Budget Beauty
Wal-Mart’s Special Delivery
What: Who has the time to drive miles to their nearest discount store to pick up a new tube of mascara or lipstick? We certainly don’t. But now Wal-Mart is stepping in to help time-strapped and budget-conscious consumers by launching an all-new home delivery plan that brings beauty and health products to your front door. For the first time ever, Wal-Mart is letting its customers shop online for low-priced beauty products from name brands like Maybelline and Neutrogena, with shipping that costs just 97 cents per item.
What Wal-Mart Says:
“Customers have long trusted Walmart to provide the best values on health and beauty brands in our stores, and now customers can also access these savings online at Walmart.com with the convenience of home delivery,” said Kelly Thompson, Walmart.com’s chief merchant. “By offering savings on our customers’ favorite health and beauty items online and in our stores, we can better help our customers shop the way they want.”
What We Say: We love shopping from home and we love cheap prices, so Wal-Mart’s new plan is right up our alley. However, the new home delivery would certainly be better if shipping was free. While 97 cents isn’t going to break the bank, it’s actually quite a lot considering how cheap and lightweight many beauty products are. Plus, who is the customer for this? Don’t most of the people who shop at Wal-mart live near a Wal-mart?
Bold Nails for Fall ‘09
What: Fancy jewelry and expensive handbags are so 2008. Manicured nails are the fashion statement of 2009, now that striped metallics, earth tones, and custom-designed nails are all en-vogue. For budget babes interested in doing their own nails at home, experts recommend choosing bold colors—like blood red—or painting dark hues over the top of more opaque pink polishes to get the runway look at home.
Dove Sensitive Skin Nourishing Body Wash: Product Review
What: Angela attempts to break the moisture barrier with Dove Sensitive Skin Nourishing Body Wash
The Lowdown: I’ve always been leery of body washes that claim to moisturize—I mean, clean and exfoliate? Sure. But, like moisturizing shampoos, I’ve never found that a cleanser can actually deliver enough lasting moisture to truly support the claim. Still, Dove claims their Sensitive Skin Nourishing Body Wash is fortified with “NutriumMoisture” a “breakthrough” formula of 100% natural moisturizers that can actually be absorbed completely to “nourish deep down.” That’s a lot of slightly-vague hype (but hey, what good beauty product marketing isn’t?)—but I’ll try to keep an open mind.
Created for sensitive skin, this particular body wash has no discernible fragrance which, admittedly, I kinda miss being a fan of such things to help clear the fog during my 6 a.m. shower, but for those with truly sensitive skin I’m sure this is a plus. The wash itself is pleasingly creamy—giving me hope that there’s actually some moisture benefit to be had in there somewhere—but doesn’t really lather up quite as much as I’d like (I’m sure this probably means it has less sulfates, which is a good thing, but still makes me feel like I have to use more to get a good result).
So what about the promised “nourishment”? Sure enough, after several days of use, I can’t say my skin is suddenly super-moisturized (not giving up my cocoa butter body lotions just yet) but overall it really does seem softer and, maybe more importantly, less apt to dry out quite as quickly.
Yea or Nay: Yea. I can’t say it’s my top body wash of all time, but for sensitive skin and long-term results, it does seem to do the job—for a price you can’t argue with.
Buy It: Around $6, at Target, Walmart, drugstore beauty aisles.
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.
Natural Health Announces Beauty Awards Winners
What: Natural Health magazine has announced the winners of its 5th Annual Beauty Awards, which polled thousands of readers and dermatologists to find 25 of the year’s best beauty products.
2009 Winners Include:
Facial Cleanser—Olay Definity Penetrating Mousse Cleanser
Eye Cream—Yes to Cucumbers Eye Love Cucumbers Soothing Eye Gel
Lip Balm—Burt’s Bees Sun Protecting Lip Balm SPF 8 with Passionfruit
Body Scrub—Aura Cacia Nourishing Body Polishes Fair Trade Certified
For the Full List: Check out www.naturalhealthmag.com.
Chaps Weekend Perfume: Product Review
What: Angela gets spritzed with Chaps Weekend Perfume.
