Save Money on Beauty Products

Looking to save money on beauty products, or maybe even to justify spending a little more? Check out these budget beauty buys and beauty splurges-both make more of your money.

To wash away the dirt and grime from the day, and possibly soften the appearance of those fine lines at the same time, turn cleanser into a daily peel. All you need to do is shop smart: Opt for a glycolic acid cleanser and after you suds up, wait about a minute before washing it off. This gives you the same effect as a separate peel product would. You should feel a difference-and see a smoother, more radiant complexion--after your very first wash!
Budget buy: Aqua Glycolic Facial Cleanser ($14.29, drugstore.com)
Beauty splurge: Vivite Daily Facial Cleanser ($27, drugstore.com)

If your bathroom looks anything like mine, you probably have a body lotion, hand cream, and even a moisturizer just for feet at your disposal. But the truth is you need only one bottle for smooth skin head-to-toe (minus your face). Slather it on your body after the shower when your skin is still a little damp, and to help maximize moisture for your hands and feet, apply before bed and wear a pair of cotton gloves or socks to help the lotion absorb.
Budget buy: St. Ives Intensive Healing Advanced Body Moisturizer ($5.79, drugstore.com)
Beauty splurge: Fresh Sugar Lemon Body Lotion ($28, beauty.com)

We all love a good hair day, regardless of the economic or atmospheric climate, and a weekly deep conditioning goes a long way. Instead of cluttering your bathtub ledge with yet another bottle, treat yourself once a week by simply applying your daily conditioner and donning a shower cap for 10 minutes or so.
Budget buy: Pantene Pro-V Daily Moisture Renewal Conditioner ($8.49, drugstore.com)
Beauty splurge: Leonor Greyl Crème Regeneratrice ($35, amazon.com)

How to Green Your Beauty Regime

Kermit’s words have never been truer than they are today. It ain't easy being green, especially when it comes to your personal care regimen. With all the efforts being made to green our cars, homes and even our government, we can sometimes get overwhelmed and give up at the thought of spending extra time and money searching out the perfect eco-friendly shampoo.

So what's a greenie to do? First off, cut yourself some slack. If you have the time and resources to go all out I applaud you...but if you don't, simply start small and begin phasing out the things in your cabinet that our planet can easily do without on an "as you use them" basis. Now, where to start?

Lip balm - These days everyone uses it. It's not only about a fruity kissable pucker anymore; it’s protecting your lips against harsh elements with a balm that is gluten, paraben, petroleum and certified cruelty free. Eco Lips brand balms come in a variety of SPF 15 and SPF 30 (thank you!) tubes ranging from your basic, to hemp, to medicinal with tea tree oil for cold sores. Feeling a little flirty and looking for passion fruit flavored love on your lips? Try Alba Botanicas balms and glosses in an array of exotic flavors. They offer all the virtues of Eco Lips but kick up the glam factor with delicious scents and a high volume, never sticky shine!

Hair Care - The varieties and needs of hair care are as great and as unique as we are. However, I am consistently impressed with the John Masters Organics line of shampoos, conditioners and hair products, as they are harvested in an environmentally-friendly manner (wild-crafted) and never tested on animals, while still meeting your hair care needs . These products are great for both men and women. If you and your shower mate can share one product between you, then you buy in bulk -- that's fewer containers in the trash and more money in your pocket! Win win.

Skin Products - I'll say one name and shout it from the rooftops...SUKI!!! I cannot begin to convey how strongly I believe in this entire line of skin care products for the whole family. My all-time loves: The Suki Sensitive Cleansing Bar with lemongrass extract and shea butter, The Exfoliate Foaming Cleanser for your face and The Velvet Moisturizing Cream. I have yet to try one of Suki's skin products that disappoints as they are certified organic, clinically proven for 100% potency and in my opinion 200% brilliant!

10 things you should avoid when applying make-up!

Always apply face powder after cr?me. On a dry skin the face powder clogs the pores making them visible. However, on an oily skin powder doesn’t last long.

When choosing a nuance, remember that brighter shades are not face-flattering. Bright colors accentuate wrinkles and signs of tiredness.
Our advice: apply a small amount of foundation in the chin area, which is close to your natural skin tone. Fixate it with a sponge by gently tapping on. Then apply powder in a peach-pink nuance with a big brush.

Don’t restrict the foundation application only to the chin area. This will result in an unnatural effect of a mask.
The trick is to use a damp makeup sponge and apply the foundation starting from the neck and going up. After that tap off excess foundation for fixation and do not apply any powder on top.

Applying eyeliner on the inner rims of the eyes doesn’t make them look bigger. On the contrary - it makes them smaller and less sparkling.
To add depth to the eyes put tiny dots at the base of the eyelashes on both eyelids and then join them up. Ideally the line should always be applied as close to the base of the eyelashes as possible and accentuated with eyeliner.

Don’t apply rouge cr?me after face powder.
This would result in two bright spots on your cheeks. The rule is - after face powder apply only rouge powder.

The nuance of the pencil used for outlining the lips shouldn’t be darker than the lipstick.
The dark line stiffens the face’s sensual expression. Always use a pencil in a nuance that’s close to the lipstick.

Don’t apply shades in a dark nuance on the upper eyelid.
Darker shades make the eyes look sunken. To avoid that always apply beige or pink nuances on the upper lid.

Don’t choose eye shades on the basis of your eye color.
This is the best way to hide the natural color of the eyes.
Only contrasting colors accentuate the true nuance of eyes - if you have blue eyes, choose dark brown nuances; green-eyed women should opt for pink shades.
Brown and black eyes go best with all violet nuances.

