Beauty
What We Love
Here’s what I’m lovin’ this week:
1. Books: Mrs. O: The Face of Fashion Democracy. I’m a big fan of Mrs-O.org—a blog that follows the style of Michelle Obama. Now my web BFFs have turned their blog into a gorgeous new book. I love the intimate personal photos of Mrs. O, the insider commentary that reveals the story of this fashion icon, and interviews with top fashion designers like Jason Wu. A must read!
2. Fashion: Mod Cloth Necklaces. I love the retro vintage feel of this site, along with the huge selection of fashion forward pieces and super cute accessories. I’m especially lovin’ their necklaces — ranging from dangling faux gold to hanging beaded pieces like this golden laurels necklace for $23.99.
3. Cool: Feather Masks for Urban Outfitters. Wouldn’t it be cool, for just one day, to walk into work wearing a feather mask, as if you’re wearing your regular winter knit beanie hat? Just imagine that for a moment: the stares, the mystery (“what did she do last night?”), the tweets. I love it! Check out this edgy feather mask for $18.00 at Urbanoutfitters.com
4, Events: Ladies Lotto. Helping young women figure out the business world, um, I can dig that. I love their focus on mentoring programs and networking for young visionaries. Check out the site for upcoming events and interviews with entrepreneurs, like yours truly.
5. Beauty: Aveeno Ultra Calming Daily Moisturizer with SPF 15. I’m obsessed with all things Aveeno. This all-natural product is incredible for even the most sensitive skin as it calms redness, irritation, and smooths out wrinkles. I’m stocking up on this for winter.
New Look for L’Oreal?
Drugstore beauty brand, L’Oreal, may start “introducing lower-priced items” to shoppers. In addition to implementing a hiring freeze and laying out a more innovative and aggressive business agenda, L’Oreal is in the process of separating itself from the mid priced market in order to do well in the coming years. And that could mean cheaper makeup for us. Until we see precisely what “lower-priced” means, though, we’ll hold our breath.
We love many of the makeup retailer’s products, so here’s hoping that L’Oreal’s makeover will translate into more affordable lip stick, eyeliner, etc.
With its ambitious plan for 2009, is L’Oreal losing the battle (it’s been underperforming of late) but winning the war?
Get Free Makeup
“THIS EVENT HAS ENDED”
Did you buy cosmetics between May 29,1994 and July 16,2003? We’re guessing you did. And stores like Macy’s and Dillard’s will take your word for it. Due to a class action settlement, which amounted to a whopping $175 million, a long list of department stores are handing out free makeup; no strings attached. According to the law, you’re owed one free item of makeup. But you’ve only got until Monday, January 26th (or while supplies last) to take advantage. Here’s a list of all the participating stores and cosmetic brands.
Holiday Beauty on a Budget:
During the holidays, it’s hard enough to make your budget stretch for all the gifts/parties/entertaining you’ve got to do without having to spend a fortune on looking great for all those events. Here are some budget-friendly tips that will help you get through the craziness of the next couple of months looking fabulous . . .
- Create Your Own Lipgloss. If you have a lipstick that has reached it’s end, scoop out the remaining stub and place it in a contact lens case with a dab of vaseline. Mix them together for a great lipgloss. You can add a bit of sweetened Kool Aid to the gloss for flavor.
- Get an Instant “facelift”. Braid a few cornrows around your temples to instantly “lift” the areas around you eyes. Make sure to keep them only for one night as it can cause stress around your hair line leading to breakage. You also can use egg whites to tighten skin
- Make Your Own Headbands. Feathered headbands are very in this year and you can easily make your own without spending a small fortune. Just get plastic headbands (which can be purchased from any drugstore for less than $5), a package of feathers from a craft store, and either hot glue gun or double stick tape. Glue the feather(s) on the side of the headbands.
- Budget Bronze. Save money and your skin by using budget bronzers from frugal brands like Wet ‘n’ Wild. Use these bronzers to highlight your best features like cheek bones and cleavage.
pictured: Wet ‘n’ Wild Bronzzer Compact, $2.99, Drugstore.com
Haircare Products Under $5
Women care about their hair, period. We get haircuts. We purchase shampoo, conditioner, hairspray, gel, mousse, smoothing cream and much more. Without realizing it, a lot of us spend more on haircare than necessary, and now that the economy is struggling, splurging on the salon’s special $40 hair de-frizzer may not be the wisest decision. However, letting your hair become a bird’s nest because it’s too expensive to care for isn’t wise, either. Our solution? A list of haircare products that’ll leave your hair looking great and your wallet full—they’re all under 5 bucks!