The Lowdown: Chaps is not a brand name that inspires a great deal of confidence regarding women’s fragrances. Sold at Kohl’s, it strikes me as very conservative and quite the opposite of high end. The packaging for the new Chaps Woman Weekend Perfume doesn’t help—the box is printed all around with a bland pink cable knit, with the Chaps logo (which always makes me think of lassos and cowboy boots) front and center. The bottle is a bit better, though, and I know, I know ... never judge a book and all that ...
As it turns out, in this case, that’s an adage that definitely holds true. Because despite my reservations (and inherently cynical nature), the fragrance itself? Nice. Really nice. With topnotes of green lotus, sparkling neroli and pink tulips supplemented by middle and bottom notes including magnolia blossom, beechwood, and patchouli leaf, the scent is an unfussy mix of floral and woody, without being overpowering. The florals come out strong at first—and if you’ve read previous fragrance reviews, We’re not floral fans—but soften once on the skin for a bit, for a nice subtle balance that has staying power.
The Verdict: Yea. The perfect fragrance, really, for making the transition from those bright summer scents into something more sultry for fall. Nice.
Buy It: Only at Kohl’s, $32.50 for 1 oz. or $42.50 for 3.4 oz.
Aveeno Nourish & Revitalize Shampoo & Conditioner: Product Review
What: Angela trys to get healthy with Aveeno Nourish & Revitalize Shampoo & Conditioner
The Lowdown: Aveeno is one of those brands that’s just slightly more expensive, but comes with a reputation that leads us to expect good value for our hard earned buck. Since my hair is colored regularly and fried with blow dryer and irons (either curling or straightening, depending) daily, I’m always open to a product that will help compensate for some of the inevitable damage.
The Aveeno Nourish & Revitalize line promises to help “protect hair’s intrinsic moisture balance from everyday damage, invigorating it with new life”, and in just three washes to help repair damage and provide the “three key elements that give hair life — strength, softness and shine.” Sounds good.
So after three days use, any difference? Sadly, not so much. Yes, my hair was reasonably soft, but also weighed down which, when you have fine hair like mine, is a big drawback. As for strength and shine—not any more than what I get from my regular shampoo and conditioner (which, for the record, are Dove Go Fresh Energize Therapy Shampoo and Alberto VO5 Shower Works Hot Oil). Perhaps more than three days use would be in order to get maximum results, but with the conditioner being so heavy—and the fact that the shampoo has ammonium laurel sulfate which can strip color—I’m switching back to my regular tried-and-true routine.
The Verdict: Nay. Not terrible, but didn’t deliver the results I’d expect for around $7 a bottle.
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.
Frédéric Fekkai Shampoo Giveaway at Saks
What: The luxury haircare brand Frédéric Fekkai wants you to make the switch. The company is hosting a “Shampoo Swap” day at Saks Fifth Avenue stores across the country on September 17th, asking women to trade in any bottle of full sized shampoo for a completely free 8oz bottle of the company’s new Fekkai Advanced shampoo, which normally retails for $23.
What Frédéric Fekkai Says:
“The promotion is part of the exciting launch of Fekkai Advanced, the newest incarnation of luxury hair care from Fekkai. The Fekkai Advanced collection redefines the original Fekkai product families, elevating them to a new level with improved technologies, textures and fragrances for an experience like never before.”
What We Say: Does hair really look better when it’s washed with designer shampoo? Now’s your time to see for yourself. Pretty much everyone has an old bottle of shampoo sitting in the bathroom, and now is the perfect chance to throw it out and get a new bottle of Fekkai Advanced in its place—for free. And really, who turns down free beauty products? Not us!
New Nail Polish from Sephora
What: The new Sephora by OPI Matte collection features bright grape (Domestic Goddess), dark smoky purple (Metro Chic), and black (Where’s a Tire Jack?) nail polish. It’s on sale now at Sephora - they cost less than $10, which is something we always appreciate around here.
If you’ve prettied up your toe/finger nails with Sephora by OPI already, let us know what you think!
