Kelly Willis!

Thank you to everybody who entered, and check back soon for more giveaways. I have a few handy gadgets and gizmos in the works!

I’m in love with Dove and all their amazingly powerful campaigns designed to promote healthy body image in women. Here’s the latest!

Head over to the Dove Facebook page and submit a photo showing off your skin. (Get creative!) Every woman who submits a photo will appear in a Dove ad–including a billboard in Times Square, plus online digital ads–as part of their Show Us Your Skin campaign. You’ll be emailed a snapshot of your “moment of fame” on the Times Square billboard, and can share that photo with family and friends.

Dove VisibleCare Toning Creme Body Wash

In conjunction with the campaign, Dove is offering Jolie readers in the US a little giveaway! Simple enter via Rafflecopter below (either leave a blog comment or like this post) and you’ll be entered to win 3 bottles of Visible Care Softening Creme Body Wash. We’ll pick one winner at random next Wednesday. Good luck!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Vaseline!

Vaseline Total Moisture, Total Moisture Aloe Fresh, and Total Moisture Cocoa Radiant

I have to admit, I was totally surprised to discover the lotion I tested was Vaseline–based on the smell and the way it quickly sank in, I thought it was a higher-end Sephora or mall brand. Speaking of the smell, it’s nice to know that my nose is totally off-base: I was convinced my lotion was cucumber. Convinced, I tell you! But, nay: ’twas aloe.

A little more about the lotions: Vaseline Total Moisture have been revamped with new packaging, fragrances and thicker formulas–three different formulas, in fact, each containing something called Stratys-3 Multi-Layer Moisture Complex. According to ye olde presse release, you’ll get “effective multilayer moisturization” through:

Glycerol Quat: A breakthrough hydrating molecule that delivers optimal moisturization and binds more water than glycerin.
Glycerin: A well-established moisturizing ingredient which delivers immediate and long-lasting moisture.
HEU (Hydroxyethyl Urea): A powerful hydrator which absorbs and holds moisture.

Vaseline Total Moisture is available in three flavors (Total Moisture, Total Moisture Aloe Fresh and Total Moisture Cocoa Radiant) at the drugstore/grocery story for between $1.99 and $7.79 each.

While this post was sponsored, my actual opinions–as always–are never for sale.

What brand are we testing? I have no clue!

One of the cool things about being a beauty blogger is the chance to try brand new products, sometimes even before they hit shelves. One such product same across my desk today–and you’ll have a chance to try it, too!

Here’s the catch: I have no clue which brand makes this product. Zero. Zilch. Nada.

My blogging agent passed the products along to me, with the instructions to test out the product, write about it, and then offer five of you readers a chance to test out the blind product for yourself. I thought it was too much fun to pass up, so here we are!

I made a video, above, with my initial thoughts on the product, which is a body lotion from a national mass brand. As you’ll see in the video, it’s very fragrant and highly cucumber-y. While initially I felt that the lotion was sticky, it quickly sank in and a few minutes later when I did a follow up video, it was light and velvety on my skin.

Here’s where you come in. You can enter to win your own sample of this mystery product–5 readers will win. Enter below via Rafflecopter–you can comment on this post, tweet, post on my Facebook page or comment on YouTube to enter, and each thing you do is one separate entry. We’ll pick five winners on Monday, April 9th. Good luck and happy testing!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

We finally made it the most glamorous awards show of the year: the Oscars! Just as we expected, we saw some gorgeous gowns and amazing hairstyles. While we can’t help you score a vintage Dior dress, we have great tips to get your hair looking red-carpet ready. Wella Professionals was responsible for some of the best looks of the night, and now their celebrity stylists are sharing their tips on how they created these hot Hollywood hairstyles.

Michelle Williams
Michelle’s pixie is very modern and sophisticated chic. The hair has just enough texture to make the look sweet, yet edgy.

To Get The Look: First, start by applying Sebastian Professional Mousse Forte to wet hair, then allow it to air dry. With a small round brush, finish off with a blow dry that gives the hair more height, then use your hands to set the part and bangs. Finish the look with Wella Professionals Stay Essential Finishing Spray to set in place.

Penelope Cruz
The actress showed off very old Hollywood glamour, channeling the 1950s Grace Kelly finger waves that perfectly complemented her Armani Privé gown.

To Get The Look: Start with dry hair and use a small amount of Wella Professionals Natural Volume Styling Mousse at the roots. Set hair in steam hot rollers by rolling hair straight back from the head. This will give hair extra texture and curl. Use smaller rollers at the back of the head to create a tighter curl, and then pin hair underneath into a faux bob. Lightly mist with Wella Professionals Dynamic Fix 45 Second Crafting Spray, then back comb and tease at the root. Brush out the finger waves into place and set with Wella Professionals Stay Essential Finishing Spray.

Leslie Mann
Stylist Rod Ortega decided to give Leslie a ponytail for a more youthful look that made for a fun contrast to her elegant, sequin-detailed dress. The high ponytail also works well for her face shape, creating a beautiful silhouette.

To Get The Look: Start out by prepping wet hair with Wella Professionals Velvet Amplifier to prime hair for a smooth blowout. Use a small amount of Wella Professionals Mirror Polish Shine Serum on the ends of the hair for added smoothness and shine. Blow out with a round brush at the roots for texture and use a Mason Pearson paddle brush to blow dry from mid-length to the ends. Back comb for extra volume, especially at the roots, and use a flat brush from mid-length to ends again so there is texture, but not curl. Then leave the front and sides of the hair out, pull the rest of the hair into a ponytail near the top of the back of the head. Smooth the hair left out of the ponytail back and wrap around the elastic to hide the band. Spray the style with Wella Professionals Stay Essential Finishing Spray to hold in place while leaving it with lots of natural movement.

Olivia Wilde
Stylist Davy Newkirk and Olivia opted to go for a chic 70’s inspired updo to complement her strapless Gucci gown that she wore to the 2012 Vanity Fair Oscar Party. The roughed up, simplistic yet super chic updo gave her a timeless and effortlessly beautiful look.

To Get The Look: First, apply Wella Professionals Pearl Styler to wet hair and rough dry it, using your hand and a blow dryer. This will give hair extra texture before styling. Next, gather hair at the crown of the head and secure with a bungee cord. You can tease the ends to rough it up a bit more, for added edgy texture. Loosely twisted the hair around the bungee for a loose structure and secure with bobby pins and hair pins. To finish, spray the hair with Wella Professionals Dynamic Fix hairspray, and rough up the hair with fingers at the root and around the bun, spraying once again with the Dynamic Fix to add sheen and hold the look for the night.

Nina Dobrev
Celebrity stylist Riawna Capri gave Nina a youthful looking fishtail ponytail that is easier to create at home than you think.

To Get The Look: First, spray Wella Professionals Ocean Spritz all over and scrunch hair for a nice beachy texture. Loosely gather the hair into a slightly messy ponytail with a center part. Then, begin your fishtail braid. Once done, pull a couple pieces out to create a more distressed look and finish with a shine spray, such as Wella Professionals Shimmer Delight all over for a polished finish.

For the latest on hair trends and styling tips, follow Wella Professionals on Facebook and Twitter!