Follow Up

Hey all...
I don't know if you remember but a while ago I did a blog posting on bikini waxing?
(Click here for the original post.)

Well yesterday MSN.com had a great article about the same topic that I think is worth the read - especially now that bathing suit season is here.

Bikini Waxing (according to MSN.com)

Keep looking fab - in those swimsuits!
BGND

Manic Monday

Have you guys heard of this site?

www.CouponCabin.com

Daily Candy featured it today in one of their emails and I am shocked to say I did not know about it!! ( I like to think of myself as being up on all the cool spots in coupon cyber space...)

It has tons of deals and coupons, not only for things like groceries, cleaning supplies and pet products but beauty items too!!! They have active discounts for drugstore.com, beauty.com, Bath and Body Works and SpaFinder among others. And these aren't all one kind of coupon either- some are online discount codes, some are printable coupons.

Click here for the full low-down as told by Daily Candy.

Keep Looking fabulous!
BGND

Charity of the day....

So in light of the fact that we don't always need to focus on products (nor do we want to)...today I thought I would talk about one of my favorite charities that you may or may not be familiar with.

Look Good...Feel Better (From the American Cancer Society)

LGFB is one of my all time favorite organizations. LGFB was founded to help women suffering from cancer feel their best and their most beautiful at the most difficult time in their lives. Volunteer beauty professionals teach these brave women how to deal with skin/nail care, make-up application, dealing with hair loss and how to overcome the appearance related side effects of cancer treatment.

It is such a cool foundation and you do not have to be a licensed Cosmetologist to volunteer. (If you are - that's great - they need you!) But if not, there is always room for those who simply believe in the cause and want to help out.

For more information and to see some inspirational before and afters - check out the website...

www.lookgoodfeelbetter.org.

Have a great Thursday and keep looking fab,
BGND

A Summertime Classic...

There is just something about summer...the sunshine, the cool breezes (when you are lucky!) and just being outside more...it is glorious. And every year without a doubt I want my make-up to look fun and summery and just glowy.

So every year I go back to Sephora and get a new eyeshadow. And by new, I simply mean a replacement for my go-to summer shadow combo. Because once I found this baby I never looked back when it came to my summer eyeshadow needs.

Eye Shadow Trio in Bronze Glow by Stila Cosmetics - $ 28 (Sephora, Sephora.com and Stila counters nationwide)

This shadow is in a word - magnificent. I never thought that the colors would look good on me - I am a very pale Irish gal with blue eyes and freckles. However, this trio is one of the best color combos on my ever. It makes my eyes pop, my skin glow- it even makes my hair look good!

I can wear one of the colors or all three at once and Stila's makeup magic makes the color sheer and saturated and blendable all at the same time. Seriously, if you are looking for a good summer shadow combo and you don't have a ton to spend- this is the way to go. For $28 you get three awesome colors to mix and match.

Plus, if you go to Sephora and try this color combo (Bronze Glow) and are not blown away on your skin tone - there are two other trios - Champagne Glow and Gold Glow - Each as equally awesome as the bronze.

For a night out on the town, any of these combos mixed with the Stila Smudge Pots will deliver you the smooth smokey eye you only dreamed possible. And of course, just because it is summer and we all want to be bronze - it doesn't mean that this shadow can't travel to fall/winter because believe me when I say I have used it plenty in those seasons as well.

And just in case you needed one more thing to prove the awesomeness of the Bronze Glow - it is sold out on the Stila website! People love this trio! So get your butt to Sephora before they are all gone!

Keep looking fabulous,
BGND

Prescriptives for the cure

I am not sure why there aren't more people who are major followers of Prescriptives. Perhaps it is because they are one of the only major lines that is not at Sephora?

I have been a HUGE fan since middle school when a friend of mine introduced me to the brand. Her mother was allergic to Formaldehyde and back then, Prescriptives was one of the only brands that was exclusively Formaldehyde free. Prescriptives has come along way since those days and now is the maker of some of my all-time favorite products. Why am I telling you all this?

Because now is your chance to get acquainted with Prescriptives and get a deal at the same time. Right now at all Macy's, Prescriptives is having a great deal to promote their mineral make-up line.

