Swanky Sweepin' Volume 88

Sweepstakes of the week:

Daily:

A fridge that look like an amp  yep. One winner a day, ends 7/2

Mini tablet  150 winners, ends 7/13

2 round trip flights  30 winners, ends 7/7

Single:

Trip to Comic-Con  and other prizes, ends 6/29

Ford of your choice  up to $30,000. Ends 12/31

Trip to meet the good people of Duck Dynasty  Ends 7/31

Trip to a Maroon 5 concert  so you can ask Adam Levine all about American Horror Story: Asylum. 10 winners, ends 9/9

Firmoo Glasses Giveaway!

Firmoo loves you, our readers, SO MUCH they're willing to give me some discount codes to give away! Woohoo!

If you're not familiar with Firmoo... we've written about them a couple times before - cheap (but quality) glasses, no hassle, and fast shipping! Why pay a ton for one pair of reading glasses when you can pick a bunch to go with all your cute outfits at a great price?

If you've never ordered from them before you already qualify for a free pair (just pay shipping). If you are already a customer, no worries - I have six $20 E-vouchers to use on a pair from the classic series AND if we get more than 50 entries one grand prize winner will get a totally free pair of their choice from the line.

How do you enter? All you have to do is visit the Firmoo site and comment on this post telling us which pair of eyewear you'd love to win from the classic series (this entry is mandatory). Want extra entries? Like our facebook page and comment back here with your facebook name, and/or tweet or pin this giveaway (or do both!) and provide us with the link. One comment for each entry and make sure you include your email on at least one so we can contact you if you're a winner!

Ends 6/30!

Swanky Sweepin' Volume 87

Sweepstakes of the week:

Daily:

Trip to London to see Les Mis  Ends 7/22

Xbox with Kinect  3 winners a week, ends 7/9


Single:

Trip to London  Ends 6/26

Trip to Paris  Ends 6/30

$250 Delicate Raymond shopping spree  28 winners, ends  7/29

2013 Fiat 500  Ends 6/27

2013 Mercedes C-Class  and other prizes, ends 8/31

Chevy Spark  and other instant win prizes, ends 12/31

Swanky Sweepin' Volume 86

Sweepstakes of the week:

Daily:

$50 Live Nation concert cash  100 winners a week, ends 8/29

$500 gas card  1 winner a day, ends 6/26

Vacation  6 winners, various locations, plus instant prizes. Ends 8/4

2013 Fiat and a vacation  Ends 6/30


Single:

$250 Target card and makeup  Pinterest contest, 4 winners, ends 6/30

Beauty stuff  All end 6/30

50 film blu-ray collection  Ends 6/16

CHI flat iron or curler  50 winners, ends 6/24

Trip to Paris  Open to residents of CA, MA, NY, and FL. Ends 9/15

2013 Nissan GT-R  and daily prizes of $50 Ebay credits, ends 7/4

Trip to Vegas and tickets to see NKOTB  Ends 6/13

Swanky Sweepin' Volume 85

Sweepstakes of the week:

Daily:

$$$  Lots of winners, ends 7/31

Lots of stuff  1-10 winners a day, ends 6/20

Fancy vacation  4 winners, plus other prizes. Ends 8/9


Single:

Trip to S Dakota  4 winners, ends 6/14

Virginia vacation  4 winners, ends 6/6

Trip to Alaska  2 winners, ends 6/6

Trip to Lollapalooza  Ends 6/23

$1,000 Barneys shopping spree  Ends 6/25

2013 Prius  Ends 7/31

Decleor suncare  50 winners, ends 7/29

Cheap Thrills: Black Magic

We all know I'm the gothic Whoreder, so it comes as no surprise that I love the darker side of life - and that includes my beauty products. What fine lady and dapper gent couldn't do with a little black magic in their beautification routine?

Shampoo/Conditioner
Let's start from the top, my long-time hair care companion, Aveda's Black Malva Shampoo and Conditioner. I've been using Aveda for 20+ years, and although I like to try new products now and then, I've never been without my beloved Black Malva. It's made for dark hair colors, and helps bring out the cooler tones while reducing red & brassy tones. I loathe red in my hair, I want it black as black can possibly be. As mentioned on Aveda's site, "Contains organically grown aloe, black tea and emollient-rich black malva that's been wild-crafted—sustainably gathered by hand in its natural habitat." 

