Beauty Advice
Home Remedies for Broken Down Locks
Has broken down hair been stressing you out? We feel your pain but there is no need to fret, especially since you have all the solutions to hair woes right in your house. Check out our simple homemade remedies to revive your dull mane without spending a dime.
Avocado: Packed with a potent concentration of vitamin E, an avocado mash is a great way to heal split ends and treat damaged hair cuticles. Here’s How: Get a whole avocado, cut it into cubes, and mash it with one half teaspoon of olive oil until it becomes a puree. Saturate your hair with this homemade mask for 20 minutes and rinse with a shampoo. Do this two-three times per week for optimal results.
Mayonnaise: Not everyone is a fan of mayo, but regardless of what you think of its taste your broken hair is going to love the rich concentration of this oily goo. Measure one cup (may be more for our longer haired friends) of mayo and work it into your hair land scalp until it is saturated in mayo. This may seem nasty, but think of the spilt ends you are repairing. Wrap your head in a shower cap as you let this concoction work for 30 minutes then rinse with shampoo. Repeat this once a month to repair your locks.
Olive Oil: We can’t get enough of olive oil and we don’t just mean to cook with. This wonder food is so rich, it can treat our rough skin, damaged hands, and even the most broken down strands. At night, pour two tablespoons of olive oil on your dry head and work it into your scalp. Place on a towel on your pillow and leave the olive oil on overnight. Rinse it out in the AM and volia! rough hair will have a much-needed home spa treatment.
Petroleum Jelly: This multi-purpose wonder goo works in an instant to miraculously tame our frizzy locks. Grab a small amount and dab it on your fingers to be coated throughout your dry hair. Be careful not to use more than that cause you don’t want to end up like a slicked out mess. This is great for on the spot fixes with kinks and fly-a-ways.
Beer: Beer is packed with a powerful punch of nutrients such as protein that our tired hair craves. Pour a 16oz bottle of beer into a pot, set the flame on medium, let it boil and then cool. This will form a syrupy consistency that will thicken after 15 minutes. Pour the beer into a half used shampoo bottle and shake it up. Wash your hair with this mixture and use every other day.
Vitamin E: Vitamin E is a recommended supplement as part of a healthy diet, so hopeful you have some of these wonder tablets in your medicine cabinet. Take 15 vitamin E capsules and break them open with a knife. Place them in a microwaveable container and zap them for 30 seconds. Making sure the mixture isn’t piping hot (warm is the best temp) and massage the oil into your hair for your own home version of a hot oil treatment. Let it work its magic for 20 minutes then rinse with shampoo. This can be repeated twice a week until you see some serious improvement.
Quick Note: As with all home remedies, there are no guarantees. The results may vary and may take a little more effort on your part, i.e. mayo on your hair. But if you keep up with the maintenance you will quickly be on your way to rockin’ a gorgeous head of hair.
Tuesday Spa Specials in NYC
What: The spa discount website 25Tuesdays.com wants you to start feeing good again. Every week, the site posts a new beauty treatment that users can purchase online for just $25 and use in a New York-area spa. For example, on Tuesday, September 29th users will have 24 hours to pick up a Signature Facial at Smooth Synergy for just—you guessed it—$25.
What They Say:
“25Tuesdays.com was created to help New Yorkers relax in tough economic times … The deals can only be purchased on Tuesdays. When the clock strikes midnight the deal is gone. Buy the deal on Tuesday, use it any day. You have a year to redeem it.”
What We Say: Rarely do we find spa treatments that are this cheap. For guys and gals living around New York City, this new website looks like a great way to get quality cosmetic treatments without spending a bundle.
Beauty Breakdown: What to Toss and Keep This Fall
What: You don’t wear the same shoes in the summer as you do in the fall, so why would you wear the same products on your face? As the season changes, so to should your beauty routine. NYU dermatology professor Dr. Elizabeth K. Hale advises tossing out any old bottles of sunless tanners, heavy-duty sunscreens, and old lipgloss this fall, and instead packing your beauty bag full of tinted moisturizer, oil-free sunscreen, and lip balm with SPF.