They have two very popular options - the Mineral Powder and the All Skins Mineral Makeup with SPF 10. And for a limited time when you buy either of those products you can get a FULL SIZE tube of Flawless Face Primer and a FULL SIZE Foundation Brush (specially formulated to work with either mineral foundation- liquid or powder), all for only $17. That is a MAJOR steal. The brush alone makes this a killer deal as Prescriptives' brushes are amazing quality and very long lasting. My everyday brushes are Presriptives and I have had them for years.

So if you are new to Prescriptives or perhaps looking for a new mineral makeup, I say take advantage of this deal. I never met a product from Prescriptives I didn't like and I don't think you will either.

Keep looking fabulous,
BGND

Summer Steals!!

It has been a while since I posted any bargain codes for all you online shoppers and I felt it was high time!

Here are currently the best deals to be had in cyber-space in my opinion....enjoy.....
And pardon the picture above- just thought it was worth the laugh!

Benefit Cosmetics
Free shipping on all orders over $50 - enter PRETTY50 at checkout.

Bliss World, LLC
15% off and free shipping on orders $50 or more - enter 039908 at checkout.

Bloomingdales.com
$5 shipping on all beauty and fragrance products - no code needed.

Bobbibrown.com
Free FULL SIZE (!!) Shimmer Wash eye shadow in Copper Penny and free shipping on orders $65 and over - enter EYES55 at checkout.

Clarins.com
Free Extra firming Travel Gift Set & Free standard shipping on orders $75 or more - enter CLARINS35 at checkout.

Drugstore.com
Get 30% off any three Allure Best of Beauty Winners - click here for more information.

ELF Cosmetics
50% off orders up to $15 - enter CAROLINA at checkout.
Free shipping on orders of $30 or more - enter ECTAPBY at checkout.
Free mini make-up collection with purchase of $15 or more - enter FREEMINI at checkout.
5 $1 items for free when you enter 5FOR5FREE at checkout on orders of $10 or more.

Kiehls.com
Receive a free deluxe sample of VitalSun SPF30 Lotion plus free ground shipping on orders of $30 or more - enter SUNAF at checkout.

Lancome.com
Free shipping on any purchase off $45 or more plus a Sensational Summer Lip Color Sample Selection - enter JUNELIPS at checkout.
Free shipping plus a deluxe sample collection on orders of $50 or more - enter JUNEBEAUTY at checkout.

Lush Cosmetics
Get 15% off your order - enter GIFTFORYOU09 at checkout.

Origins.com
Free FULL SIZE A Perfect World Highly Hydrating Body Lotion with White Tea when you order $25 or more - enter APW6 at checkout.

Sephora.com
Free Sephora reusable nylon tote with any online purchase - enter EARTHDAY at checkout.
Free travel size Sevin Nyne Tanning Mist when you purchase full size - enter TANMIST at checkout.
40% off Decleor products - click here for more info.

ULTA Beauty
20% off any one item - enter 97176 at checkout.
$3.50 off any $10 purchase - enter 27908 at checkout.

Happy Shopping!
BGND

Are you Gellin'?

So for whatever reason - Hair Gel is making a huge comeback. Now keep in mind, I am not talking about those huge neon vats of hair gel that you see at the 99Cent store, or even spiky boy band hair styles.

In general, I am just saying that after years of abuse and bad products (see the two examples above), gel is back on the market in a big way. It seems like the folks over at the cosmetic companies decided to look into this old stand-by and see what could be made of it in today's marketplace. Everything old is new again after all! As a result, the shelves are flooding with gel-related products but these are not the sticky culprits of yesteryear. Think of these as Gel 2.0.

My favorite of the new gel products?

Redken Layer Lift 07 Length Elevating Spray Gel - $12.99 and up (Online or at your local beauty supply store)

This is seriously my new miracle worker. Currently I am growing out a very blunt and styled bob. When I don't style it properly in this state- it looks a mess. All uneven and stringy and just BAD. Plus, I naturally have very fine strands of hair. So even though there is plenty of it, often times it can look FLAT and sad.