Left: Black Malva Shampoo, Right: Black Malva Conditioner

Black Malva is part of Aveda's Pure Plant collection, and there are other flavors colors available: Blue Malva (for blonde or grey hair), Camomile (brightens blonde highlights), Clove (enriches brown hair), and Madder Root (for red & auburn hair).


Charcoal Skincare

Black Moon Charcoal Sandalwood Soap

Charcoal is another dark and lovely ingredient that can work its black magic on your skin. Activated charcoal can draw out dirt and muck from your pores, leaving you with super clean skin. You can use if for your face, or for your whole body - just don't forget to do your best Buffalo Bill Silence of the Lambs voice while you lather up. The first charcoal soap I ever tried was Shea Moisture, which is available at drugstores (I got mine at Target). But there are so many out there now! Here are some others I've tried and are on my to-try list: Coal Face from Lush, Origins Body Soap, Soapwalla's Charcoal Soap, and Sisters of the Black Moon's Charcoal Sandalwood soap.


Origins Charcoal Mask
 

Origins Clear Improvement Charcoal Mask

Origins introduced me to the world of charcoal years ago, and I still love their Clear Improvement Charcoal Mask. I use it a couple of times a month, and follow their recommendation to use a warm towel on my face right before applying the mask. The warmth will open up your pores and help the charcoal draw out the ick that got all up in your face. The 1.7 oz size is only $16, and will be enough for multiple uses, so treat yoself!

Boscia Black Mask  & Pore Strips
I am having a hardcore love affair with Boscia at the moment, their BB Cream blew my socks off and I've started trying more of their products (and falling deeper in love). I got their Little Black Book kit as a gift, it includes sample size versions of their Black Collection - all products that help control shine and minimize pores.

Boscia Pore Purifying Black Strips

Boscia's Pore Purifying Black Strips are like those disgusting but fascinating pore strips you may have tried in the past. Boscia kicks it up a notch by including charcoal powder (to draw out dirt and oil), silica (to control excess oil), witch hazel extract (tightens the look of pores), and willowherb (an anti-irritant to help calm skin and remove redness). Plus, hello, they make you look fabulous!

Boscia Luminizing Black Mask

My new favorite Boscia obsession, Luminizing Black Mask! First off, it's a peel-off - so you feel like a mad scientist or Christian Bale in American Psycho.  You apply a coat of the mask on your whole face (I just did my nose in the photos above), avoiding your hairline and brows. You wait for it to dry, about 30 min, and then slowwwwwly peel it off. If feels super weird and kind of gross, but SO GOOD. If you're a real weirdo (like me), you can save the peeled off sections to study later.

Nail Polish

Let's all agree that Karen O is amazing, okay?  That being said, her KnockOut (KO, get it?) Nail Polish is amaaaaazing! I especially love her Flatte Black, a black-black-black no-shine polish that comes in a beautiful bottle. I love flat nail color, hop aboard my crazy train. They also make a Flatte Top top coat that protects your polish while keeping the color matte.

Illamasqua also makes two really nice black polishes, Scorn (flat) and Boosh (glossy). I love their polish, it lasts a really long time and the color selection is gorgeous.

I've missed sharing my Cheap Thrills with you! I promise not to be such a stranger, if you promise to do that thing you told me about that one time.

Until next time, stay glamorous...

Swanky Sweepin' Volume 84

Sweepstakes of the week:

Daily:

no.


Single:

Xbox One console  10 winners, ends 6/2

iPad mini  3 winners, ends 5/31

2013 Honda Accord Sedan EX  Ends 6/10

Polaroid instant digital camera  50 winners, ends 7/29

Oscar de la Renta dress of your choice  Ends 6/5

Trip to Comic-Con  Ends 6/17

Cruiser bike  22 winners, ends 9/2

Bluth's Frozen Banana Stand replica  WANT. Ends 6/2