What Dr. Hale Says:
“If you want to sustain a healthy glow into fall, better to use a tinted moisturizer. Or, invest in a new bottle of sunless tanner for more intense color. With either choice, make sure you also apply sunscreen. Layer a lightweight SPF formula under your tint to ensure UV protection.”
What We Say: Protecting your skin from sun damage is important all year around, not just in the summer. So as you’re picking up tops and tees for back to school shopping this month, it’s worth also checking out the beauty aisle to update to your skincare arsenal at the same time.
Skin Is In at NY Fashion Week
What: Bellies are back. At least judging by many of the looks on the Fashion Week runways in New York, where designers like Charlotte Ronson, Yigal Azrouel, Alexander Wang, and Cynthia Steffe showed off midriff-baring tops alongside other ‘80s inspired looks like shoulder pads, leggings, and acid-wash jeans.
What They Say:
“The bare-belly tops that have emerged as a popular look on the runways were well represented here — some skirts had the midriff cut out — and plenty of skin…”
What We Say: If you’re like us and don’t feel like showing off your midriff for the world to see, it doesn’t necessarily mean you’re out of luck when it comes to being in fashion for spring. Instead, use the ‘80s theme as inspiration for your own fashion forward looks, pairing leggings with wide-shouldered blazers and sweaters. After all, there are a million ways to interpret the ‘80s theme without breaking the dress code at school or work.
SkinCare CO Thinks You Should Worry About Wrinkles
What: Skincare products that promise to turn back the hands of time are nothing new. And thanks to our indoctrinated obsession with looking as young as humanly possible, they’ll be around for a long time. But how legit are they? A French skincare company, Clarins, thinks that today’s modern young woman (between the age of 25 and 35) should start worrying about wrinkles now, not later. The earlier they use anti-aging creams, the better. (Apparently.) So they’re hopping on a newish trend: marketing anti-aging products to 20 and 30 somethings.
What They Say:
“Stress, lack of sleep and a very active life can modify some specific parts of the skin and create early wrinkles on young women,” said Lionel de Benetti, managing director of Clarins Laboratories in Pontoise, France.
What We Say: We’re just not all that sold on the concept that a $54 (ouch) tub of cream can reverse or prevent the inevitable - fine lines and wrinkles. We think staying out of the sun, minimizing stress, and having a healthy diet are probably much more effective (and affordable) than slathering the latest miracle cream onto your face.
Are you in your 20s or 30s - do you use anti-aging creams and lotions already? What’s your take on it all?
Look for Less: Marley Shelton’s Makeup
Marley Shelton, up-and-comer/actress in the ‘09 movie A Perfect Getaway, has one of the fresher faces out there in Hollywood. Mark’s celeb makeup artist Mai Quynh let us in on how he created her stunning yet simple look, which costs under $50.
Face
“Marley wore a beautiful, red Grecian dress so we wanted her look to be summery with a bronze glow. I started by applying mark Face Expert Flawless Touch Makeup in Honey with a foundation brush and then dusted mark Powder Buff Natural Skin Foundation in Honey with a powder brush. Then I swept mark Bronze Pro Bronzing Powder to her forehead, cheeks and chin to give her that summer glow. I finished by applying mark Good Glowing Mosaic Blush in After Glo with a blush/bronzer brush to her cheeks.”
Face Expert Flawless Touch Makeup in Honey, $9
Bronze Pro Bronzing Powder, $9
Good Glowing Mosaic Blush in After Glow, $7
Eyes
“I started by applying mark I-Mark Custom Pick Eyeshadow in Tiki from the lash line to the crease using an eyeshadow brush. I also used the same shadow to smudge along the bottom lash line with the eyeliner brush. I then used mark Eyemarker in Java to rim the bottom of her eyes and finished by applying two coats of mark Lash Splash Waterproof Hook Up Mascara in Black.”
I-Mark Custom Pick Eyeshadow in Tiki, $4.50
Eyemarker in Java, $5.50
Lash Splash Waterproof Hook Up Mascara in Black, $5.50
Lips
“I completed Marley’s look by applying mark Tinted Sheenstick Hook Up Lip Balm in Au Natural to her lips.”