Then along came this baby! It gives my hair body and control and style without adding a ton of weight. The spray is fine and well dispersed and the result? I get body and oomph and it doesn't look like there is much of any kind of product in my hair. It just looks natural and lush.

Love this product and totally recommend it - even if you have long, thick hair not my thinner short hair. This will give you lift and control and eliminate the need for too many other products.

If this Redken item is the shape of things to come in the land of Gel 2.0- I AM IN.

Have a great weekend and keep looking fabulous,
BGND

Product of the week - June 18th, 2009

Ever since I got into mani/pedis I have been going at least once a month for my toes, sometimes every other week if the mood stuck me. Well now with the financial situation the way it is in my home, I can finally admit that two pedicures a month is sometimes over-doing it. And that sometimes even a once a month pedicure is more than the wallet allows.

So lately I have had to rely a lot more on my home mani/pedi skills. I have always loved giving myself pedicures because 1) It saves money, 2) I find it to be relaxing and zen, 3) It gives me an excuse to watch something shameless on television while I paint my toes.

So today while painting away I was inspired and reminded of one of my favorite cheapo drugstore buys.

Revlon Nail Enamel - $5 or less (Drugstores nationwide)

Reasons this has been a BGND staple for years?

1) It is extremely high quality for a super low price. Seriously, this polish lasts just as long as Essie or OPI or any of the other name brands. Plus you still get that glossy finish and deep color that salons give you.

2) It comes in over 60 shades!!! In other words there is something for everyone. Today I am wearing Plum Baby, at Valentine's Day I wear Revlon Red. And they just came out with 8 new shades including some trendy sheer pale pinks and deep, dark almost blacks.

3) It is DBP, Toluene and Formaldehyde free.

4) There is something awesome about doing my nails with Revlon and then being asked by someone on the street what color I am wearing and that they love my toes. That's right - toe envy for less than $5.

Anyway, regardless of your color tastes or what your usual go-to brand might be I recommend you go to your local drugstore and pick up a bottle of Revlon (or two for that matter). You will not be disappointed and hey if you want - treat yourself to a latte on the way home. You will have still spent less than a manicure or pedicure.

Keep looking fabulous!
BGND

Being True to my skin...

Happy Tuesday folks!
As some of you might remember a little while ago I did a post about Being True Cosmetics. They were having a giveaway in conjunction with Daily Candy and I wrote a little blurb about it and how you - my BGND readers - could get your hands on one of the free items.

Well here it is, roughly a month after I wrote that post and I am LOVING the Anti-Aging Youth Revealing Complex that I got in the free giveaway. Some things to know about this wonder item...



1) It is not cheap - the bottle runs $110 for 30 ML - in other words - this is what I like to call an INVESTMENT product.

2) It is gentle yet effective. I have had no stinging, no reactions of any kind other than feeling and seeing this product work.

3) My skin is smoother, more supple, softer, full of moisture and loving all the good stuff in this product (Mainly an anti-ager called Idebenone- which I think sounds like a trendy celebrity baby name.)

4) The color of this serum is bright yellow and stays yellow a bit on your skin even after it has been applied and rubbed in- odd but true. It doesn't stain your pillowcase or anything like that but don't be alarmed if you look a little jaundice-y for 3-5 minutes after you use it.

Anyway, I am very happy with this product and would highly recommend it for anyone looking for a new serum and not happy with what they have found over at their local Sephora. Also, Being True has a huge collection of other products - not just skin care but make-up as well (and the prices on cosmetics are more in the department store range).

Keep looking fab,
BGND

They're making a list, checking it twice...

All you BGNDers know that I love the "Best Of" lists that come out every year. Some are good, some are bad, some are informative, some are redundant. Whichever category the "best of" list falls into, I still rush out to get each magazine and tear through the new list with fury. Often times I will find a winner for my skincare or make-up routine- other times I am astounded at how strong products remain year after year.

Well, Allure has their "Readers' Choice" list out at the moment and it does not disappoint. I highly recommend you pick up this month's issue and check it out. Or of course, check out the full list online here.

Either way, some good BGND stand-bys made the list like 7-Day Scrub Cream, Dramatically Different Moisturizing Lotion and All About Eyes - all from Clinique, as well as Gwen Stefani's Harajuku Lover's Fragrance, Essie Nail Polish in Mademoiselle and L'Oreal Paris True Match Super-Blendable Make-up.

