By Bobbi Burger Brunoehler of BobbisBargains.
Four years ago, Dove beauty products ran one of the most successful viral video campaigns of the time. It graphical showed that our perception of beauty is twisted by the ability of makeup and graphic artists to make the human body look drastically different than it actually is. In the hands of an expert, Photoshop graphic software can drastically change the way that anybody looks.
These constant visual illusions set the stage for cosmetic companies to sell overpriced and unnecessary products to young and old, male and female, rich and poor. Do we really need toxic chemicals from cosmetics added to our skin and our budgets? No.
The best beauty is natural beauty. It is lasting. Really.
Here are 8 tried and true simple steps you can do to bring out your natural beauty.
This is a post by BargainBabe.com writer Yazmin Cruz.
Summer and winter can wreak havoc on your pout. That’s were lip balms come in handy. To help you avoid spending money on products that don’t work, I tested ten lip balms and reviewed them below.
I wore each lip balm for three days and rated them on their smell, taste, feel and, most importantly, how well they wear. I live in Los Angeles so SPF is very important. If a balm has a hint of color or yummy taste, that’s a plus for me. I listed the results starting with my favorites on down. (more…)
Leftover lotion? Credit: shawncampbell/Flickr
Linda wrote in with a question about leftover skincare items. What would you do?
I have sensitive skin and am a savvy shopper (try to be anyway) so I’m afraid to buy new products in fear of my skin not liking it and then not being able to return it – even drugstore types. Do you have any tips on other uses for cheap or expensive facewashes and moisturizers so that they don’t go to waste?
I have tried swapping on sites such as MakeupAlley but they do take a while to swap away, if ever.
Thank you!
Linda
I buy most of my skincare products from The Body Shop, which accepts returns if something causes your skin to break out. I would be surprised if other major retailers, like Target or the chain drugstores, did not act similarly.
However, if you opt not to return an item you are unhappy with, perhaps you could use them on other parts of your body that are not as sensitive, like your legs. You could also offer them to friends or organize a small beauty swap among friends.
Readers, what would you do with leftover facewash and moisturizer?
Free drumsticks tomorrow and at Frugal Festival Food! 6/25
There are 24 coupons and freebies today. If you shop online, check if there is a cash back rebate for shopping through Ebates or Shortcuts. It’s free to join and you can save a bit extra.
Free coffee - Get a free coffee at Peet’s (a small drip coffee, to be exact) today, June 20, 2011 only when you like the chain on Facebook.
Tomorrow! Free ice cream – Starting tomorrow, June 21 at noon EST/ 9 a.m. PST, Nestle is giving away 100,000 coupons for a free ice cream drumstick. I should have some coupons at Frugal Festival Food! on June 25.
Starts Thursday! Free photo book - Get a free photo book from Walgreens with coupon code BRAG. This is for a “free photo brag book,” whatever that is. Valid June 23-25, 2011 only. Page is not live until then.
Jan Tik / Flickr
This is a post by BargainBabe.com writer Yazmin Cruz.
Until recently, I’ve never worn makeup because of the cost, not to mention the challenge of finding the right product. This all changed when a sales associate at a makeup boutique gave me a lesson on scoring free makeup samples. I’ve since landed a handful of samples. Here’s how to get free makeup samples.
But first, here are four makeup products that you can score – for free.
• Foundation – In a previous post by Bargain Babe, she spoke to a professional makeup artist who revealed she pays more (more…)
shawncampbell/Flickr
Reader Mena has a dilemma. Please help her if you can! She writes:
HI do you have any information on at home face moisturizers? something for oily skin? Eco friendly? Please reply……
Mena, I have bought good moisturizers from the Body Shop, which is against animal testing. Also, check out my review of Return to Beauty, a really awesome book full of homemade beauty recipes.
What do you suggest?
My frugal friends at Savings.com shared some great coupons with me this week.
Get 20 percent off accessories of $30 or more at Verizon Wireless. Unknown expiration date.
Get free shipping on orders of $30 or more at Avon. Expires March 11, 2010.
Get $15 off $75 or more at Smashbox. Expires March 1, 2010.
Get 20 percent off orders of $50 or more with free shipping at Kate Spade. Unknown expiration date.
Get $10 off most orders of $64.99 or more with free shipping at GameStop. Expires March 5, 2010.
This post is brought to you by Allegro Medical, a provider of ostomy supplies.
I found some great coupons for you, and more are coming so make sure to check my blog on my WalletPop blog later today.
All make up is 25 percent off at Rite Aid today though Saturday, Feb. 13, 2010. A professional make up artist who I met two weeks ago in New York recommended three drugstore beauty products over fancy designer make up.
Amazon is having a huge magazine sale with Seventeen for $7 and Esquire for $9. Get an extra 50 percent off many sale titles with code MAGFEB50.
You can get a certificate for a free contact lenses through Acuvue when you sign up here.
