Thank you so much to all of you that entered my Mother’s Day Gaia Skin Naturals giveaway! I was completely overwhelmed by the sheer number of entries – and it’s lovely to read about how much you all love your mums. I chose a random winner today using the Rafflecopter application. Congratulations to Mandy Graham! I have sent Mandy an email and if she doesn’t respond within 48 hours, a new winner will be drawn.
Happy Mother’s Day Gaia Skin Naturals Giveaway
May 12, 2013 by 30 Comments
How awesome are mums? Or at least, mine is pretty great. I’ve just turned twenty-seven and she’s still the one I call every time I get sick, upset, or hurt myself. She lives about eight hours’ drive away from me now, but I was lucky enough to see her for Mother’s Day and make her a vegetarian lunch of some Jamie Oliver favourites – Roast Tomato Soup and Spinach and Feta Pie with a green salad – plus icecream doused in lots of Kangaroo Island Spirits Honey & Almond Liqueur to finish. To celebrate all things maternal, I’ve got two Gaia Skin Naturals skincare starter packs to give away – one for baby and one for mum (or perhaps one for you and one to tuck away for your next baby shower gift). Gaia Skin Naturals is one of my favourite baby skincare brands, because they are Australian owned and made, and their products are cruelty-free as certified by Choose Cruelty Free (CCF), vegan (apart from the Soothing Lotion, which contains beeswax), and contain lots of certified organic ingredients and no sulphates, artificial fragrances, petrochemicals, or parabens. The two packs that make up the prize are:
Baby Starter Kit ($22.95AUD), containing:
- 50mL Bath & Body Wash
- 50mL Baby Shampoo
- 50mL Baby Moisturiser
- 50mL Soothing Lotion
- 50mL Baby Massage Oil
Skincare Trio ($14.95AUD), containing:
- 50mL Foaming Cleanser
- 50mL Refreshing Toner
- 40mL Facial Moisturiser
How to enter:
To enter, simply follow the instructions in the giveaway widget below. Your contact details are the only thing required to enter, everything else is voluntary but can earn you more entries.
The prize is 1 x Gaia Skin Naturals Baby Starter Kit and 1 x Gaia Skin Naturals Skincare Trio. The prize is valued at $37.90 AUD. Only Australian residents aged 18+ are eligible to apply. Entries close at midnight on May 19, 2013. One winner will be randomly selected using Random.org and informed by email. If the winner does not respond to this email within 48 hours, a new winner will be selected.
Note: These products were provided to give away in accordance with my Disclosure Policy.
Kosmea Day Spa Treatment Giveaway Winner Announcement
May 2, 2013 by 2 Comments
Thank you to all of you Adelaide-ites who entered my Kosmea Day Spa Express Facial Treatment giveaway! There were twenty-seven entries in total, and the winner was picked randomly using the Rafflecopter platform (see here).
Congratulations to the giveaway winner: Danielle Fisher! I have emailed Danielle and if she does not respond within 48 hours, the winner will be re-drawn.
Kosmea Day Spa Launch & Spa Treatment Giveaway
April 5, 2013 by 11 Comments
When I was invited to come and try the signature Kosmea Deluxe Facial at the new Kosmea Day Spa in Eastwood, Adelaide, I admit I did a little jump for joy. Kosmea is one of my favourite Australian certified organic and cruelty-free skincare brands (see my previous interview with founder Marie Jenkins and her daughter Olivia here) and generally speaking I’m way too cheap to splurge on luxuries like spa treatments. On the evening I attended the Kosmea Day Spa, I was also several days into a generally obnoxious head cold and totally hanging for a pick-me-up (I promise I tried not to breathe on anyone).
The Kosmea Day Spa occupies a funky little shopfront on Glen Osmond Road, and inside you’ll find a minimalist-luxe interior and tranquil vibe (which was probably helped along by my being the only customer there at the time). Amy is the principal Kosmea Day Spa beauty therapist (pictured right). She kindly deposited my weary self into a warm and flatteringly-lit treatment room, with soft music and fluffy white terry-toweling as far as the eye could see (honestly, she probably could’ve just left me there for an hour and I still would’ve said, “5 STARS A+ WOULD SPA AGAIN”).
