I hope you’re getting glammed up for a fabulous soiree, or getting settled for a cozy night at home with your nearest and dearest. (I chose the latter!) Whatever the weather, I hope you’re celebrating in a way that truly brings you joy and bodes only positive vibrations for this bright new decade we’re about to enter.

Either way, you should probably expect a smooch or two at the stroke of midnight. And in the event that happens, you want to be ready. Few things are more unfortunate than a truly beautiful woman who’s dressed to the nines, but has awful smelling breath. I’ve tried out quite a few breath fresheners — allow me to share my tried and tested favorites!

For years I had issues with keeping my tongue clean. I’d tried it all – plastic scrapers, Waterpik attachments, crazy toothbrushes that promised to make tongue brushing easier. Nothing worked comfortably until Tung came into my life. The round brush and breath freshening gel work wonders to remove the layer of gunk that can make your tongue look less than pink and smell less than awesome. The only flaw with Tung is, it’s not available in retail stores. So click here to get it from Drugstore.com.

For something that works well that you can totally find at your local drug or grocery store, there’s Rembrandt. I’m not a fan of mouth guard-type teeth whitener trays, and their Peroxide Whitening Mouthwash leaves my mouth feeling fresh and kissable, while promising to gently whiten teeth over time. My mama bella is a big believer in the power of peroxide, so I know she’d love this mouthwash as much as I do!

In the fancy-imported tooth product department, there’s Elgydium. This whitening sodium-bicarbonate toothpaste is super popular in France. Here it retails for $7 a tube on Drugstore.com. If you like gel-based super minty toothpastes, you may not love this. Elgydium paste is opaque, white, and not hyper sweet like many stateside tooth products. But does it work to keep your mouth minty fresh and beautiful? Yes! It reminded me of yet another one of my mom’s island remedies – brushing your teeth with baking soda. It truly works. Elgydium has a similar effect.

For kisses on the go, you need to bring one or two Colgate Wisp brushes with you. They’re available in any retail oral care aisle, and work great for when you’re out somewhere and need to be at your most fabulous. Mini brushes with a freshening bead. Excuse yourself right before the stroke of midnight, and you’ll be ready for a kiss to remember!

However and wherever you celebrate, here’s to a 2010 filled with promise! Here’s to sweet kisses for New Year’s Eve. Xoxoxo, bellas!

Related posts:

1. My Monday Manicure — Hard Candy Sweet P
2. Sweet Deals!
3. The Most Wonderful Time of the Year

How cute is Mally Roncal? Seriously — she’s the living embodiment of adorable. Always impeccably turned out, always smiling, always encouraging regular women like you and me to believe in our own beauty. I think she’s the bees knees.

The celebrity makeup artist earned her stripes by beating the faces of Jennifer Lopez, Beyonce, Mariah, Mary J. Blige, and Iman. Now her Mally Beauty brand makes big bucks on QVC, because she brings her expert aesthetic and enthusiasm for everyday beauty to life with her products.

Recently she debuted her fragrance, Mally. If you’re looking for a unique, upbeat, fresh, youthful and sexy scent — you need to get a whiff of this. Citrusy, and scented with the Phillipines’ national flower the Sampaguita – Mally is delicious on your pulse points. I had a chance to review the scent and ask Mally some questions about it, via e mail.

I had to learn more about this flower that Mally used — Sampaguita, a tropical jasmine flower. The essence of the flower speaks directly to Mally’s culture and the concept of her whole cosmetics line. Mally passionately believes that beauty is an all-encompassing entity. “Beauty isn’t just about color cosmetics and covering up a blemish,” she says adding, “I wanted to create a scent that embodies who I am…something fresh and feminine that makes you feel joyful and invigorated.” A proud supporter of the Filipino community, Mally’s signature fragrance pays homage to her heritage using notes from the Sampaguita flower. The name translates in English to “I promise you,” and represents a symbol of fidelity, devotion, purity, strength and dedication.