Happy Shopping!

Keep looking fab,
BGND

A beautiful bikini

In my endless search to save money on all things beauty related there are two hair removal products out there that I am totally fascinated with...



The Smooth Away Hair Removal System (Available at Drugstores nationwide)




First things first, I find it odd that these are just called Smooth Away. Why Not "Smooth Away Pads" or "Smooth Away Cloths"? Anyhoo, these are the latest in "As Seen on TV" hair removal products. From what I can tell they are sort of like small pieces of cosmetic-grade sand paper that buff away any unwanted hair in an so-called gentle/non-irritating way. I have not tried these out yet but the few reviews I have read say they are best on smaller areas (you waste too much time and effort to do bigger areas) so I think the upper lip and bikini line are the spots to go with. Through the website you get two different size Smooth Aways plus replacement pads for $14.99 - not a bad deal.


And....

The Schick Quattro TrimStyle Razor (Available at Drugstores nationwide)
Now the marketing for this product? Kind of hilarious....The best way to describe it is to see the pic below...sorry it is not the greatest quality...



Get it? Anyway, this is a new razor/trimmer that is obviously being marketed to ladies for the purposes of keeping their bikini lines clean and for shaping them into similar styles that you might find at a waxer. The razor end has four blades just like the regular Schick Quattro and the bikini trimmer is waterproof making this item an in-shower essential.
Am I convinced that you can get the same kind of results as you can from your waxer? Not yet- but I have hope. And best of all- this is only $12.99.

Anyway, just thought I would share with you all some new ways to save money this summer.
If you try either product- let me know what you think!

Keep looking fabulous,
BGND

Product of the week - June 11th, 2009

Today's product of the week is of the summer specific variety....

Clinique Moisture Surge - $34 or $46.50 (Clinique.com, Sephora and Clinique counters nationwide)

Now perhaps you all remember my post about the Moisture Surge Spray - a fab product. Today I want to talk about the original Moisture Surge. Or to describe it a different way - your best friend in the summer.

Now I know that when it gets hot and sticky outside the last thing I want to do is layer on some super ridiculous night cream. This product from Clinique has been the answer to my nighttime summer skin care prayers. I have been using it after my 3-step skin care as a moisture mask and have immediately noticed a difference in my skin's texture, feel and a reduction of all those fun, fine lines and wrinkles. It is perfect for delivering the amount of moisture your skin needs but not trapping it or causing it to feel suffocated in the summer heat. It is light, cooling and moisturizing. Definitely BGND approved!!!

Best of all you can use this anytime of day when you need a little extra boost- even over make-up. This is my new moisture/age fighting miracle.

Keep looking fabulous,
BGND

P.S. Clinique.com is having a great offer with purchase deal right now- $92 worth of skin care and make-up plus a Lilly Pulitzer-esque tote all for $32.50. Check it out here.

Overnight Bags

Today's post comes via one of my loyal readers....

Dear BGND,

I am a super busy mother of two so I don't always get my recommended 8 hours of shut eye a night (oh who am I kidding - I am lucky if I get 6 hours a night!) As a result I often end up drinking more diet coke than water - adding dehydration to the mounting fatigue. The results of this combo? The bags under my eyes have gone from bad to worse! I feel like I have tried so many concealers and brighteners but nothing seems to make me look - oh I don't know - awake! Any suggestions?

Sleep deprived in Savannah

Oh SDIS - you are not alone! The under eye bag/circle/dark patch can torpedo an otherwise glowing face. (One time someone asked me when I got my black eye....I simply hadn't put concealer on my eyes that morning and my thin skin/blue veins underneath looked like a shiner- glamorous!)

There are two main (cosmetic) ways to combat this very common problem.

1 - Step up to the big leagues in terms of concealer.
(This is the way to go if you have darkness and bags as your main issue.)

Not all concealers are created equal. For one BGNDer, a thin smooth brush on concealer might be enough...for others- Spackle is the only thing that will hide their skin discoloration. In the later category there is one clear cut champion...