Amy started the treatment by double-cleansing my skin with the Clarifying Facial Wash ($34.95/150mL). She then conducted a skin diagnosis, confirming that I have the particularly delightful combination of an oily T-zone, dry edges of my face, very dry eye area, and sun damage. Amy then switched on a steam machine (which I’m sure has a more technical name) that was designed to open up my pores, but also had the unintended yet brilliant side-effect of clearing my sinuses. With the steam machine basically fixing my head cold, Amy massaged the Daily Facial Exfoliant ($39.95/125g) into my skin using what felt like an over-sized electric toothbrush (which I’m assuming was a Clarisonic-esque gadget), then removed it and refreshed my skin with a spritz of Hydrating Rosewater Mist ($19.95/125mL).
Amy then applied two different, house-made face masks (which unfortunately are not available for sale) to target my skin concerns: a clay-based purifying mask for my oily areas, and a creamy nourishing mask for my dry areas. I began to silently panic that I would be left alone for fifteen minutes to marinate on the treatment table (cut cruelly from the umbilicus of my iPhone); however, while the masks were working their magic, Amy gave me a blissful neck and shoulder massage and I was thus saved from even fifteen minutes of my own company. After removing the masks, Amy applied a few drops of Kosmea’s flagship Certified Organic Rosehip Oil ($24.95/20mL) to my skin, and finished the treatment by applying the Replenishing Moisture Cream ($44.95/50mL) and a dab of the new Apple of My Eye Cream (on counter May 2013).
As I got ready to leave, I realised it would be an utter travesty for me not to share this glorious experience with you. So, I am giving away 1 x voucher for Kosmea’s ‘Express Facial’ to a reader. This is a 30-minute facial, which includes a skin diagnosis, double cleanse, exfoliation, and your choice of serum or moisturiser. See below for more details!
P.S. For those of you who aren’t able to access the Kosmea Day Spa, Kosmea also have a gift-with-purchase offer available at their online store through the month of April – get a free full-size Replenishing Moisture Cream when you spend over $39.95, using the code REPLENISH.
How to enter:
To enter the giveaway, please use the Rafflecopter giveaway widget below. Your contact details and a blog comment (see giveaway widget for more details) are required to enter.
The prize is 1 x Kosmea Day Spa ‘Express Facial’ voucher, valid until October 4, 2013. The voucher is worth $50 AUD. The voucher will be sent by mail to the winner.
Unfortunately, the only Kosmea Day Spa is located in Adelaide, South Australia. You are welcome to enter the competition if you do not live in Adelaide; however, please be aware that you will have to visit our lovely, sleepy little city to actually use it.
Only Australian residents aged 18+ are eligible to apply. In the spirit of fairness, other Adelaide beauty bloggers who also received a complimentary Kosmea Day Spa treatment are not eligible to enter.
Entries close at midnight on April 19, 2013. One winner will be randomly selected using Random.org and informed by email. If the winner does not respond to this email within 48 hours, a new winner will be selected.
* My Kosmea ‘Deluxe Facial’ spa treatment was provided for consideration in accordance with the Disclosure Policy. I purchased the Kosmea ‘Express Facial’ spa treatment to give away.
The Cat’s Pyjamas Launch Giveaway Winner Announcement
January 23, 2013 by 2 Comments
Thank you so much to everyone who entered The Cat’s Pyjamas’ launch giveaway. I really appreciate everyone’s thoughtful responses to my question about improving this blog. There were four prizes in the pack, including:
1. Korres | Raspberry Antioxidant Liquid Lipstick Trio in Soft Pink, Red & Berry ($35.95AUD)
2. Ethical Consumer Group | Shop Ethical! The Guide to Ethical Supermarket Shopping ($8.95AUD)
3. People Tree | Bead Cluster Earrings ($13.60AUD)
4. Blue Q | French Lecon Pouch ($8.50AUD)
I used the Rafflecopter giveaway widget to draw the winner. Congratulations to Michelle A.K.A Lab Muffin! If Michelle does not respond to my notification email within 48 hours, I will draw a new winner.
The Cat’s Pyjamas Launch Prize Pack Giveaway
January 9, 2013 by 3 Comments
I wanted to say thank you to the readers of my previous blog who have followed me here, my blogging friends, and the brand new readers that are supporting my brand new blog, by giving away a little gift. I chose a range of different products from brands that are close to my heart… But not as close to my heart as you (AW!). (But seriously).