Suave Naturals Shampoo, $3.49, drugstore.com.
Aussie Deeeeep 3 Minute Miracle Moisture Treatment, $3.99, walgreens.com.
Brush Strokes boar bristle styling brush, on sale for $3.99, Sally Beauty Supply.
White Rain Classics hairspray, 99 cents, cvs.com.
Smooth ‘n Shine Polishing Styling Mousse, $3.29, drugstore.com.
Dark & Lovely Permanent Hair Color, $4.29, Sally Beauty Supply.
TRESemme Anti-Frizz Smoothing Cream, $4.79, walgreens.com
Pantene Pro-V Nourishing Moisture Replenishing Mask, $3.99, drugstore.com
Cristophe Beverly Hills Volumizing Spray Tonic, $3.99, cvs.com.
Smooth ‘n Shine Polishing Curl Activator Gel, $2.99, walgreens.com.
Three Cheap (or Free!) Beauty Tricks
Nobody wants to spend a bundle on their beauty routine right now, and you don’t have to. There are three key ingredients to a healthy, glowing daytime look—great skin, pretty lips, and an all-over kiss of color. Here’s how:
Lip Plumper. While some lip plumping products are relatively inexpensive, they also don’t always work. Save yourself the trouble (and cash) and purchase some cinnamon oil instead (according to beauty expert Diane Irons, the oil brings the blood to the lips for temporary—about four hours’ worth—of plumping). Slick on a little lip gloss or balm for shine. NOTE: BE SURE to dab a little of the cinnamon oil in less visible place first, however, to check for allergies, and wait 24 hours . . .
Glowing Cheeks. Rather than buying sixteen different products for eyes, cheeks, lips, etc., pick up one that’s meant to cover all your bases, like this All Over Color Stick from e.l.f, just $1.49! Or don’t even bother buying something new—repurpose an old pink, rose, or peach lipstick (depending on your preference and skintone) and dab with fingers like a cream blush on the apples of your cheeks (blending well, of course).
Moisturized Skin. We’ve mentioned this before, but it’s sooo budget friendly that we couldn’t leave it out— Vaseline is one of our favorite budget beauty products, and in this case we’re talking about as a skin moisturizer. We all know it’s great for rough elbows, knees and heels, but it’s also hard to beat as a heavy-duty facial moisturizer—smooth it on all your wrinkle prone areas (avoiding oily areas, like the t-zone, depending on your skin) at night, and wake up with super smooth skin. Seriously. (It’s also great for removing stubbon eye-makeup . . . )
Free Shipping on $50 or More in Beauty and Fragrance at Target
The Deal: Spend $50 in beauty and fragrance, get free shipping at Target.com
The Lowdown: It’s easy to spend $50 in beauty and fragrance items and get a lot for your money, especially at Target—and right now, go ahead and save some gas money, and stock up from home with free shipping. Pick up make-up, moisturizer, perfume, and more—and if you need a recommendation, you know we love Sonia Kashuk’s make-up brushes (which also make a great stocking stuffer), like this Sonia Kashuk Purse Brush Set for $12.99.
Shop: Target
Shea Terra Organics Gift Sets: Win This
To Enter, Leave a Comment Below
What: FIVE lucky TBF readers will win a Bourbon Vanilla Indigenous Shea Butter Gift Set, worth $45, from Shea Terra Organics. Each gift set includes Bourbon Vanilla Indigenous Silk & Shea Shower Elixir, Silk & Shea Butter Lotion, and Shea Butter Dead Sea Salt Scrub, and Fair Trade Divine White Chocolate Candy Bar in a handmade sinamay bag . . . all of which sounds ridiculously decadent. Fabulous!
Why You Want This: Not only will the Shea Terra Organic products make you feel great, you’ll have the added bonus of knowing your beauty is being enhanced in an eco-friendly way—the bourbon vanilla beans are organic and from Madagascar, and the shea butter is certified organic. Shea Terra’s products are 99-100% natural. An extra added bonus for ALL readers? Shea Terra is offering you an exclusive discount with a special coupon code (TBF30), which will get you 30% off any Shea Terra products, on SheaTerraOrganics.com.