Five Tips for Getting a Haircut on a Budget
A good hair day puts you in a great mood, and a good hair day that lasts several weeks, if not months, is pretty much priceless. But don’t tell your hairdresser that. While we don’t suggest you sacrifice your locks to an unimaginative stylist, or cut your own hair (leave that kind of crazy behavior to the boys), we do suggest that you stay on budget.
Beyond donating your hair to charity or going for a minimalist style that you can improve with products, these five tips will get you a good haircut for less.
1. Bring a picture and be clear about what you want. Whether you’re going in for a simple trim or a dramatic change, ask for exactly what you want. That way you can avoid getting ripped off for a la carte services you didn’t ask for in the first place, and you can leave with the look you originally dreamed up. A cheap, cheap haircut isn’t worth it if you have to follow it up with another appointment to fix it, or you have to spend hours every morning taming your hair, or you have to buy a set of hats/wigs to cover up the mess.
2. Let someone practice on you. Get an uber-cheap or even free haircut at a training session. Aspiring hairdressers need someone to practice on and that could be you. Sound scary? No worries, a pro is always on hand to make sure everything goes according to plan. Call your favorite salon or a nearby beauty school to see if there are any opportunities. For starters, check out Vidal Sasson’s promotion page.
3. Ask friends and coworkers with great hair for their connections. What places do they go to get their hair cut? How much did they pay? Sometimes this is the most efficient way to find an affordable hairdresser. Plus, if your friend has a long-time relationship with a stylist, you could get a good deal - like free coloring.
4. Find a coupon or special. It makes so much sense, yet so many fail to do it. A little research goes a long way. Look up coupons online or call up some salons and ask when they’ll have an upcoming special (don’t forget to dig into the details; a special may not be all that special after all). Salons all over your town offer up deals from time to time, so just make sure you’re in the right place at the right time!
5. Get your hair cut on a Monday or Wednesday. These are the least trafficked days for most salons, so your cut is much-needed business and your money will go far. Plus, you’ll get lots of attention when it’s slow. Downside: typically, the best stylists only work during the busy times. If you choose a high-end salon to begin with, however, you should be good.
Are there any tips you can add to this list?
ClariSonic Alternative, Sandal Booties, ELF Coupon, Sexy Over 40, Saving on Groceries, and More
The $200 ClariSonic face brush has received rave reviews, but for those of us with a smaller budget, Dolce Beauty would like to point out the Pretrika SonicDemabrasion alternative; and its only $50. Check out her experience with the Petrika.
Pour La Victoire has been coming out with some smashing hits when it comes to shoe trends - “sexy meets feminine” with the zipper embossed leather ruffle rose. Hop over to A Girl’s Guide To Shoes for the Steve Madden affordable alternative.
YouLookFab has the full scoop on the very latest daring shoe trend; sandal booties! Are these just too strange for you?
In A Word…Fab tips us off to a fantastic deal going on over at E.L.F., the make-up store where everything is just $1. It looks like they’re liquidating, and there is a coupon available for $7.50 off any purchase over $15. Wow! Hurry, as we don’t know when this deal might expire.
Fab Over Forty pools makeover tricks on how to look Sexy Over 40 - see the full makeover and sophisticated results.
Brunette on a Budget has the awesome story on how a coupon clipper saved 97% on her latest trip to the grocery store. She only spent $10 on $150 worth of goods!
Bold Prints, Suno, Candy Colored Lashes, Swimsuits for Pear Shaped Bodies, Pierre Colorado and More
This Week in Chic:
Fashion Fille discusses her loves and hates. What are you currently loving and/or hating?
Fashion Pulse Daily recommends Tom’s Shoe’s for summer and loves that they give away one pair of shoes to a child in need for every pair purchased.
Forget boring black, says Fashiontribes! Instead, strut your stuff in bold prints and colorful accessories.
Kate Loss is a London girl with Miu Miu tastes and TopShop money. This week she’s salivating over some delicious pink brogues...
Quinta Trends talks with Zandía. Beautiful Chilean clothes for less money.
Michelle Obama Mania hits the UK by Red Poppy Fashion
Runway To Retail discovers a new label from Africa dubbed Suno, now carried at Ikram (where Michelle Obama frequents)!