Blooming throughout the year, the Samapaguita produces tiny white, dainty, star-shaped flowers that bloom at night and wilt in less than a day. It’s precious, yet fleeting. “Since I was young, I was taught to appreciate life in the same way. This fragrance reminds me of the philosophy, ‘Live every day as though it’s your last.’”

Mally’s fragrance is for a particular kind of woman. “A true girly girl, who wants to feel invigorated, optimistic, joyful and strong,” says Mally.

Although Mally has worked with the uber famous, she creates beauty products for the American everywoman. And she notes similarities, when it comes to the beauty needs of celebrities versus everyday women.

“No matter how famous women are, we all have the same needs and desires- to look and feel as gorgeous as possible. That’s why I developed bullet proof, high performance make up. When we put our make up on, we want it to stay through the many thing we do in our busy lives. High performance is what I aim for every product!”

I had to know — what’s the one product from Mally Beauty that every woman deserves to have? “Cancellation Concealer because the base of every stunning look is great skin,” she responded.

One essential that I’ve grown to love is Mally’s Eye Performance 3-Piece Bestseller Collection. It’s such an effortlessly beautiful everyday eye kit. The Evercolor Shadow Stick in taupe is super blendable and actually makes a great base for more courageous shades, if you want more eye drama. For me, it’s so perfect for every day glam. For example — by the time you read this, I’m going to be out doing my holiday shopping. And guess what I’ll be wearing on my eyes! The volumizing mascara gives great definition and lasts for hours. And the evercolor starlight waterproof eyeliner is my favorite go-to black liner of the moment. It doesn’t run. It doesn’t smudge. It gives a great, smooth line, and it lasts all day!

The good people of QVC and Mally Beauty are providing me with THREE Mally Beauty Eye Performance kits to give away! All you gotta do is comment below and tell me — what’s your everyday eye makeup look?

I’ll leave this open for the weekend, and close comments next Wednesday. And a winner will be announced before Christmas!

QVC’s contest rules below: please read so your questions can be answered, bellas. Good luck!

NO PURCHASE NECESSARY. Void where prohibited. Open only to legal residents who are 18 or older. Commencing on Dec 18, 2009 at 2 p.m. Eastern Time (”ET”) and continuing through Dec 23, 2009 at 2 p.m. ET, Afrobella will give away (3) Mally 3 Piece Eye Kits randomly to anyone who posts a comment on the Mally blog post. Limit one prize per household. Total retail value of prize $108. Winners will be notified by email. Offer valid while supplies last. Giveaway sponsored by Afrobella; Prizes selected by Afrobella in its sole discretion. Prize provided by QVC, Inc.

Comments are closed! Thanks, you guys!!

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2. Makeup Tips from Damone Roberts!
3. Bare Escentuals Buxom Babes Giveaway!

This year I plan on featuring quality, not quantity — 12 gift posts, one for each day of Christmas. Expect to hear only about the products I truly think are unique, under the radar, and totally gift-worthy. Over the past twelve months I’ve been receiving and reviewing some amazing items, and I can truly recommend something fresh and fun for every kind of bella.

My first suggestions will combat your skin’s urgent needs as the weather grows colder. Because ashy isn’t a good look for the holiday season!

For Your Girlfriend Who Enjoys Her Cocktails — ain’t nothin’ wrong with that (as long as you’re over 21)!

This year, instead of getting your amiga bar tools or a bottle of booze, serve up something saucy from Miss She. Founded by Sheila Driver, the idea behind these decadent bath and body products is, “after a stressful day, it is time for happy hour for the body.” These handcrafted treatments are so perfect for a spa-at-home experience, and SO delicious. Her Buerre Mousse is a thick, whipped moisturizing body butter. It comes in flavors ranging from Berry Perry Daiquiri to 7 & 7, and all of them are supremely moisturizing and smell good enough to taste. And starting at $6.50 for 2 oz, they’re cheaper than a drink at a fancy bar anyway! Get your girlfriend the Buerre Mousse sampler gift set for $25 — it comes in three cocktail scents. Or if she’s a chocoholic, spring for the Chocolate Martini for Lovers spa gift set. $35 for 4 oz, $45 for 8 oz, and it includes bath/body/massage oil, buttercream body wash, creamy body oil, body spritz, the beurre mousse and a feather duster for those flirtatious evenings. Yummy head to toe!