Enter to Win: Leave a comment below by 11:59 p.m. on Sept. 28, 2008; five winners will be chosen at random on Sept. 29.
The Rules:
- Contest ends Sept. 28, 2008 at 11:59 pm. All entries received after this point will not be eligible for the prize.
- Five winners will be selected at random; each winner will receive one (1) Bourbon Vanilla Indigenous Shea Butter Gift Set.
- Winners must respond within four business days or new winners will be chosen.
- Prizes are not transferrable
- Entrants must be residents of United States.
How Do You Pump Up the Volume on Your Lashes?: Daily Poll
Image courtesy of Shu Uemura.
Product Info: Premium Brown Feather False Eyelashes from Shu Uemura.
New Products from Sonia Kashuk for Target
What: One of our favorite makeup artists, Sonia Kashuk, designs cosmetics and beauty products for our dear reliable Target. Her 2008 holiday collection is debuting soon, and it’s full of gilded brush cases, eyeshadow palettes, cosmetic cases, and a gold hair brush, all for affordable prices.
The Lowdown: We’re not sure we can wait till the holidays to do our shopping with these adorable-sounding tool kits. The Glamified Brush Set ($21.99) is one part gold and silver evening purse and three parts brush case. We already know that Sonia Kashuk’s beauty tools are the best buy for our budgets. Armed with the seven brushes, we’ll apply our blush, shimmer powder, eyeshadow and more correctly instead of using one generic brush. Another product we’re going to purchase for friends, family and ourselves is the Showstopper Eye Shimmer Set ($16.99): once again packaged in blingy gold, it holds three new eyeshadow colors—a shimmery white, a glamorous gold and asphalt. If you’re looking for a miniature brush set, check out the Tooled Over Purse Set for $14.99. The one item we’re not so excited about, though, is the Golden Locks Hair Brush. Target, you let us down a bit—$17.99 for a hair brush, albeit a gold one, is a bit too much for our budget sensibilities . . .
Image: Target.com
Your Fall Fashion Predictions and the Bummer of Summer Hair: Daily Poll Wrap Up
Whether it’s Spring, Fall, Summer, or Winter, we’ve got you covered here at TBF and no matter what the season, the topics are always hot, hot, hot, in our daily polls. Here’s a look back at the past week, in case you missed out on the action:
~ August is almost over, so it’s time to start seriously thinking about your Fall wardrobe. So, what did you predict will be the hottest trend come September? It was a dead heat between Nineties Minimalism (26% of the vote) and bell shaped jackets (27%). Tweed received a respectable 23% of the vote, while ultra-structured pieced garnered 20%. Trailing behind in a distant fifth place was light wash denim with only 2% of the vote. Only time will tell, but we still think the light wash look will creep back into style sooner than you think!
~ Do you start your day with a tall cappuccino or a hot cuppa joe? Your taste in coffee could say more about your style than you think. 32% of our readers say they’re “no frills” and start their day with a mug of regular java, while 29% opt for a classic and sophisticated cappuccino or latte. 23% of our readers skip coffee and get their caffeine fix with a spot of tea, showing off their London chic. 12% of accessory lovers go for fancy concoctions like mochaccinos with all the sweet fixings and 2% of boho-gals keep it ultra-healthy with a shot of wheat grass.
~ There’s a lot to love about the Summer months: trips to the beach, wearing flirty dresses, and taking in the rays (with plenty of SPF, of course!), but the bad hair that comes with heat and humidity certainly isn’t one of them! 43% of readers said frizzy hair was their biggest summer hair bummer, while 24% complained of flatness, and 12% of oiliness. Sunburned scalps were enough to ruin 3% of your days, while 2% of pool goers said chlorine was to blame. The remaining 13%? Those lucky girls said their hair looks great despite the weather. Please, tell us your secrets!
~ Your stylist probably recommends you get your hair trimmed every six to eight weeks, but it can be hard to find the time (or the cash) to get to the salon that often. Although 33% of our readers follow the general rule, heading to the salon every month and a half to two months, another 33% usually go three to four months between cuts. 16% wait five to seven months and 11% go even longer than that, sometimes waiting a whole year.