Laura Mercier Concealers
Her concealers are pretty THE best for thick but natural coverage. The two best for under-eye darkness are the Secret Camouflage and the Secret Concealer (which I have posted about before). Either one could work for you depending on your level of darkness. If you have the cash to spend and are ready to invest- I would go with the Undercover Pot ($34) - shown below. With the Undercover Pot you get both the Camouflage and the Concealer with a translucent powder to set the combo. It is a killer deal and will work wonders on those dark circles.

Another great option for a thicker concealer is Erase Paste ($26) and Boi- ing ($18) both from Benefit Cosmetics.

But don't just assume that layering a thick concealer will fix everything. Sometimes you need a brightener to wake your look up after you have hidden what you need to hide.
The second option to help with the eye area?

2 - Go Pink.
(This is the option for those who want to look more bright and awake.)


The Eye Bright Pencil ($20- shown below) from Benefit is amazing. It is used as the last step in your cosmetic process and is best for the deep and dark inner corners of your eye (my biggest darkness concern). It gives you just the slightest "awake" and perky look.

I also love the Powderflage ($28) from Benefit. Designed to be brushed over concealer or used alone, this very pink powder brightens and highlights the face ever so slightly. I would highly recommend using it over a thicker concealer to give you the awake look after you have cover your darkness.

So I hope I have not confused you more than you were when you wrote in!
My final parting advice would be to hit your local Sephora and try some of these thicker concealers on a clean make-up free face. Try a different one on each eye and see what works for you. Then layer the brighteners and see what works best with your complexion.

There are many routes to go but if you get a thicker concealer combined with either a brightening powder or stick- you'll be looking like you got 12 hours of sleep in no time!


Keep looking fabulous,
BGND

Catch it before it's gone!!

I am sure all you well educated BGNDers already know this but...

The Bath and Body Works Semi-Annual Sale is currently going on! I love to hit up this sale whenever they have it, not only to re-stock up at great prices on all my favorites but to also hopefully find some new ones!

And now that the summer is here and the temps are getting higher it is the perfect time to find a new favorite scented body lotion. Scented lotion is the best way to wear a delicate scent in the summer but not overpower yourself with some of the stronger perfumes that are more fitting to the winter months. Plus you can apply the lotion first thing in the morning, then refresh with the matching body spray before going out for the evening. The perfect summer accessory!

My personal favorite among the summer-friendly BABW scents?

Wild Honeysuckle(Loving the new packaging!)

The deals abound at this sale (as always) including 4 for $10 in the Anti-Bacterial collection, $5 Signature classics and Buy 2 Get 1 free in the Signature collection (Wild Honeysuckle included!) among others.

Best of all, if you have your heart set on a certain fragrance but the selection is picked clean at your local mall - all of the scents and deals are available online.

Happy shopping!

Keep looking fabulous,
BGND

Perricone does it again!

So I don't know if any of you BGNDers out there have ever used Perricone MD products- but in a word- they are fantastic! Expensive but fantastic....

Well our good friend Dr. Perricone has a new item on the market (exclusively at Sephora) that I am dying to try....

No Foundation Foundation - $50 (Exclusively at Sephora and Sephora.com)
I am so totally intrigued by this new product. It is designed and formulated to do exactly what the name says- make it appear that you have the smooth foundation perfect face you have always dreamed of, but that you have that look without foundation. It is chock full of anti-oxidants (of course), specifically Alpha Lipoic Acid - designed to smooth out those fine lines and wrinkles, make your skin glow, reduce the appearance of pores...the list goes on and on. Pretty much it claims to make your skin look 16 years old again! To top it all off, it comes with a non-chemical form of SPF 30. Now I am not sure what "non-chemical" means when it comes to sun-care....however, an SPF of 30 is an SPF of 30.

I would say this is the ideal product for anyone who wants to give their skin a healthy dose of anti-oxidants while also protecting and evening out skin tone. It is like the wonder woman of foundation. A multi-tasker's dream!

Definitely worth a pick-up on my next trip to Sephora.

Have a great Monday and keep looking fab,
BGND

Lauren's lovely locks!!