Make this Spring’s hottest accessory, the bib necklace, work right for you. The Budget Fashionista picks out affordable pieces, and has tips on how to make it your signature piece!
The Fashionable Gal flaunts her Candy Colored Lashes!
The Fashionable Housewife found the Best Swimsuits for Pear Shaped Bodies.
Factio Magazine interviews Pierre Colorado, the designer behind Blake Standard (as seen at Cusp)!
Best Budget Shampoo: Reader Advice
Gorgeous hair is something we all want, right up there with being thinner, richer and owning more shoes. While the latter aren’t always attainable, great hair is. We love salon-quality shampoos as much as the next beauty junkie, but for something a little easier on our wallets we head to our nearest drugstore.
Pantene Pro-V Shampoo
Pantene Pro-V leaves our locks clean, healthy and smooth, all for less than $5 a bottle.
So what’s your favorite budget shampoo? Please answer below…
Beauty Forecast for 2009, Turquoise and Coral Baubles, Lakme Fashion Week, and More
This Week in Chic:
Factio Magazine checks out the beauty forecast for 2009!
Fashion Pulse Daily gives our two cents on the a bright splash of fun color - Fashiontribes
RedPoppy Fashion welcomes Spring with perfect baubles in Turquoise and Coral
Runway To Retail finds out about Mai Mumbai with Naomi Campbell for Lakme Fashion Week!
Make sure to take The Budget Fashionista’s fabulousAnnual Shopping Survey for 2009, and help us beat last year’s record of over 3,000 responses!
The Curated Life tracks down supercool London bikewear company Cyclodelic and gives details on their new line exclusively for Topshop
Best Budget Mascara: Community Knowledge Project
Great mascara—one that darkens, lifts, lengthens and even curls—is a makeup must. It can be tempting to want to buy fancy mascaras that promise model-worthy lashes. But for those of us on a beauty budget, finding mascara that performs can be downright difficult. Lucky for us, Maybelline comes to the rescue with their classic pink tube of never-fail Great Lash Mascara for just $5. One swipe on our lashes and we’re left with bigger, better, more-beautiful eyes.
What’s your pick for best mascara on a budget?
Get More Bang for Your (Beauty) Buck
If you’ve had to cut down on spending on little luxuries like beauty products, your best bet is to make the most of what you’ve got. This is easier than it sounds—it’s simply a matter of learning how to prolong a product’s use. Here are a few tricks that work for us.
~ If you’ve opened your lipstick only to discover that the color no longer twists up above the tube’s edges, don’t junk it just yet. Instead, scoop out the rest of the lipstick and place it into a small pot. Then continue to apply it with a lip brush. You’d be surprised to discover just how much of your lipstick normally goes to waste! (Need something to scoop it with? Head to your nearest Baskin-Robbins and ask for a sample of something yummy. Enjoy your treat, then head home with the teeny spoon.)
~ We’ve heard experts recommend that nail polishes can be kept longer if they’re stored in a cool place—like the fridge. But we’ve been unsuccessful with this practice, as often, others we co-habitat with aren’t thrilled about finding Maybelline behind the Mayo. However, we have found that when polish gets a bit soupy, the best way to get it back to a normal consistency is to add a few drops of nail polish thinner, as a manicurist would do at a salon. Just a small amount of thinner ought to coax a couple of extra uses out of a bottle.
~ You could also save a bundle on shampoo and conditioner, by cutting down the amount you use. Unless you have really long or thick hair, you don’t need more than a dime-sized amount of shampoo and unless your hair is very damaged, you don’t have to dump on the conditioner. Distribute conditioner generously mainly at the ends, and if you have curly hair, leave a small amount in as a styling agent.
~ Many people think it’s time to replace compact make-up when the make-up has been worn off the center of the compact pan. This is understandable, since at this point it becomes harder to get the right amount of make-up onto the sponge. However, this problem can often be solved by just replacing the sponge. Sponges need be replaced periodically, anyway, since over time can become overly caked with make-up and dirt.
~ Thinking you need to replace those old make-up brushes? Think again. Regular cleaning of make-up brushes will keep them looking (and feeling) as good as new.