I’m not sure when Spa Week morphed into Spa Month, but it has. Spas across the country, from LA to NY, are offering steep discounts to get customers, especially new ones, in the door in February. Start looking for spa deals near you. Here are a few I found.
At Lauren’s Salon Spa in Los Angeles you can get one of the following treatments for $50: 60 Min De-Stressing European Facial, Waxing Package including Full Leg and Bikini Wax, Sassy Highlights for the Holidays, or Wash, Cut, Condition and Blow-Dry. That’s a great price for LA!
At Le Petite Rose in San Francisco you can get a 50 min relaxation massage for $55, normally $65, 60 min relaxation massage for $65, normally $75, or chocolate rose facial for $58, normally $68.
At Salon Roi in D.C. you can get a color or partial highlights with blow dry, or any 50 min facial or 50 min massage for $50, normally $90 – $163, or manicure and pedicure for $35, normally $58.
At the Skin Therapie Spa in Coral Gables, FL, you can get a Valentine’s spa package including a rose aromatherapy facial, full body swedish massage, and manicure and pedicure for $165.
At the Veria Wellness Center in Chicago chose from 10 classes including yoga, pilates, meditation, or mommy and me for $10, or get a 50 min signature facial or massage for $50 each.
You can find the deals I mentioned above and look for ones near you on this page.
Thanks, Tina!
This is a pretty neat discount. The folks at Julie Hewett, a high-quality make up line, created a special coupon code just for BargainBabe.com readers! Use code BB25 to get 25 percent off your purchase. Expires Dec. 24, 2009.
I especially like the camelia lip balm, which is $14 before the discount. It smells really good, does a great job moisturizing lips, and goes on clear.
Julie Hewett make up has been written about in Oprah, InStyle, Real Simple and lots more magazines. You can buy make up on the site and play with a few fun tools, like which red are you? There is also a page with beauty tricks so you can get a certain look.
Win $134 worth of Julie Hewett make up by signing up for my email list by Dec. 15, 2009!
Disclosure: the prize make up was donated by Julie Hewett.
The passion for homemade beauty recipes is clear from the first page of Return to Beauty: old world recipes for great radiant skin. Author and celebrity aesthetician Narine Nikogosian learned from her grandmother to make treatments with whatever she had on hand, even pats of butter!
Many of Narine’s recipes have just three ingredients, including stuff you already have in your kitchen, like eggs, milk, honey, baking soda, lemon juice, and various fruits. The directions are incredibly simple and Narine explains how and why each recipe works.
Here’s her bee sweet moisturizer:
Hydrating and softening, these three ingredients will leave your skin baby soft.
1 tsp honey
1 tsp almond oil
1/2 egg yolk
In a small bowl, mix the ingredients together. Apply to your face every morning and evening after cleansing. Splash with warm water and pat dry.
Return to Beauty is 262-pages divided into six sections. The first has simple recipes by season for each of the four skin types, dry, normal to dry, normal to oily, and oily. The second section has recipes by zodiac sign and the third has “simple solutions” for pimples, fine lines, problematic hair and nails, feet, and dark spots.
The final three sections, which are much shorter, cover pregnancy, how to give yourself a facial, and skin care for men. Here’s another recipe that sounds great.
Baby Mama’s Beautiful Body Cream
When you’re pregnant, it might seem as if all of the moisture has left your body! This lotion will infuse hydration and healthiness into your dry skin, keeping it soft and supple.
2 small cucumbers
2 tsps olive oil
1 egg yolk
1 tsp flour
Peel and chop the cucumbers. In a blender, combine the cucumbers, oil, egg yolk, and flour. Mix well. After showering, apply this cream generously all over your body.
This book would also make an awesome Christmas gift! Leave a comment on this post by 5 p.m. PST Thursday for a chance to win my review copy! You can always buy a copy of Return to Beauty from Amazon for $16.50 (orig. $25). That’s a bargain for a beautifully styled, hardcover book.
Buying this book supports BargainBabe.com!
I hate cutting my hair. Why spend money on something that is immediately going to grow out? But my hair is so ridiculously long and tangly that it’s time. There are many options for cheap cuts that I wrote about a few months ago, refreshed for you below.
- Do it yourself. Consider trying snipping your own locks if you want a simple cut or are extremely adventurous. I figure if I mess it up I can always run to Supercuts, lesson learned. eHow.com has a cautious 7-step overview. Howtodothings.com shares a free 12-step guide to cutting your own hair. Or you can pay $20 for a detailed guide to home cuts. A variation on this is having a trusted friend cut your hair.
- Look for specials. Many salons offer first-time customer discounts that can really pay off. One near my home charged $20 for a cut that normally costs $60. Of course, these deals rarely include blow dry and styling, but that’s fine by me.
