Contest Gives Real Women the Chance to Appear in a Dove Ad

GREENWICH, CT, February 14, 2007 – Millions of women have visited the Dove Campaign for Real Beauty Web site, many of them asking how they can be part of the campaign. Beginning today, Dove is giving women the opportunity to appear in its next advertisement. Inspired by the Energy Glow line of moisturizers with self-tanners, the Dove Look Like Summer, Feel Like Summer Essay Contest invites women to share the summer experiences that make them glow.

Fashion and beauty expert Paige Sachs, who works with such magazines as Lucky, Glamour and Vogue, joins Dove to help kick-off the Look Like Summer, Feel Like Summer Contest and encourage women to submit their entries at www.doveglow.com. The contest asks entrants to describe what summer means to them, and then submit a photo of themselves in that summer setting.

“Many of us wish summer could last all year,” said Sachs. “The Look Like Summer, Feel Like Summer Contest gives women a fun opportunity to be whisked away with thoughts of summer even as the snow is still melting away.”

Five women with the most impactful essays will win a summer getaway to their choice of five exciting destinations, a trip to New York City for a professional photo shoot, shopping money and a chance to appear in a national Dove magazine ad. Entries will be accepted from 12:00 A.M. EST on February 12, 2007 to 11:59:59 P.M. EST on March 22, 2007. The winners will be announced in June 2007 and may appear in the July issues of Lucky and Glamour.

“People have been so supportive of the Dove campaign and are continuing to engage in dialog about real women,” said Kathy O’Brien, Dove marketing director. “This contest provides another chance for women to participate in our campaign and share their voice.”

Look Like Summer, Feel Like Summer Contest entries will be reviewed by a panel of independent judges. Scoring will be based on creativity, written expression, sincerity and photo relevance to the contest theme. Contest rules are available at www.doveglow.com.

Every day summer skin is your own best accessory with the Dove Energy Glow line of moisturizers with self-tanners. Products include improved Beauty Body Lotion with Subtle Self-Tanners that boast an additional 50 percent more moisturizers, and new Facial Moisturizers with a Touch of Self-Tanner. Both moisturizers are available in two shades for fair to medium and medium to dark skin tones. Dove Energy Glow products leave skin soft and smooth while enhancing skin’s natural tone and giving it a sun-kissed look. The products are available in food, drug, mass and club retail outlets.

Sure, Valentine's Day is all about love...but who says you can't be a little selfish and show yourself some love, too? Here are some fun and pampering products that just might be worthy of a love sonnet.

Bobbi Brown's Limited Edition Violet Face Palette
What a GORGEOUS new color range to try from Bobbi Brown. Including three shadows, one blush and three lip glosses (with many of these shades exclusive to this palette), this is one compact full of promise for a flattering, fresh look.
$50.00 at Bobbi Brown online or in select retail locations

Smashbox O-Glow
"The first-ever intuitive blush, this revolutionary clear gel reacts with your personal skin chemistry to turn cheeks the exact color you blush, naturally. When applied, your skin’s moisture activates the energizing Goji Berry-C Complex™ that creates a microcirculatory effect, producing a rosy flush that lasts all day. O-GLOW is full of antioxidants like vitamin C, pomegranate seed oil and marine plankton for added healthy-skin benefits. The completely natural-looking, preservative and fragrance-free formula glides on smoothly for a glowing blush that’s you, only prettier."
$26.00 at smashbox.com and select retailers

Too Faced Limited Edition Caramel Truffles Candy Box
Here's another palette that looks so pretty you might be afraid to use it - but do it anyway! With 9 pretty, pink-hued glosses on top and 4 soft-shimmering shadows underneath, this little box of sweet neutrals will be an indulgence with no calories!
$29.50 at sephora.com