The prize pack includes:
Korres | Raspberry Antioxidant Liquid Lipstick Trio in Soft Pink, Red & Berry ($35.95AUD)
Korres are a cruelty-free Greek beauty brand. They are one of my favourite beauty brands and their Raspberry Antioxidant Liquid Lipsticks are one of my favourite beauty products (see my review here). They’re water-based and feel super lightweight.
Blue Q | French Lecon Pouch ($8.50AUD)
Blue Q is a US brand that creates a range of products, from purses to chewing gum. All of their bags are made out of 95% recycled post-consumer material. This is an adorable way to brush up on your French vocab.
People Tree | Bead Cluster Earrings ($13.60AUD)
People Tree are a UK fair-trade and certified organic fashion brand. I’m completely fixated on them at the moment and soon I will own one of everything they make, including these sweet pink bead and brass earrings.
Ethical Consumer Group | Shop Ethical! The Guide to Ethical Supermarket Shopping ($8.95AUD)
Ethical Consumer Group produce the ultimate guide to ethical supermarket shopping, called Shop Ethical!. I wrote about my copy in a post recently and wanted to share the love.
How to enter:
- Click through to the Rafflecopter giveaway widget and fill in your details and answer just one question about your suggestion for improving The Cat’s Pyjamas;
- If you’d like to, you can gain extra entries by following The Cat’s Pyjamas on Facebook and Twitter (also facilitated through the Rafflecopter giveaway widget), but it isn’t required for entry;
- Entry is open to Australian residents only (sorry, my lovely overseas readers!);
- Entries close at midnight ACDT on 22 January 2012;
- The winner will be drawn randomly and notified by email. If the winner does not respond within 48 hours, a new winner will be drawn.
* All products were purchased by me. This post contains affiliate links.
Burt’s Bees Natural Anti-Blemish Solutions Pore Refining Scrub Giveaway Winner
April 25, 2012 by 4 Comments
Thank you to everyone who entered my Burt’s Bees Natural Anti-Blemish Solutions Pore Refining Scrub giveaway, sponsored by natural health and beauty online retailer Echolife. There were 16 entries in total; fourteen Facebook comment entries and two bonus Twitter entries. I loved hearing everyone’s stories about what special thing of theirs was sneakily ‘borrowed’ by their partner, family member or friend!
I used Random.org to find the winner:
2. Isabella Marrocco
My sister sneakily uses my Body Shop moisturizer every moring. One day I was feeling a bit dry then I walked into my bathroom and found her using it as a moisture mask. By the time I got my hands on it agian it was basically finished. I would love to win this product because my friends have told me all about it and then I can have something of my own!
Congratulations Isabella! I have contacted the winner through Facebook; if I do not hear from her within 24 hours I will re-draw the winner.
Burt’s Bees Natural Anti-Blemish Solutions Pore Refining Scrub Giveaway
April 10, 2012 by 3 Comments
100% natural, refining and balancing. Burt’s Bees Natural Anti-Blemish Solutions Pore Refining Scrub is a clinically-proven deep-cleansing and nurturing treatment that improves skin’s appearance gently.
Burt’s Bees Natural Anti-Blemish Solutions Pore Refining Scrub ($19.95 AUD/110g) is my boyfriend’s favourite exfoliating cleanser, and like him, it’s a study in contrasts. He is both hemp pants-wearing pacifist and a devoted UFC fan. This product is both a chemical and physical exfoliator, formulated with 1% salicylic acid (naturally derived from willowbark) and scrubby jojoba beads. He is a former vegan who now has an unholy love of bacon. Although this is an exfoliating cleanser, it is a cream formulation that’s super moisturising. I think that’s why it’s better for my boyfriend’s dry skin than my oily-combination skin; he finds it exfoliates his skin without drying it out, whereas I find it can add to my oiliness. I tend to use it when my skin’s feeling tight or dry (it’s recommended for use 2-3 times per week.)
Sabine from Echolife, the Australian online retailer of natural health and beauty products, has been a complete darling once again and let me give away a Burt’s Bees Natural Anti-Blemish Solutions Pore Refining Scrub to a reader. It’s also available to buy on their website, with free shipping.