Avoid wearing lipstick if you have plum lips.
The best way to accentuate this naturally sensual feature is by applying lipstick in a dark pink tone with a fine brush.

Avoid green shades when your eyes are tired.
Green nuances only make signs of tiredness more visible.
Beige and peach nuances are your best choice here. If you want to make your eyes appear bigger, apply mascara on the upper eye lashes.

Hair Tips For Your Next Vacation

Especially when we head off to warm, humid spots (and honestly, where ELSE would we go???) frizz and flyaways becomes an issue. Suki Duggan, owner of Manhattan’s Donsuki Townhouse Salon has some tips on how to NOT have scary hair in all those vacay pix.

Lay off the hot styling tools
If you normally use hot hair tools (blow dryers, hot irons, electric curlers) every day, give your hair a break and let it air dry.

Protect your hair from damaging UV rays.
The sun’s UV rays are just as damaging to our hair as they are to our skin. Not only does the sun make our hair dry and weak, it also can make color-treated hair appear brassy.

Oh, and wear a hat and sunglasses always - sun stroke is totally not cute either!

Recover Beautifully From a Bad Date

Summer's just around the corner, and love is in the air... But what about all those dates that go bad? Expert esthetician Joyce Carboni, founder and CEO of Skinsational Skin and Body Spa, shares some tips on how to recover and rejuvenate from an unfortunate encounter with Mr. Wrong. Who knew a bad date could leave you looking so good...

1. Did he have too much stubble?
If his facial hair has left you with a red, irritated and less than glowing complexion, transform your face back into your best asset with a rejuvenating citrus facial. Vitamin C, a powerful antixodant found in most citrus fruits, can help repair damaged skin and trigger collagen production and new cell growth. If you are unable to make it into your spa for some much needed pampering, try this at-home-mask between spa visits: Add the juice of two lemons to one cup of buttermilk and blend. Pat mask onto a clean face and let dry for 20 minutes. Splash off with cool water (the lemon helps fade blotchy skin).

2. Did he embarrass you?
If your date left you with a stress filled face, restore a super radiant glow to your skin with a mini-facial. Start by washing your face with your usual cleanser; wait a minute before rinsing to make sure all dirt and oil is loosened. Next, soak a washcloth in hot water and several drops of lavender essential oil (which will soothe your skin). Gently press over your face to loosen pores, concentrating on your t-zone. Apply this facial mask to give skin a glow. Blend ½ cup of chopped pineapple (alpha-hydroxy acids lift dead skin cells and debris) and 3 tbsp. of olive oil. Leave on for ten minutes and rinse off with lukewarm water. Finish by massaging your face gently with a moisturizer for five minutes to help relieve tension.

3. Was he a bad kisser?
If your lips are left chapped from an over-zealous kisser, exfoliate to get rid of dead skin and follow with an application of a nourishing cream and a soothing lip balm for renewed, dewy lips.

Taking Care of Your Skin the Old-Fashioned Way

Centuries ago, it wasn't as simple as popping into your closest Sephora to purchase your skin care essentials, as back then, everyone's dermal health was completely dependent upon what was in the kitchen. Joyce Carboni, lead esthetician and founder of Skinsational Skin and Body Spa in San Diego, California shares seven quick tips on how to soothe and smooth your skin with ingredients you most-likely already have at home.


~Take advantage of those extra coffee grounds! For extra smooth (and firm) skin, brew a pot of coffee and use the left over warm grounds in the shower as an exfoliator. The caffeine has a mildly firming effect and the grounds will softly exfoliate your skin leaving it smooth and delicious.

~Got milk? Instead of cleanser reach for that milk! Milk of magnesia that is. Just as magnesium hydroxiate acts as an anti acid in your belly, it neutralizes oily skin. ~Need to exfoliate? Blend oatmeal, sugar or even cornmeal with a small amount of oil (vegetable or olive) and a raw egg yoke. The Vitamin A from the egg makes this a natural retinoid and is great because Vitamin A is a dominate vitamin of the skin! If you use oatmeal, it acts as a skin softener and also has amino acids which help draw in moisture. “Just be sure to avoid any scratches or cuts; if mixed with that raw egg, you could end up with an infection or even worse, salmonella!” Joyce says.

~Have a zit? Crush and aspirin and blend with water until you have a nice paste. Dilute the paste with water and apply to your zit. Aspirin has salicylic acid, the same beta hydroxy acid that is used in numerous acne products and peels – who knew!

~Looking for a quick lift? Brush on raw egg whites; they shrinks as it dries leaving your face firm and soft. Let it sit on your skin for 10 minutes and rinse with water. Viola!

~Don’t just drink it! Chamomile tea is great for easing irritated, red and/ or puffy skin. For the eyes, chamomile tea bags soaked in cold water will do the trick – blot with a paper towel and apply to eyes. For your skin, boil water and pour it into a spray bottle. Add a bag of chamomile tea, brew and place in fridge until cool. Then, mist on your face for easy relief. Chamomile tea can also help clear up acne.

~If your face is starting to reflect stress and fatigue, restore a super radiant glow to your skin with a mini facial. Start by washing your face with your usual cleanser; wait a minute before rinsing to make sure all dirt and oil is loosened. Next, soak a washcloth in hot water and several drops of lavender essential oil (which will soothe your skin). Gently press over your face to loosen pores, concentrating on your t-zone. Apply this facial mask to give skin a glow. Blend ½ cup of chopped pineapple (alpha-hydroxy acids lift dead skin cells and debris) and 3 tbsp. of olive oil. Apply this facial mask to give skin a glow, leave on for ten minutes and rinse off with lukewarm water. Finish by massaging your face gently with a moisturizer for five minutes to help relieve tension.