Airline-Approved Beauty
What: Learning to pack TSA-approved sizes for air travel is a beauty must.
What the experts say: Frequent and not-even-very frequent fliers are painfully aware by now that all liquids, gels and aerosols taken aboard a plane must be in three-ounce containers or smaller, and must all fit inside a single quart-size Ziploc bag. Globetrotter and Vogue Beauty Director Sarah Brown writes,
“My time-tested, TSA-compliant strategy: I put everything that’s not technically a gel/liquid/aerosol into an entirely different makeup bag so as not to take up precious plastic-bag space.��?
What we say: Oh, how we wish we could beam our beauty products to our final destination so as to avoid security headaches! Errant lip gloss always finds its way out of our little Ziploc pouch, forcing us to endure an unfriendly frisking! And now that airlines are charging fees upwards of $15 per one bag of checked baggage, becoming creative about how to pack our carry-on is even more important for budget fashionistas than ever.
Since every ounce counts, the Lisa Hoffman Skincare Single Packette chucks the heavy bottle in favor of single-use, airtight ampoules of creams, cleansers and serums in a re-sealable, disposable pouch. Much like that other single-use fave, Cargo DailyGloss, these light-as-air packettes get us through security in a jiff, without too much added weight, though they do add up in cost ($20 per packette).
Most hotels provide us with the essentials—soap, shampoo and conditioner—so some beauty items we don’t need to pack. But others—perfume, cleanser and makeup remover—are flying the friendly skies with us. Sephora’s jumped onboard the airplane-friendly wagon with several mini-products, and we’re loving the Face Purifying Makeup Remover To Go, which removes our gunked-on makeup while also gently cleansing our face for a mere $5. We once watched in horror as a fellow fashionista was forced by security to dump her whole Chanel Mademoiselle perfume into a trash can—the horror! Perfumes carry much weight and aren’t cheap, so we recommend lightweight rollerballs as a budget-friendly alternative. We’ll be carrying on Clean Shower Fresh Rollerball, which has a fresh scent that smells like we just stepped out of the shower—perfect for an after-flight pick-me-up. At $22, it’s cheaper than tossing an $80 perfume in the garbage.
Sometimes we don’t want to part with our go-to shampoo, conditioner and lotion, and Travel Mate 15-Piece Carry-On Bottle Kit has our backs with enough jars and spray bottles to house two week’s worth of our beauty staples. Even cooler? Thirty-six pre-labeled stickers make it easy for us to id the jars’ contents. All of this for $9.99? Now, if only flying were this simple…and wallet-friendly.
Photo: Starpulse.com
Beauty Advice: Best Waterproof Mascara
Dear Budget Fashionista,
I’m looking for a new waterproof mascara (regular just melts right off my face). I’ve been using Make Up For Ever, but as a college student it’s just
too expensive to be purchasing all the time. Any recommendations?
Answer: My favorite budget waterproof mascara is Maybelline Great Lash - Waterproof Mascara. It’s cheap (under $4 at Wal-Mart
), doesn’t clump, and is solidly waterproof. There are also more expensive ($8-$12) brands, like L’Oreal and Avon, that have solid waterproof mascaras as well.
Beauty Advice: Tips for Deep Set Eyes
Dear Budget Fashionista, I have very deep-set eyes. What are some are tricks I can use to bring them out?
Answer: To bring out deep-set eyes, apply eyeliner on both the lower and upper lash lines, making sure to smudge and soften the line. Apply a lighter shade of eye shadow from the eyelash to the brow line and apply a slightly darker shade above the crease and blend. You can use darker shades of eye shadow for dramatic nighttime looks, but remember to blend the shadow above the brow bone.
Beauty Advice: Foundation for African American Women on a Budget
Dear Budget Fashionista,
I am African-American and I have very dark skinned with purple undertones, can you recommend a good make-up company for me?
Answer: Until recently, women of color didn’t have a lot of options when it came to foundations. Many companies offered products that were either too pink or orange. Plus, they didn’t offer a wide enough variety of shades to encompass the broad range of skin tones found among African Americans and other women of color. Today, many of the most popular cosmetics companies have expanded their lines to include shades that are flattering on all women of color.
