Budget Swap

As all you BGNDers know- I love me some face scrub. I consider it to be one of the best ways to not only keep your skin healthy, but to make it glow with less lines and younger texture all around. Well today, I was pleasantly surprised by the performance of a scrub that I have heard loads about.

Aveeno Skin Brightening Daily Scrub - $7.49 (Drugstores nationwide)
This scrub is fantastic. Not only does it smell wonderful, it has the small microbeads that are so hard to find in the less expensive scrubs. I found this scrub to be more runny than my favorite Clinique scrub but to have the same essentials- tiny, tiny microbeads that polished my skin just enough. A great exfoliator but definitely gentle enough for everyday use.

I would highly recommend this product to anyone who loves the Clinique scrub (like I do) but needs something for less money (who doesn't) and is sick of the St. Ives (who isn't). St. Ives makes a great product but sometimes you just want something new.

Go get this- totally worth the money!

Have a great Monday and keep looking fabulous!
BGND

Bad Bad Blogger

Sorry folks!! I know I have been totally MIA recently...I am getting married and was out of town doing wedding madness!!

However, I am back and ready to blog! Today's fun tidbit:

Benefit's Summer Sale-Abration!



Benefit is having a HUGE sale right now! 50% off a giant selection of Benefit Cosmetics products and major discounts on countless others - totally worth a look. Plus, with every $35 order you get a FULL SIZE California Kissin AND if you enter PRETTY50 at checkout you get free shipping on orders over $50.
Now that IS a Sale-abration!

Happy Shopping!

Keep

Spring Break lives again!

So do any of you folks out there have some old shot glasses gathering dust?
Perhaps they say something like "Cancun Spring Break 1999"?
It's going to be okay, I promise. You are not alone in your shame.

Now there is a legitimate use for that sad little relic of your college binge drinking past....(Not that shots are off limits now - they are just served the right way now- hidden as martinis- ha!)....

Drum roll please.....
Sunscreen serving utensil!! That's right ladies and gents. As I am sure you have read, you should use at least a full shot glass full of sunscreen to cover your body when heading out into those UVBs and UVAs. And recently I read a fabulous tip about actually using a shot glass to portion out your sunscreen...not just guesstimating a "shot glass amount" as most of us have been told to do. But literally keeping a shot glass in your bathroom next to your tube of sunscreen. And when it's time to protect that lovely skin - fill up that shot glass and go to town.

So now, not only are you guaranteed to be protecting yourself in the right way with SPF, you FINALLY have an excuse not to throw out your old mementos - no matter what your boyfriend or wife might say....

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

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

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.

I'm sale-ing away....

So the economy sucks! Blah, blah, blah..we have heard it all before. Now is time to take advantage! Most places are doing whatever they can to up the ante and get people to shop. This week's blue ribbon sale winner?

Too Faced Cosmetics!!

They are having a MEGA sale....What is mega you ask?
Up to 75% some of their most fab products!! LOVE IT.

I checked out the selection and there really are some good things to be found..
Duo Shadow Vintage - $5
Diamond Gloss Vintage Sets - $18.50 (Includes three full size glosses)
Herbal Eye Concealer Vintage - $4

And this is just what caught my eye on a quick glance!

If you are looking for a beauty fix but don't want to feel bad about spending the dough...look no further than TFC!!

www.toofaced.com

Keep looking fabulous!
BGND

Out of the box beauty bonanza!

So yesterday there was an article posted on Yahoo from this guy telling everyone drastic measures they could use to save $20,000-$30,000 a year. Some of the advice was great, some of it just not realistic. However, it did get me thinking. I know that I have already posted lots of budget-saver/recession themed posts. But what are some "out of the box" ideas that I already incorporate into my life but have not told you, my loyal readers about yet? Well, it turns out there are lots!
So here are 10 ideas for you to save a bunch of $ on products and services every year. Now I can't promise you $20,000 like the gentleman from yesterday's article but I won't ask you to live off the grid either!

1 - Stop buying shave cream/shave gel
Yes it gives us a closer shave and it smells delish and makes our legs soft. But it is an overpriced not necessary beauty item. Use a bar of soap (Dove works great to get you a good lather and still moisturize) and you will be fine.
2 - Wash your hair every other day
Some of you may already be doing this and if you are- bravo! It is a hard habit to get used to, but when you do not only will you reap the benefits of using half the shampoo you were before, but your hair will be healthier. I have very fine hair and when I don't wash it every day it looks pretty greasy by 5pm. HOWEVER, I have learned to embrace the second day up-do. I put my hair up in some kind of fun bun or messy ponytail in the morning and leave it be. I ALWAYS get compliments on my second day hair (go figure!) and I beat the grease/obvious dirty factor by putting it up first thing in the am, and leaving it alone.