Ricky’s NYC Ceramic Fusion Rollers: Product Review
What: Angela attempts to turn up the volume with Ricky’s NYC Ceramic Fusion Rollers
The Lowdown: Having been cursed with thin, fine hair, I’m always looking for ways to amp things up a bit. I’ve never been a big fan of rollers in general, but figured these “ceramic magnetic” rollers sounded pretty high tech, so what have I got to lose?
Turns out, about an hour of my life that I’ll never get back again. First, finding very little information on the package about what makes them so special—or even how to use them—I went online, and found not a whole lot more. We all know “ceramic” is big in the hair tool world at the moment, but I never did find out what the “magnetic” part is all about. And since the rollers themselves appear to be ordinary plastic—with what may or may not be a thin coating of “ceramic”—I can’t even begin to create a theory.
Still, looks aren’t everything, so I gave them a shot. Rolled up some sections of damp hair, pulled out the blow dryer, and did my thing. Unfortunately, the rollers didn’t do their thing. After drying, pulled the rollers out, and all I was left with was, well, my regular hair, with a little bump where the clips required to hold the rollers in place were. Fun.
The Verdict: Nay. Sure, they’re cheap (around $4.99 for a set of three) but you’ll be better off taking that five spot and putting it towards a product that actually works.
Forever 21 Enters Beauty & Home Furnishings Market
What: Following the recent launches of a swimwear collection and plus-size line known as Faith 21 earlier this year, Forever 21 has decided to expand some more. The frugally-focused retailer has just announced plans to enter the beauty and home markets, by introducing Forever 21-branded makeup and housewares into its largest stores around the country later this year.
What WWD Says:
“According to a spokeswoman, beauty and home merchandise would be first rolled out to Forever 21’s largest stores, including 15 former Mervyn’s locations, before entering Forever 21’s XXI concept.”
What We Say: It’s one thing to pay $15 for a sweater that falls apart after one wash, but are customers really willing to shell out for bed sheets and comforter covers that may suffer the same fate? Unfortunately, the answer inevitable looks to be yes, since pretty much every bargain-based venture Forever 21 delves into somehow becomes a success. Nonetheless, we have to admit to being slightly excited that the company is finally coming out with its own brand of makeup, since we can’t seem to get enough of super-cheap eyeliners and lip glosses as of late.
Meetmark.com and Markgirl.com: Site Review
A few years back, Avon decided to update its image and target a younger demographic, so they added Mark —a line of makeup designed to be used, and sold, by young women. The line has never made a huge splash, as far as we know, but we’ve always been a fan of Avon, even if they were a lot cooler for our mom’s generation than our own. For those of us who do lots of our shopping online, we like that the Mark products offer a wide variety and are inexpensive—but is their website user-friendly? We decided to check it out.
Our Review: Mark actually has two websites, which was a little confusing at first. But as it turns out, one—Meetmark.com—is the actual shopping site, while the other—Markgirl.com —is more of a blog, with video clips featuring current celeb-of-the-minute spokesperson Lauren Conrad, as well as advice and info on becoming a Mark sales representative (or as they like to call it, a “Social Beauty”.) The sites link to each other, and have a nice “sister site” feel, so while we might normally say two sites is a bit of overkill, in this case, the choice—depending on your reason for visiting—is kind of nice.
Markgirl.com is pretty straightforward—mostly video clips, the site features both fashion and makeup tips, the latest Mark products, and puts the spotlight on representatives. Meetmark.com, however, is where we’d end up—because, since we’re slightly older than the target demographic, we don’t really have time to shuffle through all those clips. We just want to buy our lipgloss and go.
Which is easy to do here—the site is easy on the eyes and equally easy to navigate. A couple of quick clicks and we found a few lip glosses that we feel good about, like these Mark Juice Gems for just $6 apiece. All the prices sit well with us—and because it’s Avon, it’s not taking a shot in the dark as far as quality goes. The site also offers “wishlist” and “find a rep” features (nice if you actually want to see or try products before you buy).
The Verdict: Yea. Fun makeup on the cheap, and a site we can trust.