- Turn to the almost-professionals. Yes, folks, I’m talking about students. Hair cutting schools across the country offer low-cost cuts that are often less than $15. Students lack experience, but they are eager to please. After all, you are a potential client once they graduate and get a job. Why not consider a student for a trim or basic cut? You can test them out without great risk. When you want to make a dramatic change, go to someone with more experience.
- Host a hair cutting party. This is easiest if you already know a stylist who is looking for business. Invite over friends who also want to get their hair cut and negotiate a discounted rate ahead of time based on volume. You may be able to get 20% off or more per person, especially if you can pay in cash.
- Find high-end salons that offer classes for professionals who want to learn a new skill. You can sign up to be a “hair model” for them to work on at a fraction of the cost these folks would normally charge. Sometimes it is free. I used to get cuts through the hair model program at Bumble & Bumble in NYC. For $10 or $20 I got fabulous cuts overseen by a B&B instructor. Only bad thing was that the cuts took two hours (every snip had to be approved) and they were scheduled on weekday afternoons. Looks like the program is free these days and includes styling and coloring! Next time I’m in NYC…
Here are a few online resources to find beauty schools near you.
Get a free 7-day supply of Estee Lauder’s new Advanced Night Repair on Thursday July 23rd from 5-9 p.m. No purchase necessary. The make up maker is giving away 250,000 bottles of the stuff, which apparently helps your skin repair itself. A one-ounce bottle normally costs $47.50. Find a local Estee Lauder counter near you.
Caveats: while supplies last, one per customer.
Thanks Common Sense With Money!
This is a guest post by Louisa Maccan-Graves, who is a celebrity body parts model and writer of HollywoodBeautySecrets.com.
Everyone enjoys a beauty bargain! Even I use kitchen ingredients and budget-friendly products to keep my skin looking “picture perfect.” One of my beauty secrets is using coffee grounds, left from my morning cup of organic coffee. Coffee grounds keep my complexion looking more youthful and flawless. A cup of coffee contains well over 300 antioxidants and 100’s of polyphenols that can help provide many health benefits. But did you know that the grounds left from making your morning brew can help improve and protect your skin from aging?
So don’t throw away those precious “skin repair & rejuvenating” grounds. Use them to exfoliate skin, help prevent and diminish fine lines and wrinkles, balance the pH of skin (great for those with acne or blemish-prone skin), pull toxins from the skin, as a natural astringent, and help moisturize the skin.
Here’s my two-part Café Latte Facial Scrub & Mask Recipe:
STEP I:
Slightly warm the grounds in the microwave. Before bed, cleanse face. Then place a piece of newspaper or paper towel in the sink basin to prevent grounds from going down your drain. While standing over the basin, grab a handful of grounds and gently rub them in a circular motion on face and neck for about 60 seconds. Much of the grinds will fall off, but the antioxidant-rich residue will work it age-proofing magic when left on for10 to 15 minutes. Remove soiled newspaper from basin and rinse face with tepid water.
STEP II:
Pour 1 cup of milk in a large glass bowl and warm in the microwave for 30 seconds, until slightly warm. Use fat-free, 2% or whole milk – whatever is on hand. Wash your face with the warm milk to remove the residue. The lactic acid in the milk also helps further exfoliate and brighten skin tone. Then rinse face with warm water. If any brown residue is still remaining, dip a clean face cloth into the milk and rub face in a gentle circular motion until all residue is removed. Then rinse with tepid water.
Afterward, apply an antioxidant or peptide-rich moisturizer. And don’t forget to apply sun screen over moisturizer in the morning. Use a 30 SPF sun screen that contains either Parsol®, Titanium Dioxide or Zinc Oxide for best protection.
NOTE: Place the cooled grounds in a zip lock bag, or clean jar and leave in the fridge until you’re ready to use them. Be sure to discard any unused grounds after 48 hours. For recipes: Warm the used grounds in the microwave for 10 seconds to 15 seconds and check temperature before use.
UPDATE: A reader says many Starbucks give away their grounds, which you can also use in your garden. Just ask!
For more recipes, check out HollywoodBeautySecrets.com and Louisa’s book, Hollywood Beauty Secrets: Remedies to the Rescue.
The last of my freebie make up remover is gone, which means for two days after I get dolled up I have this mysterious look from my lingering eyeliner. Mystery is okay, but sometimes I don’t want to have my eyes lined at the grocery store. So how does one make homemade make up remover?
I searched online and came up with a promising suggestion: mix a tablespoonful of raw milk with a pinch of turmeric powder and a few drops of lemon juice and apply the mixture with a cotton ball.
I happened to have all these supplies on hand and happily went about mixing and applying. Unfortunately, the results were about as good as if I had used soap and water. When I rinsed the mixture off, my eyeshadow and eyeliner remained. My mascara had slipped onto the dark circles under my eyes. My skin was very soft, however.
For now, I’m a lady of mystery. But if you have a homemade recipe for removing oily makeup, I would be much obliged. And so would everyone else looking for a cheap home remedy!