For Your Girlfriend Who Gives Till it Hurts — bless her heart, but she can be hard to shop for. Do you have a friend who swears by anything that’s all natural, organic, vegan, and/or fair trade? Then you know how hard they can be to shop for! Treat your amiga to a product that meets her standards. Shea Yeleen is exactly what you’re looking for.

Shea Yeleen is the highly moisturizing, highly effacious product made by Shea Yeleen International, a non profit organization that works with and trains impoverished women in Burkino Faso, Ghana, and Mali to produce shea butter, earn an income, and provide for their families. You can donate to Shea Yeleen here through Global Giving, or click here to purchase. The lavender and honeysuckle body butter is pure decadence in a jar. Use sparingly — a little goes a long way.

For the Bella Who Has Everything — only the best will do! You can do some high end one-stop shopping at The Organic Pharmacy. This magnificent emporium prides itself in producing only the purest natural and organic products with which to pamper your body and spirit. And it just might get a little spiritual, when you catch a whiff of the jasmine bath oil. Just two capfuls in a warm bath is enough for a transportative experience.

The Spa Gift set would thrill any bella who loves the finer things in life. The set includes Cleopatra’s Milk Bath and Cleopatra’s Scrub. The concoctions are infused with rose petals, and essential oils of rose, jasmine, and ylang ylang. $110 for the set, but the “me” time that comes with such an indulgence = priceless.

Which kind of bella are you? Which of these products sound like they’d make you smile on Christmas Day?

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Let me tell you, bellas!

Last night I attended a special event, courtesy of Dove Visibly Smooth deodorant. At a gorgeous place called Spa Soak in the trendy Bucktown neighborhood of Chicago, I recieved a “piticure.” On my way back home, I tweeted the following:

“Just had a Dove deodorant “PitiCure” – just so you know, I have baby smooth Beyonce armpits now.”

The response was overwhelming! Everyone wanted to know — what on earth is a piticure, and where can I get one?

It’s super easy and you can totally DIY.

It’s as simple as that! Click here to learn all about it

My piticure began with a very necessary neck and shoulder massage — I seem to store all my tension there and the muscles are always insanely tight. Sarah, my masseuse worked it OUT for me, and today I am so grateful. I love a good, theraputic massage and clearly I needed one!

After that she cleansed my armpits with Dove’s Cool Moisture Cleansing Cloths — they’re refreshing and durable, and gently exfoliate your skin. Love em!

Then she moisturized my armpits with a little lotion — I believe it was Nourishing Moisture Beauty Body Lotion. Then to end the piticure, I applied some Dove Visibly Smooth deodorant in Nature Fresh.

I’ve been using Visibly Smooth in Wild Rose for maybe the past month or so, and I really have noticed a difference. My underarm hair grows in softer and finer, less prickly and thick. It hasn’t reduced the growth of it at all, but it makes for easier shaving and depilatory use.

After my piticure, I got my nails done by Rachel, a super cute manicurist. We were cracking each other up — and together we came up with a killer color combination!

That’s OPI’s brand new skates, and Essie nail polish in Classical, a really interesting sheer, shimmery pale green for my accent nail. Apparently Classical is a rare enough shade that it’s going for $16 on Ebay. Who knew?

And I gotta tell y’all – I LOVE the layout of Spa Soak! This place is awesome for bridal showers or girls’ afternoons out, or just to go with your BFF. Pedicure stations are set up right next to each other so you can gab the whole time. I love spas set up for socializing!

So even though it may sound weird to have a stranger pamper your armpits, I thoroughly enjoyed my piticure and I’m definitely going to continue the trend at home. I’ll have Beyonce armpits someday!

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1. Latest, Greatest Drugstore Buys
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Last week I was spritzing myself with Calvin Klein’s 2009 Eternity Summer and my mom in law literally stopped in her tracks as she was walking by. “Mmmmm! You smell gorgeous!”

