients. So when you see a label with “organic” on it, you’ll know you’re getting a product that meets their standards and isn’t just capitalizing on a trend.

To create this lip, I first lined lips with Mineral Fusion Graceful Lip Pencil (a warm rosy brown). Then I layered Dr. Hauschka Red Quartz (13) Inner Glow Lipstick, a soft warm red, on top. As a final flourish, I topped off the lip color with a layer of Mineral Fusion Dazzle Lip Gloss, a medium rose with hints of beige. Natural beauty doesn’t have to be boring beauty!

One of the hardest parts for customers when shopping for more natural and organic beauty products is that it can be difficult to suss out who actually means what they say.  The government doesn’t currently require any labeling of organics in skincare, and this is why it’s incredibly helpful that Whole Foods Market has taken the guesswork out of the equation as the first major brand to make accurate labeling a requirement. Whether you’re looking for products for body, hair, skin, or makeup, you’ll find them at Whole Foods Market–and the brands and products they carry aren’t just throwing out buzz words; these brands stand behind their philosophies and embody them at the core. You’ll find brands like Gabriel, Mineral Fusion, Zuzu, Dr. Hauschka, Hemp Originals, and more.

For Northern California locations, Whole Foods is having a 30% Whole Body Makeup Sale from February 13th through February 17th. It would be a fantastic time to browse and get lost in their beauty aisles! And what better way to celebrate than with a giveaway featuring a basket worth $350 of Mineral Fusion?

a Rafflecopter giveaway

To enter & read official rules… 

The approximate value of the grand prize is $350.00. This prize is non-transferable. There are no cash or other substitutes of prizes by winner. Temptalia reserves the right to substitute similar prizes of equal or greater value in the event the above prize is unavailable for any reason. Individual, parent, or legal guardian of the winner is solely responsible for all applicable federal, state and local taxes with respect to the grand prize. Prize will be mailed to the winner’s physical mailing address. Please allow six (6) to eight (8) weeks for delivery.

By entering or accepting the prize in this contest, winner agrees  to be bound by these Official Rules, Terms, and Conditions and to conform to all federal, state and local laws and regulations.

No purchase necessary to enter or win. This contest runs from February 5th, 2013 through February 15th, 2013 at 12:00AM EST.

Eligibility

This contest is open to U.S. participants unless prohibited by their local state/country. Prizes won by minors will be awarded to their parent or legal guardian on their behalf. For reference, the age of majority is 18 years old in the United States, with the exception of Alabama (19), Delaware (19), Mississippi (21), and Nebraska (19). The number of eligible entries received determines the odds of winning. Eligible participants are allowed to enter up to one (1) time, as per the section below.

How to Win

One (1) winner will be selected through a random drawing from all eligible entries after contest closes to win. In the event that the original winner does not meet eligibility requirements or he/she forfeits the prize, the prize may be awarded to the next randomly drawn eligible participant. All entries must be received on or before February 15th, 2013 at 12:00AM EST. The winners will be notified via e-mail or message (as applicable). Winner will have 48 hours to claim prize after initial notification. If winner fails to claim within 48 hours, an alternative winner may be selected.

Disclosures

This promotion is in no way sponsored, endorsed or administered by, or associated with, Facebook, Google, or Twitter. We hereby release Facebook, Google, and Twitter of any liability. Information that participant discloses is provided to Temptalia, not to Facebook, Google, or Twitter.