Free Ulta Hair Care Clinic
It’s time to call summer 2009 as the summer of free beauty clinics (see Sephora’s Free Make Up clinics). ULTA stores nationwide are stepping in to help women reinvent their coifs during these hot and hazy summer months. Starting Sunday July 5th, the Salon at ULTA’s pro Designers will host a series of FREE workshops demonstrating the techniques we need to know to create salon styles at home. Choose from two customized workshops:
Turn Up the Volume- Learn quick tricks to create maximum volume, boost and body
Workshop Schedule
* Sunday, July 5th - 11:00am-1:00pm
* Saturday, July 11th - 10:00am-Noon
* Sunday, July 12th - 11:00am-1:00pm
* Saturday, July 18th - 10:00am-Noon
Tame Your Mane- Learn industry secrets to help you gain control of even the wildest head of hair
Workshop Schedule
* Sunday, July 19th - 11:00am-1:00pm
* Saturday, July 25th - 10:00am-Noon
* Sunday, July 26th - 11:00am-1:00pm
* Saturday, August 1st - 10:00am-Noon
Pre-book your appointment today for a FREE one-on-one consultation with a Salon Designer to receive personalized tips. First-time guests also can take advantage of 30% off Hair Color or a $30 Signature Cut at the Salon. Walk-ins are always welcome, but only those with reservations will be guaranteed a seat for this event. To book an appointment call 1-800-968-5823 or visit ulta.com to find an ULTA location near you.
Free Beauty Lessons from Sephora
What: We’re not sure if this just means Sephora saleswomen (sorry, people) are about to get even pushier than ever, but the store’s now offering up free beauty consultations. Without committing to a purchase, you can enjoy a tutorial on how to apply that blush just right, what shade of red lipstick to wear with your skin tone, and which brand of mascara really makes your eyes pop.
What Sephora Says: “Reservations may be required, please call the store for details. Walk-ins are welcome on a space-available basis.”
What We Say: Wait, is this really something new? Don’t all the beauty counters at top department stores offer up complimentary makeovers? We’re guessing Sephora’s making a big deal out of this because they’ve got true beauty experts on hand, but we’ll have to wait and see on this one.
If you’re planning on making a purchase to begin with, this is a great way to learn some makeup application techniques that could save you some big money later on - don’t pay for someone to do your makeup for that wedding you’re in; you already know your stuff, right? However, don’t blame us if you end up walking out of Sephora with a big bag of products you don’t need.
Clairol Natural Instincts
What: Angela changes it up with Natural Instincts
The Lowdown: There was a time when coloring your hair at home was a real risk—not only were the results not guaranteed to be great, they were permanent. Natural Instincts was one of the first non-permanent haircolors (lasts through twenty-some shampoos) we can remember on the market, and has managed to stick around for a reason.
If you’ve never colored your hair before, Natural Instincts is super easy to use. Mix it in the applicator bottle, and apply to damp hair. Leave on for somewhere between 10-20 minutes, and rinse and condition. The result? Consistently good color, super soft shiny hair, and a little body boost for good measure.
The downside of Natural Instincts is that for the best result, you need to stay within a range of your own haircolor—so for dramatic transformations, you’ll have to go another route (we’d recommend the salon for anything drastic, natch). And, as someone who has used this product for long stretches, I’ve found that when used repeatedly over long periods of time, it doesn’t completely wash out anymore. But in general, if you’re of a mind to make more subtle haircolor changes (add a little red, tone down the brass) on a regular basis, Natural Instincts is a reliable option.
The Verdict: Yea. The color is in fact natural-looking, lasting, and cheap—even if you use it EVERY month, it’s less than $10 per application.
Buy It: Wal-Mart, Target, Drugstore
Sephora.com: Site Review
In the world of beauty Sephora is a trusted name, and while some of their offerings are out of our everyday beauty budget range, we find enough quality products that are either minor splurges or a deal on sale to keep us coming back. But more and more, we’d like to do our beauty shopping the same way we do much of our clothes shopping—online. So we decided to forget trekking to the mall and check out Sephora’s website instead.