Why thanks, Mom! Yes. Yes I do.

Eternity Summer will win you over if you’re a fan of Calvin Klein fragrances in general – it hews close to the formula of clean, fresh and floral. The initial spritz is sweet, but when it all dries down, it’s a mild, clean floral at heart. It’s a pleasant scent, but didn’t make my heart skip a beat.

I found Calvin Klein’s Euphoria Spring Temptation to be far more heady, delicious, and me. Now Smell This did a great rundown of the fragrance notes: ” lush pear blossom, guava leaf, fluid waterfall accord, pink lily, dewy violet, white sandalwood, pure frosted musk and untouched amber.”

Heavens to mergatroid.

All of that sounds fancy enough, but I am not so complicated when it comes to fragrance. Does Euphoria Spring Temptation smell good? YES. It’s fruity yet floral, feminine and refreshing. And the bottle looks gorgeous on my dresser. Spring, Summer – who cares! I’d gladly repurchase this when my bottle runs out. It’s perfumey without being overpowering.

Which is not what I can say about Queen Latifah’s debut fragrance, titled simply – Queen. Its a notable and regal blend, alright — incense, musk, sandalwood, cognac and golden tequila are among its notes.
This is a heavy, very womanly, very I AM WEARING PERFUME kind of fragrance — far more a Fall fragrance than a Summer scent. I found it to be reminiscent of Eighties era fragrances, but not in a bad way.

It took me back to the days when my mom wore a power suit and had a batallion of very ferosh perfumes at the ready. Feminine, sexy, don’t eff with me. If you like less noticeable scents, you might not be down with Queen. But if you want to remind yourself and others that you are woman, hear you roar, you’ll probably love it! It hits shelves in August.

Need more recommendations? My homegirl Sicka Than Average came up with a killer list of summer fragrances herself!

Have you tried any new fragrances lately? Tell me about them!

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1. 5 Things… Scents of the Season
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I have yet to find the ideal deodorant. It’s always two out of three – most often they glide smoothly and smell great, but leave tell-tale signs of residue. That’s just how it is. And having read a few articles about deodorant being bad for me, I decided to give the alternative antiperspirant thing a try. Again. This time around I tried Lavilin, a “unique herbal deodorant free of aluminum and other harsh chemicals.” Lavilin promises that just one application can leave you odor free for up to seven days.

I decided to take the Lavilin challenge and chart my 7-day experience. All in the name of being a braver beauty blogger.

Before you begin using Lavilin, you’re supposed to refrain from using other deodorants for two days. So my advice to you if you plan to try it yourself — if you don’t want to wind up stinky and sweaty-pitted, try to start on a cool day when you don’t have to do any strenuous activities and be around lots of people.

Day 1 — I can’t lie. My first thought as I opened the package was, this is weird. And kinda old school. Lavilin comes in this little funky jar with three pointy little legs, like a spaceship in a 1950’s film. It’s a thick white cream that smells like… well, nothing really. Lavilin has a very mild scent that I can only compare to Pond’s cold cream or Nivea in the big blue jar. Very clean and cream-like, if that makes any sense. And did I mention it’s thick? You only need a fingertip-size dab to cover your whole armpit. Upon initial application it made my armpit looks really gray. Lavilin definitely took quite a while to fully absorb into my skin. But I’m skeptical. I apply this stuff on day 1 and it’s supposed to last a week? Through showering and sweating? Yeah, right.

Day 2 – Woke up smelling great! So I decided to challenge Lavilin with a workout. 30 minutes on the elliptical trainer got me sweaty, but not smelly. And after showering… still scentless. And my armpits felt particularly soft and touchable. That never happens with regular deodorant.

Day 3 - Experiencing some um… hormonal challenges? I don’t exactly smell… but I feel like I could at any time. Better compensate with extra perfume. Yeah, that’s the ticket. Perfecto!