3 - Think in terms of the earth and refill don't re-buy
Are you one of those folks who buys a new hand soap every time your little container in the bathroom runs out? Or do you buy brand new mini sized shampoos, conditioners and lotions every time you make a trip? SHAME! Buy big bottles of what you need and then re-fill whatever small bottles you have. That bathroom soap will work just as well if the contents came from a giant 64oz refill bottle. And there are tons of cute empty travel containers on the market. Invest the $5-$10, get yourself a set and then when you travel you will be using your own products that work on you, not what you could find in miniature.
4 - Think in terms of the earth - part two - buy in bulk
Now sometimes Costco and Sams Club do not offer the best prices. But in their beauty department they often do. So find yourself a friend who likes the same hair product, soap, lotion whatever and hit the bulk aisle together. You will each save some money and will have a lasting supply meaning less trips to the drugstore. You can also buy a couple giant containers and then refill smaller ones that fit in your shower (similar to above).

5 - Work those sales
Lately I have taken to checking out the weekly circular. I have a new motto of not buying anything at the grocery store unless it is on sale. You can have this same attitude with beauty products. CVS, Walgreens, Rite Aid - they all often have deals of buy one/get one, or buy one get one 50% off. Take advantage of these sales and save big. Also, shop around. Just because the drugstore right by your house is where you always go that doesn't mean you save the most going there. Don't waste gas driving all over town, but you may have another store on one of your regular routes with better prices. Scour the Internet for even more deals. If you don't need it right away but will eventually, find it online on sale with no shipping costs and save.
6 - Get more bang for your buck
When you do have to make a full price purchase- try to get the most out of it you can. We all know that the counters have "gift with purchase" events every other day. The trick is to go to those events only when you need something. If you are running out of face wash and know that Clinique is having an event, go get your face wash even if you still have 1/4 bottle left. That way at least you get some free samples and you are buying something you were going to buy anyway. But if you wait to show up when your face wash is gone, the free samples may be gone too.
Now a word to the wise. USE those samples. Even if you only use 1/2 of what you were given, you have still saved. Most of the samples in these giveaways are best sellers so they are worth having.
Also, there are tons of free samples available daily on line. Whether through an outlet like drugstore.com or Sephora or through an actual product site. Google and see what you get.

7 - Go Old School
Some of the most effective and wonderful products with a proven track record are forgotten in today's sensory overload beauty world.
Pond's Cold Cream- amazing and only $4.49.
Nivea Body Lotion - $4.19.
Johnson's Baby Shampoo - $5.49.
Things don't need to be fancy to work.

8 - Treat yourself every other month
If you must still go out for a mani/pedi or wax or whatever your beauty treatment ritual is - don't worry. I know for a lot of people, mom's especially, this is your private time away, out of the house to just do something for yourself. So if you still need this time away, go every other month or skip every other treatment, whatever your time line. When I am cash scrapped, I maintain with my tweezers and go get my eyebrows waxed every other month. It really adds up. The same can be done with nails, hair color whatever. There are plenty of products out right now designed to bridge the salon visits. Use them and save hundreds of dollars a year.

9 - Give a student a chance
Are you willing to not go to the same place every time you get your nails done? Are you adventurous with your haircuts? If so, take advantage of the beauty schools in your area. I had a friend in NYC who used to go the Aveda training school and get a full head of color, with highlights, a cut and a blow out for $30!!! And she looked AMAZING. Now be careful and do some research lest you want to look like Frenchie with her pink hair in Grease. Make sure the reviews are good (check yelp, citysearch etc...) and then run to one of these training schools. You will be shocked to see that at the best schools there is often a wait list as long as at Warren Tricomi. This is because people know the treatments are good and are CHEAP. This can work for nails, hair, massage - you name it.
10 - Stay in
When you must indulge but can't afford to go out - make your own. We all have done at-home face masks at some point and that same idea can be translated to body and hair treatments as well. There are tons of recipes on the Internet for hair masks, shower scrubs made with simple kitchen ingredients- whatever you want. Find your new favorite at home scrub, save some money and help the environment in the process!

There you go ladies and gents. Hopefully these were some new ideas for you and if not maybe they just reminded you that just because we are all cutting back doesn't mean we have to look like it!

Keep looking fabulous,
BGND

Nailing down the problem...

