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.

1. Drink water. Pure, clean water. Water is what the body uses to flush out the toxins that accumulate and cause unwanted and unbeautiful conditions like pimples, wrinkles and bags under your eyes.
2. Get a good and restful night’s sleep every night. I know that this is very hard for many people to do, but you can help yourself by turning off the computer or tv and going to sleep early enough that you can get a good 8 hours of sleep. For those of you with young kids… sorry, I know that probably isn’t possible.
3. Avoid eating sugar. Wow. Yep. Sugar is not good for your beauty when eaten, but it can be used as a sugar scrub to exfoliate your skin.
4. Eat your dark green veggies. Your mom was right. Green leafy vegetables are really good for you.
5. Avoid and/or release stress. Figure out what that means for you. Perhaps you need to do yoga or take some walks or run the marathon. Perhaps reading a book relaxes you are getting a massage.
6. Get rid of negative people from your life. If you feel worse every time you are with a certain someone, then you probably shouldn’t hang out with them. If it is a family member, that is kind of hard, but if it is a friend, then perhaps it is time to let go of that friendship. A great saying that is floating around facebook goes something like: “Before you decide to take anti-depressants, find out if you are just surrounded by jerks.”
7. Find work in life that you enjoy. Living tends to take up all of your time, so it is best to be doing something that you like.
8. Make your own all natural beauty products or buy them from a company that only uses ingredients that you can pronounce. Return to Beauty is a great book devoted to homemade beauty recipes.

I hope these above tips help you. You can also check out these frugal beauty tips from Yazmin. Have you ever made your own beauty products?

This post is copyrighted by BargainBabe.com. Other sites posting this content are violating the DMCA.

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.

My top three favorites were Blistex, Nivea, and Burt’s Bees. These three balms were moisturizing, inexpensive, and wore well. I did reapply Blistex several times because I couldn’t stop licking my lips! These three top balms have a sheen, but are not greasy. Burt’s Bees has a hint of plum tint, but lacks SPF. Top rated Blistex was the second cheapest balm I tested!

EOS was a runner up, but at $3.99 it was the most expensive balm I tested. EOS comes in a ball-like container (it looks like a lemon in the picture above). It is naturally flavored and PABA-free. It was moisturizing and I would buy it again if I found it for less.

Softlips fared well, but the tube broke and I had to push the product down to close it. Lip Smackers was one of my favorites when I was young, but their new natural line made from beeswax was not the best. It was grainy and tasted like wax.

Vaseline’s balm reminded me of petroleum jelly as it was greasy and looked like jelly. I wouldn’t recommend this for everyday wear, but if it’s extremely windy or dry, it will protect your lips. Just make sure to wear your hair back or your locks will stick to your lips. If you buy it and don’t like it, apply it to your hairline to protect your scalp when coloring your hair.

I’d like to find other uses for ChapStick, Carmex, and Chap-Ex. They were thick, waxy, and tasted like medicine. My lips did not feel any more soft or moisturized than usual. Instead, these products acted more like a block that stayed put. Carmex was my least favorite! I wouldn’t dare steal a kiss from anyone wearing this balm. After applying my lips tingled. If you’re in really cold weather, ChapStick would work in a jiffy as it will block the wind.

If you prefer lipstick or lip gloss over lip balm, here how I score free makeup samples. Also check out Bargain Babe’s video about drugstore makeup.

What lip balms do you swear by?

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.

Free reading games - The site Kabongo offers free reading games for kids. No subscription needed.

Free “heroes” product - Get a free hero photobook from Paper Coterie without coupon code MYHERO through July 4, 2011. You pay shipping and handling.

Free movies - The Freebie Blogger reports these seven free movie codes at Blockbuster Express: 53JBHS4, 72BACC8, 54RRAP5, 66ASJA2, 77CMEA3, 92MLBJ6 and 57AEMR8. Expires June 24, 20111.

Free diabetes guide - Get a free 21 day to living with diabetes.

Free meals for college - College students can get one free meal at day at Ikea through July 2, 2011 at participating locations. Valid student ID required. Max value $6.99. Thanks, It’s Hip to Save!

Picaboo 50% off – Get 50% off your first purchase of any Classic book style with Picaboo coupon code PBCVJULY, good through July 31, 2011.

Southwest hotel sale - Get a hotel for cheap – on the order of 55% off and free nights in Vegas, Orlando, Phoenix, and New Orleans as part of Southwest’s 40th anniversary sale. Book by July 19, 2011, but the best deals will go fast.