Day 4 - OK I can definitely smell myself. This might be because I gave myself a brown sugar body scrub and exfoliated my armpits. Or it could be because I live in Miami, which is guaranteed to mean a case of swamp pits for anyone under any circumstance. Hmm. Tempted to reapply. I’ll try to stick it out to day 5. Maybe it’s in my head.

Day 5 - Yeah, it’s definitely not in my head. Now comes the big question — do I reapply more Lavilin, or go back to my regular favorites?

I went back to Dove on day 6.

Maybe you’ve got a reason to switch from the typical well known brands, maybe most deodorants give you a rash, maybe you’re looking for an alternative that feels healthier. If you’re looking for a aluminum-free deodorant replacement that really works, Lavilin is awesome. But if you’ve got no complaints with the popular brands, and prefer having the option to have armpits that smell like Vanilla Chai, then Lavilin may not be for you.

Click here to get Lavilin.

What’s your de-scenter of choice?

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3. 5 Things… I’m Loving This Week

Between dealing with teeny tiny shower stalls, weird water pressure, learning the difference between hard and soft water, and packing light to bounce easily from apartment to apartment, it’s been a lesson in beauty essentials. So what products have been my must-haves along the way, from lip-blistering cold in New York City to balmy Mobile, Alabama? Here’s some brand new reviews, to fill you in on what I’ve road tested!

In NYC and Washington DC, I got a raw taste of what life in Chicago will do to my beauty regimen. Bellas, moisture is a must. My skin got dry, dry, dry. My hair was bigger and poofier than I was accustomed to it being. And my lips! Oh, my dry, aching lips. I am the kind of lady who carries around a big pouch o’ lip glosses for any beautifying occasion, but when it came to imparting any kind of lasting moisture, I’m sad to say some of the biggies fell short. When Blistex and Nivea couldn’t stand the pressure, I reached for a teeny silver bullet. Snog lip balm, straight outta England, is the business!

The Virgin Cherry flavor is sweet, and Snog is so moisturizing and feels so good, my husband started calling it “lip crack.” As in, “hey, I need some more of your lip crack!” Even though this is an imported product, it’s pretty cheap at $2.49 a tube. And as you probably already know, “snog” is slang for kiss. And I don’t tell but you have my word – this product keeps your lips kissably soft.

I already praised the customer service at the Carol’s Daughter flagship store in Harlem, but I didn’t yet get a chance to gush over my latest purchases. That Hair Balm is the bomb!

When my tresses were stressed with the cold and wind, I discovered that slicking on Hair Balm after doing a conditioner wash really helped to keep my hair touchable, less tangled, protected from the elements, and super shiny. Hair Balm is a blend of soy oil, sweet almond oil, and coconut oil. It’s thick and my hair absorbed it best when I kept it in the shower stall with me, then warmed the balm between my palms before slicking it on from root to tip. Will I love Hair Balm as much in warm weather, when my hair tends to respond best to lighter products? I’ll find out when I get back to Miami, and let you know.

Now about that conditioner wash… with all the wind and cold and rain (especially in DC, yeesh), the ends of my hair got really knotty and snarled. I needed a good, moisturizing condish to make my situation even a little comb-throughable. And wouldn’t you know it, the products I managed to not-remember-to-pack included perfume, mascara, and a good conditioner. So I had to run to a Duane Reade and lo and behold — the Organix Hair Care line was fully in stock!

In Miami I was unfortunately only able to find one or two of this company’s products, but NYC and DC had it goin’ on. The Smoothing Shea Butter was JUST what I needed. It smells great, and made combing through the tangles much, much easier. And SCORE, each bottle comes with a “try me free!” label attached, so you can mail your receipt back and be recompensated for trying something new that actually works well. I’m a fan of this brand and plan to repurchase for sure.

Normally I’m the kind of bella who spritzes herself all over with an eau de toilette, but alas, I forgot em all at home when I left. But I was smart enough to bring my favorite Kiehls essence oil, and it’s lasted through the trip and then some. Now anyone who is familiar with the Kiehls brand knows, it isn’t exactly cheap. What it is, though, is great quality. There’s a reason these products have been around since 1851.