So today I am totally digging Sephora. I mean, I always love Sephora but lately I have been routinely impressed with their "in-house" lines. I have used and loved their brushes, cases and tools for years but lately have gotten more into trying out their in-house make-up/products and I have NOT been disappointed. But considering they are the world leader in beauty- I should have know the products would be dynamite!

My love today?

Sephora by OPI - $9 (Sephora nationwide and online at Sephora.com)

I recently had an online Sephora purchase that needed just that little extra something for free shipping (don't you love that?). Well I decided to throw a bottle of this in to the mix since I had seen it in store and was intrigued. In a word- it is great. The color is beautiful and solid (just as it appears in the bottle) and not thin or runny like some other nail color brands. Pretty much just like the label says- OPI quality nail polish, in amazing Sephora colors. (There are more than 54 by the way...) And not only that - the polish is made with "green" ingredients. On my toes at the moment? Wardrobe Change. (The color shown above is Available 24/7.)

OPI and Sephora have truly delivered a good deal for anybody looking to kick-start their manicure or pedicure but not wanting to spend salon money right now.

Great quality, great colors and environmentally conscious? SOLD!

Keep looking fabulous!
BGND

Update....

So in honor of the New Year, all you BGND readers know that I simplified. Often times when it comes to skin care we truly over do it..thinking more is better when really with skin that is not always the case. So in honor of trying to save money and simplify my routine and oh yeah- get better skin- I have been faithfully using the good old Clinique 3-Step skin care since the start of the year. Now mind you, I have still been using eye cream, serum and sunscreen and exfoliating every other day.

And lo and behold - my skin has been amazing. Seriously, less visible fine lines and wrinkles, almost NO breakouts of any kind- even around that certain time of the month. All in all - a wonderful routine that I am going to keep up with.

So try it- if your product cabinet is bursting at the seams is - give yourself some more time and money and cut back. You don't have to go with the Clinque 3-step like I did ( I simply chose the routine because I had great results in the past), but chose a simple cleansing regimen that fits your specific care needs and see what happens. No matter what you do try to incorporate all your products from one line- whether that be Clinique, Olay, Estee Lauder, Philosophy - whomever you love. Companies design their products to work together for a reason!

And remember - simple can be beautiful.

Keep looking fabulous,
BGND

Money Money Money Money- MONEY!

You all know the song....and these days it seems like anything and everything about money is all people are talking about. Who has it, who doesn't, who has stolen it, who is trying to steal it, how to get it, how to make sure you get to keep it...on and on the list goes and where it stops- nobody knows!!

Well I don't know about you all but it is enough to make a person's head fly off their head in confusion! So today, I do my little part to address the issue of our sad little economy and then I am moving on. I am sick of talking about it and I am sure you are too- but here is a small list that can make you feel like you are doing something to save your money when it feels like there is nothing to do. All related to beauty products of course!!

1 - When things are seemingly empty....
All of our favorite products come in fabulous little containers. Problem is, when that container gets to about 80% empty it is hard to get out that last 20%- therefore throwing out 20% of the cost of that item in the trash along with that "empty" container. We all know to turn out empty shampoo bottles upside down and to use a lip brush to get the rest of the lipstick out of a tube. But my trick for all the other containers?

A good pair of scissors and/or some q-tips. If you can - cut that little flexible tube of whatever in half and store it in a Ziploc baggy. Then when you want to get at that last little bit- dip your q-tip in and get your money's worth. This works great on eye creams, serums, anything that has a small little container where product can settle in crevices. And if the container is glass, make sure to do the q-tip/Ziploc thing even if you can't cut a bigger opening. You can still scrape a lot of foundation out of a small whole if you are willing to try (think a knife in a peanut butter container).

2 - When that product seems to disappear in the blink of any eye....


Look at the back and make sure you are using the proper amount. This may seem like common sense but we all overdo the amount of product we use...you do not need a huge palm-full of shampoo if you have a Katie Holmes haircut. And while in the case of sunscreen- you are probably not using enough- nearly everything else doesn't need to be huge amounts to be effective. Think of it in terms of food- you aren't going to spread on a massive amount of mayonnaise to one slice of bread just because you have a full jar are you? (Unless you love mayo - in which case- go for it!) But you know what I mean.

3 - When you bought that shade of eyeshadow/lipstick/liner and it does not work...


Think of a trade with friends. Now I don't want to gross anyone out when it comes to sharing make-up. That is not what I am talking about here. I am talking about that lovely shade of eyeshadow that looked great at Bloomies but when you got it home just didn't work. You have not used it, but you can't return it and it is gathering dust. What is one person's trash is someone else's treasure. Call your girls, have a wine and chat night and try to swap some un-used product. You all get a mini-makeover for free!