For those on a budget, try Black Opal, Cover Girl’s Queen Collection, Lo’real’s High Pigmentation collection, which makes foundations with stronger pigmentation
In terms of type of make-up, look for concealers, foundations, and powders that are yellow-based, which will help neutralize bluish or purple undertones. If you need a color-correcting concealer, Physician’s Formula has a yellow-toned corrector that works wonders on under eye circles. For foundations and powders, Bobbi Brown offers a wide range of yellow-based products that cover naturally and beautifully. You might also want to check out Real Cosmetics a makeup line developed specifically for women of color.
Beauty Advice: Makeup Expiration Dates
Dear Budget Fashionista,
Is there an expiration date to makeup?
Answer: According to a March 9, 2000, FDA report (revised October 15, 2002), “Consumers should be aware that expiration dates are simply ‘rules of thumb,’ and that a product’s safety may expire long before the expiration date if the product has not been properly stored. Cosmetics that have been improperly stored - for example, exposed to high temperatures or sunlight, or opened and examined by consumers prior to final sale - may deteriorate substantially before the expiration date. On the other hand, products stored under ideal conditions may be acceptable long after the expiration date has been reached.”
Here is a guideline to help you determine when it’s time to toss out old makeup:
Foundation: 3-6 months
Concealer: Wand applicator concealers should be tossed within 6 months since they’re likely to grow bacteria. Stick, twist-up tubes, or compact concealers can last up to 12 months, especially if you use a makeup brush to apply the product.
Pressed powder cosmetics: Facial powder, blush and eyeshadow should be thrown out after one year. If you get an eye infection, however, you’ll have to toss out any eyeshadow you’ve used, to avoid re-infecting yourself.
Lip gloss and lipstick: 1 year
Mascara: You should always replace mascara after 3 months. And toss it immediately if it becomes dry, or you develop an eye infection. Remember: Never, ever
share mascara!
Eye and lip pencils: If you sharpen them every few days, makeup pencils can last a year or longer. It’s time to trash them when they become dry, crumbly, and hard to apply.
All-natural cosmetics: Because these products do not contain preservatives, they should be used or discarded within 6 months.
Here are some more tips that will help you make the most of your makeup:
1. Don’t ever share cosmetics.
2. Don’t put your fingers into the product. Use the applicator
provided, or a makeup sponge.
3. Keep containers tightly closed, and store them in a cool, dry place.
4. Don’t use water or saliva to ease the application of a product. Doing so
introduces bacteria into the product, which can cause a host of problems.
5. Immediately toss the product out if there is a change of color, texture,
or consistency; if the ingredients settle or separate; or if an odor develops.
Beauty Advice: Defining Natural Curls
“THESE PRODUCTS ARE NO LONGER BEING SOLD”
Dear Budget Fashionista,
I have a press and curl and I’m looking for products I can use when I want to go for a more natural-curly look. I’m looking for products that will define my tightly curled hair while at the same time leave my hair looking moisturized.
Answer: I find most over-the-counter curl defining products do not work very well on African-American hair. However, there are three products that work fairly well on my tightly curled hair:
- Miss Jessie Curly Pudding. Pricey but works wonders and was created by two sisters with curly hair who own a VERY popular hair salon in Brooklyn. The product is very thick, so it weighs hair down, while also keeping it nice and moisturized.
- Aveda’s Be Curly Curl Enhancer and Aveda’s Confixtor Gel. Run a health size amount of Be Curly through wet hair to define the curls and then add a small amount of the Confixtor gel. Again, not the cheapest products out there, but they work.
Now be aware that these products won’t change the texture of your hair, but they will help define and build shine.
Beauty Advice: Best Facial Masks
Dear Budget Fashionista,
What is the best budget facial mask from a store or DIY at home for smoothing skin?
Answer:Store: Definitely Queen Helena Mud Masks are the best, at a great price! (under $4). I’m sure readers also have their favorites (feel free to post them below)
At Home: Oatmeal facial scrub. Mix Oatmeal, water, and a bit honey until it forms a sticky paste. Scrub it onto your face and let it sit for about 10 minutes. Rinse. Your skin will be smoother and softer (and you can eat the leftover mix)
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