Beauty deals – Shortcuts has a ton of hot cash back deals on beauty retailers this week, including 10% back at The Body Shop, 8% back at Sephora, 10% back at Philosophy, and 6% back at Bath & Body Works! These are double the usual rebates.

Ulta beauty coupon - Get free shipping at Ulta on all orders of $25 or more with coupon code 53131. Expires June 25, 2011. Some exclusions.

Banana Republic coupon - Get 30% off your next online purchase with Banana Republic coupon code BRTAKE30. Expires June 20, 2011 at 11:59 p.m. EST.

Avenue coupon – Use thisAvenue coupon code link to get 25% off $100 or more. Expires June 30, 2011.

Walgreens beauty coupon - Revlon, Maybelline, and Cover Girl Cosmetics are buy one get one 50% off with this online Walgreens beauty coupon. Ends June 23, 2011.

Borders coupons – Print this Borders coupon for 30% off the list price of one item, or check out the in-store blowout sales, with hundreds of books for $6.

Disney clearance - Disney has new clearance markdowns with an extra 30% off using coupon code TOY30, good through June 25, 2011.

Today only! Babies R Us sale - The baby mega store is having a one-day online sale June 20, 2011, with thousands of items 20% off. Check out the Babies R Us sale.

Gift basket coupon - Get 15% off gift baskets with coupon code SAVE15 at JustBecauseBaskets. Expires June 30, 2011.

Restaurant.com coupon - Pay $3 for a $25 Restaurant.com gift certificate with coupon code DAD through June 21, 2011.

New source of grocery coupons - CouponNetwork.com has many high value grocery coupons.

Grocery coupons - Get the latest grocery coupons from Coupons.com.

Mobile coupons - Get grocery coupons on your smartphone with Cellfire.

Redplum coupons - More coupons for groceries and toiletries from Redplum.

Clicking on these links supports BargainBabe.com.

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 for products, like foundation, that come in close contact to her skin. (She sticks to drugstore brands for many other makeup products.) Chose the right product for your skin and get the right color, or you’ll be wasting money. Try a sample before making the investment, especially if you go for a department store brand. I scored a good size sample of Nars Sheer Matte Foundation from Sephora that I’m still going through.
• Mascara – Flirty lashes are a must for any woman, but some mascaras can leave you with a clumpy mess. Instead of using the testers that others have used, ask for a sample. The eye area is sensitive and you don’t want to catch anything from previous testers. I took home a free miniature version of Lancome’s High Definition Mascara from their makeup counter when I asked.
• Skin care products – I have sensitive skin that can only handle certain skin care products. Trying out products before paying for a full-size bottle has always worked for me. I tried Bare Escentuals’ cleanser and moisturizer before deciding to spend the money on a full size bottle.
• Perfume – Everyone’s skin reacts differently to perfume so asking for a trial size is a smart idea. Before purchasing L.A.M.B. perfume by Gwen Stefani, I successfully asked for a sample first.

Here’s how to get makeup samples for free:

1. Be friendly to those behind the counter. Sales people are more likely to go out of their way to help you if you’re polite to them, but don’t fake it or you will get nowhere.
2. Make conversation. Some of the sales associates are also makeup artists and like sharing their makeup secrets, so pick their brain. One seller tipped me off to Stila’s convertible color, which can be used for your cheeks and lips.
3. Ask for samples. Getting samples is as easy as asking for them. Most stores have vials and samples for customers who wish to try a product. Not only can you get samples from makeup stores like Sephora and UTLA, but you can also get freebies on the Internet. Drugstore makeup companies will also give out samples of new products through their websites.
4. Make purchases and don’t be a sample hog. Asking for a few samples is fine, but hitting the makeup counters every weekend to stock up is not. Although most makeup samples do not require a purchase, it’s nice to buy products that you like from whomever gave you the sample. This will help you build a relationship with those behind the counter and may lead to more freebies. I never buy beauty products at full retail price. Instead, I wait for sales or use online coupon codes. If I do splurge, I make sure to spend less on other things like doing my own manicure and pedicure.

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?

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.

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.

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!

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.

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!

• 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.

Beauty Schools Directory

Beauty Tech

Find a Beauty School

Caveats: while supplies last, one per customer.

Thanks Common Sense With Money!

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.

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!