The Kiehls essence oils represent that rich heritage, and each package displays the date of their first known introduction to the market — Mink in 1921, Coriander in 1946, Vanilla in 1968, and Grapefruit in 1976. If you’re a vanilla lover like me, know that this isn’t your plain jane vanilla. This scent will linger on your pulse points for hours on end. If you spring for the $42.50 1 oz bottle that comes packaged sans-rollerball applicator, you get the added bonus of mixing drops of your pure oil with other oils — just a drop combined with some organic coconut oil makes such a sweetly scented treat for your hair! Whenever I mix up that concoction, my husband loves the way my hair smells. But at $42.50, I wouldn’t advise mixing it up every day! Use sparingly and on special occasions.

My road trip ends tomorrow, bellas. If you sent me an Ask Afrobella question, or are just waiting for me to get back to regular beauty blog posts — fret not! I’ll be back in great shape by next week, and I’ve got a stack of questions to answer, products to review, and stuff to share with all of you!

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This photo is one of my favorites. It was taken by a photographer for the Miami Herald, and featured on the cover of the paper shortly before Valentine’s Day this year, accompanying a story about frugal Valentine’s Day ideas. But the backstory behind the photo is kind of funny — my husband and I had to hold the pose and sit tight for about 20 minutes while the photographer fiddled with his camera settings to prevent the candle’s flames from reflecting all over our faces. Lucky for us, the candles in the photo smelled absolutely incredible, so crouching with our noses so close to them was kind of wonderful. Let me tell you about some of the candles you see flickering before you, and some home fragrance companies you absolutely should check out! Oh, and spoiler alert — there’s a giveaway at the end of this post!

Sacred Glo is a candle company I learned about via Twitter — the creator is a very friendly bella, and from the moment she approached me about her products I kind of knew I’d love them. What can I say; I’m a fool for romance, and massage candles can really ignite the mood!

Sacred Glo candles are all natural lotion candles that come in four divine scents — Sacred Clarity, Almond Glo, Nevis Island Breeze, and Sensual Groove. At $24.99, they’re totally worth it if you’re especially into natural goodness. Made with soy bean oil, shea butter, natural essential oils and eco-friendly fragrant scents, the temperature of the melted oil is just 2 degrees above body temperature, so it’s never hot enough to burn your skin. Light one up, let it melt, and enjoy your loved one rubbing warm massage oil all over you. It’s like heaven, trust! Visit Sacred Glo.com for yours.

If you love a highly scented, robust, room filling candle (and price isn’t an object), check out Candle Delirium — they’ve got quite a collection of high end home fragrance items. Tocca, Voluspa, Paddywax, and Archipelago Botanicals are all here, but the one my husband loved was Blue Absinthe by Delirium and Co..

It’s described in somewhat florid prose as “Dark, mysterious and regal…capturing the essence of royalty and sophistication, a time when men were brave, suave and chivalrous.” OK then! So how does it smell? The blend of absinthe, vetyver, blonde woods, basil and rosemary is very strong, and very, very manly. This candle smells kind of like I’d like my husband to smell. Does it come in a cologne, too? $38 for a heavy 7.9 oz candle in a translucent, reflective midnight blue glass.

And finally, finally I can shout to the world about MickeyMade! These candles are so sweetly scented, I just want to eat them! The creator (that’d be Mickey) took a hiatus from business but now is back and better than ever. Mickey Made candles are super afforable ($1.75 for a “mini,” 9 oz candles cost $6.50, and big 16 oz candles are just $10.50), and they come in so many fragrances, it’ll make your head spin. Apple Pie, Baby Powder, Brown Sugar, Carrot Cake, Chocolate, Cinnamon, Citrus Basil, Coconut, Cranberry, Dreamsicle, Eucalyptus, Fresh Cotton, Gardenia, Green Apple, Lilac, Mango, Nag Champa, Peppermint, Pineapple, Pomegranate, Rose, Sandalwood, Strawberry, Tangerine, Vanilla, and Watermelon — take your pick!

