What: A pretty fantastic package of stuff from Vicks, including:
• Nordstrom Cashmere Sweater Knit Wrap
• L’Occitane Shea La Vie Gift Set and Hand Cream
• philosophy’s unconditional love gift set, including fragrance, bath gel, and lotion
• Vicks VapoRub ointment
• Sephora Porfessional Manicure/Pedicure Nail Kit
• Essie Spa Pedicure Mini Kit

Why: We know it’s not cold season per se, but you can really catch colds all year round. Vicks wants to make sure you’re well stocked with cold-care essentials, like a soft cashmere wrap and Vicks VapoRub, just in case.

Plus, for all those healthy days when all you need is a little pampering, they’re throwing in nail care kits from Essie and Sephora, philosophy products in their beautiful new fragrance, and luxurious L’Occitane lotions and soaps.

How: Enter by commenting below about your favorite pampering ritual. And yes, we’d say shutting off your BlackBerry counts as pampering.

Once you’ve entered, stop by MomFinds for a chance to win a $200 shopping spree at Maggie Maternity.

1. Post a comment about your most-loved pampering ritual.

2. You must supply us with a valid email address and sign up for the SheFinds newsletter.

3. The contest starts now and entries must be date stamped by our server no later than Friday, May 1st, 2009 at 11:59 AM Eastern Time to be eligible.

4. Three winners will be selected during a random drawing and will be announced in the May 5th SheFinds newsletter. The winner must reply via email as instructed in the newsletter to claim the prize.

5. No prize substitutions.

6. You must be 18 years old or older to enter and a resident of the USA.

7. No purchase necessary.

8. Void where prohibited.

9. Click here for the full rules.

 

My boss says that manicures are a weekly necessity. For me, they’re more of a bi-monthly luxury. And that means in between pampering times, I’m my own manicurist. My secret is Essie’s Mademoiselle #384 ($6.95), a sheer pink polish that is chip resistant and always goes with everything. It makes your nails look clean without being prissy, and the hint of pink is just a little better than clear polish. Even better is that when it does chip, the color is so sheer that no one but you will even notice.

Who doesn’t love one-of-a-kind items? I certainly do—and I’m willing to bet all of you fickle beauty people do, too. Recently, I discovered that CND manicurist Angelina Wingle (CND custom mixes colors for designers' runway shows) has set up a website, GoIndulge.com, to provide us with the custom polishes created for the some of the Fall 2009 shows.

The site allows you to choose which designer nail creation you want; then it asks if you’d like to be your own “mixologist” or if you’d like the polish pre-mixed for you. I say be your own mix-master: Wingle provides you with an empty polish bottle, plus the lacquers and “recipe” you’ll need to mix your new signature shade.

Personally, I fell in love with the cool muted gray from the Matthew Williamson runway (recipe: 2 parts Cream Puff to 1 part Voodoo), but there are other shades, like the gunmetal gray from Yigal Azrouel or the wine-burgundy from DKNY, to sate your nail tastes.

I guess the ladies at Fashion Week took a hint from Wall Street: stocks are volatile, but gold is forever. SheFinds writers spied glittering gold fingernails on everyone from runway models to fashion editors. Even Kim Kardashian sported some dangerous-looking gold talons by New York jewelry fave Bijules. But, it's good to see that gold is sticking around – long after the metallic trend was spotted last spring – just in time to complement sun-kissed skin and bright spring ensembles.

Not unlike red lipstick, gold can be a hard color to get just right. But there's a shade for everyone (the challenge is just finding it), so if you've tried the gold polish before and hated it maybe you just need something slightly different. 

Revlon Gold Get Em ($5), Essie Shifting Power ($9), and OPI Curry Up Don't Be Late ($6) are each a different shade of yellow gold. Because my skin is more olive in tone, I favor OPI's shade from its India Collection. But, if you wear cool colors better, the Essie and Revlon formulas have a lot less orange in them. 

H20 Plus Hand and Nail Cream ($17) is a lightweight cream that you can apply after washing your hands. This is a year-round option that soothes and nourishes dry hands and cuticles.

Bath and Body Works Look Ma New Hands (on sale for $6) is perfect for people who have to deal with the elements and drastic changes in temperature. Containing paraffin to help seal in the lotion's moisture, this is a great work tote or handbag staple to protect your hands before you put them back into your gloves.

Last but not least, Neutrogena Norweigan Formula Hand Cream ($4) is a tried-and-true solution. This is the big time, heavy-duty hand cream for indoor/outdoor care.

And check out our Lip Balm Guide for heavy-duty winter balms that will keep your lips smooth all season. 

Robert is also the consummate host and you never leave his presence without feeling and looking prettier than you did when you walked in. Our favorite manicurist, Lulu from Creative Nail Design, was on-hand to show us some holiday nail tips to go with our holiday festive mood.

For those of us with ragged cuticles (or for those who pick at them), best tip ever: use the gentle side of your emery board to buff the edges down, then apply their CND Cuticle Eraser ($8). Honestly, our hands have never looked smoother.

In the mood for a festive nail color for your holiday outing? Metallics are the way to go, as evidenced by the number of us who left with either a golden shimmer, like their CND Glow Nail Color ($6) or their very dramatic CND Hyde In The Dark Nail Color ($6).

Right now, I’m pairing nude fingernails with eye-poppin’ pink toes. Here are my two current faves:

On my fingers: PeaceKeeper’s Cause-Metics Paint Me Tender, $10.20

This cool nude neutral goes on streak-free with the second coat, but doesn’t become totally opaque thanks to an understated shimmer. Another feel good fact: All after-tax profits are donated to women’s health-advocacy and human rights issues. It's also vegan.

On my toes: Creative Nail Designs’ Scorch #425, $2.99

A shiny, shimmery hot pink, this color truly does scorch— in a good, summer pedi kinda way. In fact, it’s already been stolen by my roommate whose “claims” she accidentally lost it. I think she’s keeping it.

Wanna try it anyway? OPI's Moon Over Mumbai ($7) has been a best seller ever since it debuted in the OPI India Collection. 

Or try a darker shade like butter London 3 Free’s Nail Lacquer in Chimney Sweep ($12), which has a slightly metallic sheen to it. 

Sephora by OPI's Metro Chic ($9) is a purplish grey and also happens to be environmentally friendly.

What do you think of this new nail trend? Will you be donning grey fingertips this winter? Let us know in the comments section below.

Nail tip guides ($3.50) make a DIY Frenchie super easy. After your base coat has completely dried, apply the sticker like guides so the tip of each nail is still exposed. Brush the white polish on the exposed tips, let it dry and then take off the guides. Top your entire nail with a pale pink, like my favorite OPI Sweet Heart, and everyone will be oohing over your salon perfect nails.

And just in case you got a little polish where it wasn’t supposed to be, this ingenious polish corrector pen ($12) easily removes it. Filled with polish remover, it works like a paint pen, allowing you to wipe away stray smudges without ruining your entire nail. It even comes with extra tips and is refillable.