To enter:
Simply ‘like’ the Add to Cart Facebook page, then comment on the Facebook post for this competition (pinned to the top of the page), telling me what special thing of yours that your partner/housemate/sister/colleague sneakily “borrows.”
For a bonus entry, you can also tweet about the giveaway using this link.
The fine print:
The competition is open to Australian residents only (sorry, my lovely overseas readers!)
The winner will be drawn randomly at 5 pm Australian CST on Friday April 20 and sent a message through Facebook.
If the winner does not respond to this message within 48 hours, a new winner will be drawn.
Note: This product was provided for consideration in accordance with the Disclosure Policy. Burt’s Bees do not conduct animal testing, however their parent company Clorox do conduct animal testing. This product is vegan.
Sunspirit Massage Oil, Environmental Blend & Oil Burner Giveaway Winner
March 18, 2012 by Leave a Comment
Thank you to everybody who entered my recent Sunspirit aromatherapy giveaway. There were five prize packs to give away, each of which included a massage oil, an essential oil blend, and a ceramic oil burner. There were fifteen entries in total (eleven blog comment entries plus four bonus Twitter entries) and I used Random.org to draw the five winners. Each of the winners has been contacted by email and has 48 hours to respond before a new winner(s) is drawn.
Congratulations to the winners, and thanks for your relaxation tips:
Gen:
I love to have a bath, full of epsom salts and Johnson’s Baby Bedtime Bath Lotion!
Anna E (loved this response):
I go on long drives in the hills. The scenery is nice, as is yelling at bad drivers.
Karen T:
I have been using Mark Stephens hypnosis programs, they’re fantastic for getting you relaxed and de-stressing.
Anna K:
My fail safe de-stress is playing with my dog. He’s a Rottweiler, so if I’m feeling a bit aggro, he’s up for a wrestle, and if I just need a hug, he will snuggle up to me and give me hand licks.
Sarah:
I like to destress by going out & getting a manicure, pedicure, or facial!
Sunspirit Less Stress Massage Oil, Harmony Environmental Blend & Oil Burner Giveaway
March 1, 2012 by 16 Comments
Riding on the Stress Express? Let Less Stress Massage Oil embrace you with comfort and joy as Essential Oils nurture and soothe those fraught, frazzled and overworked nerves. Apply Sunspirit Less Stress Massage Oil to shoulders and neck or, ideally, full body or relax in a warm soothing bath with a couple of capfuls added.
The Harmony Blend is balancing and equalising. So level out while this equalising blend balances those tipped scales. This harmonising combination contains 100% pure and natural essential oils of Sandalwood, Geranium, Palmarosa, Patchouli, Petitgrain, Lavender, Ylang Ylang and Ginger.
Even though it might’ve seemed pretty quiet around here lately, over the past fortnight I’ve actually spent tens of hours updating my blog’s layout. Don’t notice much difference? Ah. Yes. My progress was slowed by my remarkably low level of IT literacy coupled with the crippling feelings of helplessness and despair my Grandma must experience when confronted with the idea of checking her email. Actually, I’m not even finished yet, but my life motto isn’t, “Close enough is good enough” for nothing.
In the midst of all this, Sunspirit sent me an aromatherapy pack that mocked me from my desk until I actually had time to open and use it in the last couple of days. The aromatherapy pack included Sunspirit’s Harmony Environmental Blend (a blend of essential oils that can be used in an oil burner, added to a bath, or diluted in a carrier oil), Less Stress Massage Oil (a range of essential oils in a sweet almond, grapeseed and wheatgerm oil base) and a ceramic oil burner, and you better believe I got my Zen on yesterday evening.
To help celebrate the launch of my new blog design, Sunspirit have been kind enough to allow me to give away 5 x Sunspirit Packs, each containing a Sunspirit Massage Oil, Environmental Blend and a ceramic oil burner. Each pack is valued by Sunspirit at $60 AUD.
To enter, simply leave a comment on this post letting me know your favourite way to de-stress (make sure you remember to include your email address in your entry). For a bonus entry, you can also tweet about the giveaway using this link. Australian residents only.
Entries close at 11.59PM ACST Sunday March 11, 2012. Five winners will then be drawn at random and contacted by email. If the winners do not respond within 48 hours, new winners will be re-drawn.
PS A shout-out to my ex-boyfriend, good friend, IT technician and design consultant, Sam.