No, seriously — visit the website and pick your favorite fragrance, because it’s an Afrobella/Mickey Made giveaway! I meant to offer this around the time of my birthday at the beginning of the month, but my birthday present (this wonderful road trip I’m still on) took me far away from blogland. So mea culpa, and please enjoy this belated birthday giveaway!

Five lucky readers will win a 9 oz candle of their choice. All you gotta do is two little things.

First, click here to fill out a brief survey, which will help me know more about you, and will help me make Afrobella even better! And second, leave a comment below telling me what your scent of choice is, and why it’s your favorite.

I’ll leave these comments open till Friday at noon, and will choose and announce winners by next week. And I’ll be back from my road trip by then, and back to regular blogging. Yay!

Good luck, bellas!

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14 different beauty blogs are participating, so every day from now until February 14th, you can vie for a gift pack ($170 value) of the Body Shop’s new line in their online scavenger hunt. click here to try to figure out the answer!), then tell me the product’s name in the comments. A winner will then be randomly selected from readers that correctly post the name of the product. And FYI this is a one-day giveaway! So I’m closing the results on Monday February 9 by 11 a.m.

What’s in this $170 bonanza? So many things! Here’s the list of products you’re eligible to win:

Moroccan Rose Eau de Toilette
Moroccan Rose Shower Gel
Moroccan Rose Bath & Massage Oil
Moroccan Rose Body Butter
Moroccan Rose Body Milk
Roseflower Eyes Shade 01: Sunshine Gold
Roseflower Lips Shade 01: Soft Pink
Roseflower Blush Shade 02: Fuchsia
Radiance Stick Shade 01: Sheer Pink.

Wowza! Leave a comment below and get to guessing, bellas!

edited at 1 p.m. — and comments are officially closed. I’ll post a winner later today, bellas!

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In a perfect world, I would have posted this roundup of fabulous by bellas, for bellas items over a week ago. But as many of you know, the holidays can be insanely hectic. I feel like the white rabbit in Alice in Wonderland. I’m late! I’m late!

I don’t know if you can still put in an order with these companies in time for December 25. But hey — tis the SEASON, right? Here’s some last minute, unique gift ideas from indie businesses that I hope aren’t too late for you to enjoy and support.

Whimsicard — Party Stuff for People of Color specializes in inspiring images just because, for weddings and now, for the holidays! Their Christmas card line features a happy bella sporting a natural hairstyle. $15 for a box of 10, and Whimsicard will include your name in it for two extra dollars.

With a name like DeadSexy Cosmetics, you already know what you’re in for. Intense pigments, stunning colors, and looks that kill. Makeup artist Thea Mitchell delivers all that and then some. I reviewed the line once before, but it bears repeating for those of you preparing for holiday parties and New Year’s Eve. She’s got amazing makeup tutorial videos on YouTube!

OMG, her Harlem Renaissance demo is so up my alley.

You can buy ALL of that makeup at DeadsexyCosmetics.com. My absolute favorite product from the line is the Two Cheeky blush — those shades look bright, but TRUST me, they blend beautifully into a warm brown skin tone. $19.98 and SO worth it. Her eyeshadows are amazing as well!

If you’re looking for more than makeup, Etsy Artists of Color is a tremendous resource. Especially if you’re into supporting wearable art, bath products, and other such creative endeavors. Through the EAOC, I discovered Amanda Jones and her amazing sounding soaps, Cece St. Croix and these oversized hammered petal earrings I adore, and the super fly woven hats of Dahlia Soleil. And don’t forget Tomoka’s Twists! All are still open for the holidays, so get your shop on!

Last week, a longtime reader added a holiday special to the comments of my Bargains for my Bellas post. When I checked out the link, I was blown away. The bath and beauty products of Darcy’s Botanicals sound amazing! The Madagascar Vanilla Styling Creme sounds especially divine — my hair loves a creamy, curly hair styling butter, and I adore the heady scent of vanilla. And it’s $12! Sounds like a sweet deal.

Have you finished your holiday shopping yet? Tell me how it’s going, bellas!

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