So today's post comes via my friend and loyal BGNDer Lauren!
She often sends me amazing emails of all the products she is loving (or not loving) at the moment and the one I received recently was one of her most effusive to date. Read below....

Just wanted to share my most recent (and mildly life-changing) Sephora purchase...

Frederic Fekkai's DIY salon color

I used it a couple days ago and EVERYTHING about it is fabulous. The smell, the bowl/brush application (vs harder to apply squeeze bottle), the pre and post coloring treatments, and most of all...THE COLOR. It's so rich, from root to tip, and it's a REAL color...not brassy, I don't know how better to describe it but it's just SO much better than what's in the aisle at CVS :) It's $30 which I'm happy to spend for the ease, and still spending less than the salon :) Just wanted to share!

I love this email from Lauren! FF products are amazing and even though I don't color my hair- this makes me totally want to!!
$30 is a great price point for high quality and DIY makes this perhaps the easiest quality hair color out there. Best of all- there are 24 different shades.

Here is the Sephora link for all of you that want to check out the goods.....

Thanks for the awesome info Lauren!!!

Keep looking fabulous,
BGND

Make your own body scrub...

I tore this recipe out of a magazine some time ago and recently rediscovered it in my "inspiration" folder that I keep for the blog. Seeing as how summer is around the corner (cue super smooth skin) and we are all looking to save a little green- this seemed like the perfect time to bust it out. It is easy to make and execute and most of the items needed to make it are probably already in your cabinets.

Ingredients:
Finely ground coffee beans
Brown sugar
Sesame oil
One sliced orange
Warned honey
Fave body lotion

1) Combine equal parts coffee and sugar, then slowly add sesame oil till mixture has the consistency of a soft paste.

2) Standing in shower and using both hands, firmly massage scrub in circular motion from feet to shoulders.

3) Now repeat the massaging motion but with the orange slices (probably will need about 8 for the whole body) - this will improve your circulation.

4)Apply a thin layer of honey to skin, leave on for five minutes and rinse. (You may want to bring a magazine into the bathroom with you for this step so you are not just standing in the shower twiddling your thumbs!)

5) Finish with your fave lotion.

Keep looking fabulous!
BGND

P.S. Thanks and credit to US Magazine and Ole Henriksen.

Travel Tragedy turned Triumph!!

Wow- I have been a bad blogger. I was on vacay and I left you all hanging..but have no fear, I am back, fully refreshed and with a new BGND discovery to boot!

We all know what it is like to go out of town and the amazing coordination it takes to not only pack everything you need, but to not over pack and go crazy. Well this time in my attempts to not over-do it...I left something I NEEDED at home. As my fiance said, "Wow- that is very un-BGND!" and indeed it was. I left all of my make-up brushes at home.

Now this is not a level one emergency such as forgetting underwear but it is still annoying. Especially when you love your cosmetics (as I do) and need to look very polished (as I did) for a big family event/reunion. If we had just been kicking it on the beach I could have used my fingers and gone no muss- no fuss for the trip. But nope- I was attending events that deserved brush applied make-up.

Now the funny part of this quandary is that I have not one but TWO sets of full brushes at home. My everyday use brushes and my travel kit (yes I actually have a separate set that I forgot). So my budget was limited considering this would be my third set of brushes.

However, from lemons come lemonade as I found this killer and super affordable brush set...

Essential Tools : 11 Piece Travel Brush Kit - Varied Prices (Walmart stores and online at Walmart.com)
This brush kit is in one word - AMAZING. Not only does it house every kind of brush you need....it does so in this fabulous and very sturdy folding hard plastic case. Each brush has a slot and a holder so it can fold and unfold super easily and all of the brushes are standing up ready to be used. (You can kind of see what I am talking about in the bottom of the picture- the packaging has an image of the set unfolded.) It comes with a mirror as well and I paid a mere - $9 for this kit. Yup- $9!!! I got nine decent quality brushes, plus a case and mirror for $9!!! Talk about budget friendly. It fact, I am so impressed with this collection that I think it is a decent purchase for someone who wants brushes but doesn't need/want to spend a lot. Run don't walk to Walmart for this deal!

Happy Monday and keep looking fabulous!
BGND