4 - When you seem to have 10 different kinds of the same product...


Sorry to say it but long before Confessions of A Shopaholic my motto was "Do I need this?" If I already have 5 other shimmery purple eye shadows at home- I put it back. Not to say that I don't treat myself to something outlandish occasionally but I try to take stock before I buy anything. So go through your drawers at home and look at what you have. Save the good, throw out the old and really look at your products. If there are tons of things you have bought and never used- take a look at them and try them and tell yourself you have just "shopped at home". If you have too many of the same kind of thing - you don't need another. Just like when we shop for clothes- we all generally know we have a number of black pants, a number of cardigans...and yes we often buy the same thing over and over again but sometimes you have to take stock and make "the hard decision". You can do it.

5 - When you must get something new...


Step away from the make-up counter and into your local drug store. If you don't already shop there- shame on you!

So enough blah money talk my friends! This blog is for fun...not too much seriousness! But hopefully these ideas have give you hope that you can save money and still keep looking fabulous!

BGND

Tuesday Morning

Are any of you as intrigued by this store Tuesday Morning as I am? I am completely fascinated by the idea and know that if I were to ever set foot inside a TM store I would waste a TON of money. Well, in case you haven't been watching the news lately- our financial system is in SERIOUS trouble. As a result I am thinking now is not the time to find a new favorite money spending location, as much as I am curious about Tuesday Morning.

So today, in honor of my morbid fascination with TM and to bring to light the fact that in today's economy we could all stand to save a little money, I present you with the 5 top beauty products/items/things you are probably spending money on that you do not need to.

1) Astringent/Toner
Astringent is really a hold over from a time when products were much simpler. Back in the day there was not a lot of anti-aging in face care and needless to say the choices were much smaller (think Neutrogena Face Bar, Noxzema, Sea Breeze and Ponds). For most women, astringent simply does not need to be a part of your process. For one thing, astringent is mainly an exfoliant and we are all getting that in other ways (or should be!) Whether it be through our face wash with microbeads, facial peels or any other number of sources, we are well exfoliated. Also, a lot of astringents unnecessarily dry out your skin and strip natural oils making you look OLDER and can potentially conflict with all the anti-agers we use. My one exception to this rule is Clinique 3-step skin care. If you are using one of their toners and your skin is in good shape and you like the program, keep going. But for the rest of you, don't feel like you need astringent/toner. Most likely you do not.

2) Callous razors at the nail salon
I used to be a junky for this fun little part of a pedicure - whether the extra cost be $2 or $5. BEWARE. These razors are not your friend...they are unhealthy, unsafe and ultimately do not work. Those callouses will come back and then the cycle begins again. Instead of bringing germs to your feet in a very real way, simply purchase a pumice stone at your local drugstore and use it for 30 seconds on each foot in the shower daily with some gently cleanser. Add the PedEgg I have told you about before if you have seriously callous feet and the combination will ensure soft, touchable, safely clean feet. Plus you won't be adding a 25% surcharge every time you go to get your mani/pedi.

3) Lip Exfoliators
This is one of the silliest products out there. If you have flaky lips you can take care of them in some simple ways. Get some good old fashioned chapstick, Carmex or even petroleum jelly and apply each morning and before you go to bed at night. And of course, apply as needed through the day. As far as true lip flaking goes, if you have this issue all you need is your toothbrush. Brush gently when lips and brush are dry or with petroleum jelly (although this can gunk up your toothbrush.) Don't overdo it , but a little of this can take care of most lip exfoliation issues. After brushing, use some of that chapstick and you will be good to go.

4) Expensive Shampoo
If you look at the back of most shampoo bottles, the ingredients are nearly the same. Now this isn't to say that some shampoos don't work better than others...they do. But you do not need to spend $30 on a 12oz bottle of shampoo. You can find something that smells nice and works for under $10 and in some cases, under $3. Play around, find something you like but don't buy your salon's shampoo just because you feel like you need to. You can get something cheaper that will work just as well and you won't up the cost of your haircut by a third.

5) Those all-in-one facial wipes
You know the kind I am talking about...the "facial" in a cloth? If you are lazy/tired and can't be bothered to wash your face - fine - this is better than nothing. But honestly, the cost of these for the amount of use you get out of them is just not worth it. Plus, I am just not sold on their ability to clean. Sure, they will take off your make-up but as for getting in there and cleaning out those pores, I am not convinced. You are better off with a wash cloth and a bar of soap.

So go forth my friends with less product in your bathroom and more money in your pocket...

Keep looking fabulous!
BGND