Our Review: Where to begin? We’re kinda impressed with this site, so here’s the rundown—Sephora offers their own brand beauty products as well as a whole host of other quality brands (think Smashbox, Bare Escentuals, Benefit, etc.), with all kinds of incentives to buy, including free shipping over $50, free samples, free returns, weekly specials, online-only products, and a sale section that’s worth keeping in the regular rotation.
Now we’ll admit that buying make-up online isn’t always easy (as if it’s not hard enough to pick the right color under the fluorescent lights at WalMart, now we have to do it on a computer screen ...) but Sephora also features customer reviews (which are one of our favorite ways to gauge a product’s worth) and a product question and answer so you can get advice before you buy.
Need another reason to shop? If you’re environmentally conscious, Sephora.com has you covered there as well—with a really impressive selection of organic and natural beauty product brands, ranging from slightly pricey to pretty darn affordable (this Bare Escentuals Natural Lipgloss , for example, is $15.)
The Verdict: Yea. Sephora.com lets us satisfy our beauty cravings without leaving the air-conditioned comfort of the office (during our lunch hour, of course).
Best Budget Facial Moisturizer?
Question: What’s the Best Budget Facial Moisturizer?
Before you spend hours baking in the sun, spend a little money on some skin-saving products. A good moisturizer can do wonders for your natural beauty and your health. Whether you’ll be spending lots of time at work, the beach, or traveling this summer, there’s one thing you should never leave home without - moisturizing lotion with SPF.
While Vaseline continues to be our favorite budget moisturizer, we understand everyone has a different skin type and not everyone can understand the ingredients listed. What’s the difference between an “age-defying cream” and a “beauty enhancer?” Is it all just a bunch of BS? And what the heck does dermatologist recommended really mean?
What affordable facial moisturizers do you trust? If you’re one of those women who gets constant compliments for glowing, healthy looking skin, please impart your wisdom upon the rest of us.
Some of our favorite facial moisturizers
Olay Regenerist Deep Hydration Regenerating Cream, $17.99, from DrugStore.com
Neutrogena Oil-Free Moisturizer with SPF 15, $9.49, from Target
Boots Botanics SPF 15Triple Active Day Moisturizer, $12.99, from Target
Estee Lauder Products Shrink in Size and Price
What: Remember back when L’Oreal promised to lower prices? Well, Estee Lauder has caught on to the trend, too, which makes us feel a little giddy inside. Not only will the beauty retailer offer up more affordable products (something they’ve resisted doing at every turn up until now), but some of its more luxurious ones, like the fragrance Clinique Happy, will be available in smaller, cheaper quantities.
What Estee Lauder CEO William Lauder Says:
The consumer has some money to spend; she just doesn’t have as much, so she’d rather spend a little bit now.
What We Say: So, those of us who can’t splurge on a 100ml bottle of perfume can now afford a 30ml tease. Sounds good to us. If you gave up high-end makeup and perfumes because of price, is something like this enough to get you to rethink brands like Estee Lauder? Or are you now converted into shopping only at the drug store and supermarket for items like these.
Best Budget Spray Tanner?
Question: What’s the Best Budget Spray Tanner?
Remember that time you got all spray tanned up before an impromptu party, ended up an ugly orange, and had to take a panicked shower with baking soda? Self tanners are an awesome alternative to painful sunburns, peeling (yuck), and scary skin cancer, but they can also be nightmare in a bottle. It’s really difficult to achieve an even golden tan with a spray tanner, especially if you’re on a budget. We don’t even think the movie stars and models have the art form down yet.
So, where can we find the best spray on tanners? Do you prefer organic products over those with chemicals? After all, isn’t that one of the major advantages of spray-on tans - that they’re safe?
If you’ve found a self tanner that’s easy to apply, gets you consistently good results, and also fits into your budget (Lindsay Lohan’s Sevin Nyne is a tad too pricey for us), us pale people want to know…
Try these budget friendly spray tan brands-
Aveda Sun Source, $18.00, from MakeMeheal.com
Kiss My Face Instant Sunless Tanner, $8.55, from eVitaminStore.com
Advertisement
Featured on TBF
Copyright 2003-2009 TBF Group, LLC.