~ Marilyn Monroe famously sang that “diamonds are a girl’s best friend and from what our readers had to say, it seems to be true. 48% of you said that diamonds were your favorite gemstone, while 20% prefer the colored variety, like rubies and emeralds. 10% are pearl girls and 19% like to keep it simple with gold or silver pieces.
~ When you love someone, you always want them to look their best, so it can be tempting to try and dress your mateSurprisingly, 3% of our fashionable readers said it’s their mate who doles out the fashion advice.
Got something to say? Voice your opinions all week long in TBF’s daily polls and check in next weekend for the results!
Best Organic Beauty Products on a Budget: Reader Advice
Organic, natural, green, eco-friendly—all catch phrases in both the fashion and beauty industries right now, which means navigating the products produced under those labels can be, well, confusing. We like the idea of greening up our beauty routine, but getting organic/natural beauty products on a budget can be a challenge indeed, and knowing which ones we should pick up can be even harder. Kiss My Face is one line we like, with products that are deemed “natural” but aren’t too outrageously priced (like this Kiss & Makeup 3Way Color, $8.99).
But tell us, TBF readers, what budget natural/organic beauty products do you swear by (and don’t forget to tell us where you get ‘em)?
Best Makeup for Women of Color (on a Budget): Reader Advice
Some of us here at TBF are women of color, and some of us are not. Regardless, anyone who’s spent a little time learning about the beauty industry knows that the make-up made for the masses is generally not geared towards the skin tones of women of color. The big brands have done better as of late—like Cover Girl’s Queen Collection —and Kathryn, of course, has referred readers to brands like Black Opal (specifically for their great foundation) in the past, But we want to know your thoughts—what’s your favorite make-up brand/product for women of color, on a budget?
CoverGirl Queen Collection Oil-Free Moisturizing Make up, $6.99 at drugstore.com.
Best Beauty Tools on a Budget: Reader Advice
While we’re all about focusing on natural beauty, sometimes a girl just needs a little help to look her best, in the form of some kind of tool that heats, dries, straightens, cleanses, trims, shaves, exfoliates . . . well, the list goes on. If you’ve ever set foot into a beauty supply store you know you could spend a small fortune on an arsenal of beauty tools, but you didn’t really want to pay off those college loans anyway, did you? Of course you did, and we want you to as well, so we’re putting out a call for advice on great beauty tools on a budget. We’re looking for quality (meaning it actually does what it says it’ll do, without shorting out after the first week) and low cost. One that we like? This Remington S8000i Wet to Dry Straightener, which works great and is a time saver, all for somewhere around $25 at your local Target (or here on Amazon.com, for $25.98 plus shipping).
So what bargain beauty tool do you love? And what’s your secret source for great beauty tools on a budget?
Cheek Stains And How to Use Them
What: Cheek stains provide lasting color during the sweaty summer months.
What the experts say: When the mercury rises, blush tends to go south, sliding right off of our faces. A cheek stain prolongs this departure, promising to fight the need to recede longer than a cream or powder blush would, because it literally stains the skin. To make the most of your stain—and not look like a clown—editorial makeup artist Michelle Coursey tells us to focus on the application for different stain types.
“Most important: Move quickly because the product sets almost instantly on the skin, making the amount of ‘play’ time you have to create a natural-looking flush fairly limited,” she explains. Liquid stains are trickiest to apply, but Coursey says they’ll withstand the summer heat longer than their peers. “With liquid stains, wet a makeup sponge with water and squeeze out the excess until the sponge is merely damp. Then apply three dots of the stain to the apples of your cheeks, and quickly blend out with the sponge.” Sticks tend to be the easiest, but also fade the fastest. For these, Coursey says, “dab a little of the stain on your pointer finger and middle finger, then apply to the apples of your cheeks and blend out quickly. Repeat this until you reach your desired intensity.”