Makari Deluxe Hand and Body Lotions
"Manufactured in ten delicious scents, these intensely moisturizing and soothing lotions are water-based and contain key ingredients such Aloe, Panthenol and Lecithin to nourish and protect any skin type. In 4oz, 8oz, and 16oz sizes, hand-pick a few small lotions for her to try or splurge on a larger collection of her favorite aroma! Inspired by traditional Hispanic and African American remedies. Available in: Grapefruit, Mango, Almond Blossom, Sandalwood Spring, Vanilla, Evening Primrose, Rosemary, Cucumber, Oriental Musk and Lavender."
$9.99-$29.99 at Makari stores in N.Y. or online at makari.com

glominerals Luscious Lips Collection
"Valentines Day is all about kisses, love – friendly or romantic – and of course, lips! Pucker up this Valentine’s day with the perfect V-Day lip kit from glominerals.

Nature Girl Nature Love Minis
These are packed full of shea butter and so they make excellent body moisturisers all year round. Also, Nature Girl sources their shea butter (which has been certified organic) from a small women’s cooperative in Africa. They're available in several enticing-sounding scents like Ylang Ylan, Rosemary Mint, Juniper Berry, and Clementine.

Right now through the 14th of February you can get a 20% discount off all the Nature Girl range, including these Nature Love minis. Just enter NGLOVE in the discount code box, and they'll automatically deduct 20 percent from your total bill.
$33.60 with the discount at nature-girl.com

Bath & Body Works New Fragrances in Sensual and Pampering Formulas
Try out the new Black Currant Vanilla and Jasmine Vanilla scents at Bath & Body Works in body oil, lotion, scrub and more. They smell incredible and you have lots of options for mixing and layering products.
$10-42 at bathandbodyworks.com and in stores

Yves Saint Laurent New Young Sexy Lovely Fragrance
"Fun and fashion, Young Sexy Lovely is the new style and attitude of trendy YSL girls. This irresistible harmony of fresh and feminine, and floral and fruity notes opens with notes of pear, mandarin, and redcurrant, sweetened with cherry blossom and magnolia, cooled with peach, and tempered with musk, amber, and cedarwood.

Notes: Nashi Pear, Mandarin Orange, Redcurrant, Cherry Blossom, Magnolia, Wine Yard Peach, Crystalline Musks, Amber, Cedarwood."
$44-70.00 only at sephora

This past weekend, I visited some of the shows for the Fall 2007 Collections at the Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week in New York to get an idea of what the trends is cosmetics and hair will be in the upcoming fall season. M.A.C. was on the scene as the make-up sponsor and Bumble and Bumble, although not an official sponsor, was connected to several of the runway shows. Fashion Week is still in full swing, but here's a summary of some of the things you can expect to see next fall.

Nicole Miller

Alice Roi

Diane von Furstenberg

Venexiana

Twinkle

Photos by imaxtree.com

Minimal make-up

Surprisingly, this season's make-up is...non-existent. I saw several shows with nearly no use of cosmetics and those that did featured flushed cheeks, natural mascara and nude or pink lips for day wear. The exception? Alice Roi, with a decidedly goth look. Spend your money on skin care products and perhaps a nice, natural foundation that will let your skin be the star of your make-up routine this fall. For evening wear, red lipstick was the focal point of the looks at the Diane Von Furstenberg and Marc Jacobs shows.

What I didn't see: glossy, shiny lips; bright eyeshadows; bronzers; shimmer

Stick-straight hair is so passe

Well, I'm in trouble this season. It seems my thin and stuboornly straight hair is just no longer fashion forward. This season is all about volume and drama in hairstyles. The look at the Venexiana show was big, fluffy hot-rolled curls that brought to mind glamorous pin-up girls from days past. I saw volume at the Twinkle show as well, but more of the teased, straight out of bed variety. Just as popular were updos, ponytails and braids seen in a variety of shows ranging from Lacoste to Caroline Herrera. Not that you'll be able to see your hair anyway; hats were the must-have accessory of the season and played a huge part of looks from Marc Jacobs and Nicole Miller.

What I didn't see: Flat-ironed and blown out hair; any middle ground in color -- go bottle blond or go brunette