What we say: Before we chatted with Michelle, we found cheek stains a bit irksome—mostly because we were one red plastic nose away from Bozo whenever we tried them on for size. But now that we have the application down pat, it just comes down to finding products that deliver on staying power. Benefit’s ultra-new Posietint (sister to cult fave Benetint) takes the intimidation out of cheek stains; rather than granting a deeper, berry flush, it deposits a subtle, petal-soft pink hue that is extremely subtle. The $28 price tag? Not so subtle, but worth it if you feel like splurging. Of course, we know you’re on a budget, so we dug up these two price-conscious stains that deliver the goods: FLIRT! Cosmetics BIG DEAL Lip & Cheek Tint and Sonia Kashuk Cheek Sheer. Priced at $10 and $7.99 (respectively), these two sticks are fabulous alternatives to higher-price stains. They both impart budge-proof, long-lasting results, and offer a range of natural-looking hues that won’t have you joining the circus any time soon.
Photo: Bobbibrowncosmetics.com
Personal Finance Advice: Sometimes You Just Gotta Spend
You already know that every once in a while you really need to splurge on something you don’t need, otherwise you may start to resent the budgeting process and wind up tossing the whole idea of financial management into the trash. What you should also know is that there are certain instances when you probably shouldn’t pinch pennies. While it’s always good to find the best price on things, there are plenty of times when the best price for something may still be somewhat expensive.
There are many different scenarios which do not lend themselves to scrimping and pinching pennies. For example:
Getting your hair colored. Almost everyone knows someone who tried to color their own hair and wound up with hair color fit only for an eccentric clown. This isn’t to say that boxed color is completely evil, but unless you follow the directions and do a good job of matching the colors then you may get results that you weren’t expecting. You also run the risk of damaging your hair to the point to where you’ll have no choice but to seek out the help of a professional or just wear hats for months until it all grows out.
Buying shoes you’ll wear a lot. Maybe your job allows you to wear fierce high heels all day long, but unless you wear a pair that are designed with some degree of comfort in mind then you’re probably going to wind up with sore feet, a sore back, and a pair of shoes that are going to wear out quicker than they should. Instead of buying the cheapest pair of shoes you can find, buy quality shoes at discount prices or secondhand. Your feet will thank you.
Aesthetics. When you’re paying for a eyebrow shaping, chemical peel, or any other service where things can go horribly wrong, you should be willing to pay a little more for quality. Sure, you can probably find salons and spas that do business out of dark alleys and other undesirable locations, but do you really want to trust the lowest bidder with your bikini wax? Pay a little more to make sure that you’re dealing with a licensed professional who won’t burn you (in more ways than one).
Items that you want to last. When the time comes time to buy something you’ve been saving for - a car, electronics, furniture - you want to save money and budget for it but you may not want to automatically turn to the cheapest thing. Cheap cars are cheap for a reason; they probably aren’t going to last as long as a car that is a little more expensive. You don’t want to pay a small fortune for the things you buy, but you also need to recognize that the lowest price isn’t always the best bargain.
This doesn’t mean that you should expect the best quality from everything that is expensive. Instead, look for savings without only looking at the price tags. You want to save money, but in the long run you won’t save money if the product or service you buy is shoddy.
High vs. Low: Eyeliner
An eyeliner is one of the essential eye makeup products along with eye shadow and mascara. It enhances the shape of the eyes while also giving them an edgy appeal. The ancient Egyptians were among the first to outline their eyes with pigment for beautification, but also for spiritual reasons. Today, eyeliner is mainly used to accentuate the eyes, and to create that ultra sexy smokey eye look. You can find numerous brands at drugstores for under $10, but designer makeup brands are often over $20. So we wondered, is there a big difference between them?
After some research, we decided to test eyeliners from cosmetics giants Maybelline and Chanel. We’re happy to report that both eyeliners glided on smoothly and stayed put all day with no smudging. The Chanel eyeliner was firm yet creamy, and glided on smoother than the Maybelline eyeliner, creating a straight line immediately upon application. It also had a sponge tip on one end for creating a smokey look. The Maybelline eyeliner created a subtle thin line after one application, ensuring that first time users wouldn’t go overboard with a too-thick line. However, a thicker rim would require two or three applications. The Maybelline eyeliner self-sharpens with a twist of the handle making it quite portable, while the Chanel liner requires sharpening. As far as quality, both liners were excellent. Would we splurge on the Chanel liner? Probably, not.
On the left Chanel’s Stylo Yeux Waterproof eyeliner, $28, available at chanel.com. On the right: Maybelline’s Line Stylist eyeliner, $6.99, available at maybelline.com.
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