Use candy to offset expensive beauty products

Whether the economy has affected your life drastically, or hardly any we could all afford to cut back on spending here and there.  Though, I hate to admit it, most of the beauty products that I use are luxuries in addition to regular household spending.  So, here are a few fun and tasty ways to offset the cost of beauty by substituting candy for expensive product.

1. Fight free radicals with chocolate!  Free radicals are the molecules in your environment that come in contact with your skin cells, damage them and sometimes, multiply.  This damage increases with age and if there are no antioxidants available in your body, there is nothing to fight against the free radicals.  Luckily, chocolate contains flavonols that act as antioxidants in your body.  The more cocoa content in the chocolate, the better, so dark chocolate is best.

2. Make your own products.  The cheapest way to stock up on beauty essentials is to make them yourself.  One of the most commonly used product is also one that runs out pretty fast, lip balm.  Combating dry lips is a daily struggle but, you can fight it frugally.  Pixie Stix and Petroleum Jelly can be easily combined to make cheap and effective lip balm.  I made my own today with my daughter.  It was a fun activity for us to do together and the balm worked great, double whammy! 

3. Substitute when appropriate.  There are many beauty products out there that can be substituted for everyday products in your life if you just get a little creative.  For instance, there are many pricey products on the market that are sold to exfoliate the lips but, Sour Patch Kids candy are a cheap and tasty substitution for these products.  Just rub quickly all over the lips, preferably after a warm shower, rinse and eat!  Then apply your favorite lip balm.  A home-made one perhaps?

What are you ladies doing to cut back on beauty expenses?  I would love to hear your creative ways to save and still look great.  Let me know how these ideas work for you!

Mary Kay, Satin Hands

I met up with my Mary Kay Rep to try out the latest products.  I would advise anyone who is curious to try new beauty products, but cant afford to, 'buy and try', to do the same!  My favorite product of the day was the, Satin Hands set.  This product comes in a three part system that leaves your hands feeling silky smooth and moisturized.

The first step was the hand scrub.  I rubbed all over my hands with the sugary concoction and then rinsed.

Next came the hand softener.  This product coats your hands, and may leave you with a slight waxy feeling.  However, you will note the improved softness of your hands right away.

Last is the Satin Hands, hand cream, the last touch of moisturization to this easy system.

As far as this product goes, it was really a no-brainer for me!  One of the things that I usually neglect in my overall beauty routine is my hands.  From cleaning products, to constant handwashing after changing poopie diapers, my hands take a beating. But, I tried Satin Hands, and my hands did feel softer.  I used the Peach scent, which was extremely subtle and just left a hint of sweetness in the scent of my hands.  But, the set also comes unscented or in limited adition, Vanilla Sugar.  The best part of this was that the feeling didn't go away after a day of handwashing. My hands felt smooth and fresh all day.

Stila: concealer uncovered

I've been using concealer for under-eye circles since middle school.  The beauty of genetics is that you always have someone else to blame for your looks.  Thanks for the shadows under my eyes, Mom and Dad!  I've tried concealer in about every consistency, color, and price range.  I've even tried those funky green and yellow shades that claim to cover the gloomy eyes, but don't.  What I've learned over the years is that you can't lighten or brighten your under eye circles to make them disappear.  You can only blend them into your natural skin tone to make them appear softer and well blended.  Instead of choosing a shade lighter than your natural tone, try a shade that matches your skin tone, or even a tad darker.  You'll be surprised at how subtle your under eye darkness becomes!

Considering that I have tried so many concealers, I was surprised when I brought home a sample of concealer that was unlike any I had ever tried.  The product is called, Stila Perfecting Concealer, and it is fantastic.  What I noticed right away about this item was the rich texture.  It is thick and creamy and slightly heavy so, a little goes a long way.  But oh, the luxury of it!  When this stuff touches your skin, you know you have a great product.  The thickness allows for great coverage but, the smoothness ensures a nice, even blend into your skin.  At $23, it is a tad pricey but, like I said, a little tube of this stuff really will last you a while.  I think it is worth the investment!  What are your favorite concealers of the moment?  Let me know!

http://www.sephora.com/browse/product.jhtml;jsessionid=HXUFAKSLONKTQCV0KQNQIGQ?id=P116302&shouldPaginate=true&categoryId=3865

Buxom mascara may be better for brows

Well, I tried the Buxom Lash mascara by, Bare Escentuals, and I must say I was disappointed.  I am very picky when it comes to my lashes, I am Lash Girl after all.  The hourglass shaped wand was comfortable, and it did contour to the curve of my lashes but, I was not impressed with the amount of coverage or darkening on my lashes, even after a second coat.  I'm not looking to be the next Tammy Fey or anything, I just want a little more oomph when it comes to my lids!  The bright side is, it was free to try, and now I know that its not right for me.  However, those of you who like a soft look, and don't wear much mascara, this will give you a thin and even coat that does go on smoothly.  As for me, I'm sticking with my AVON, Super Extend mascara, its been working well for me,and I'm staying faithful!

Wand Tip:  If you are not looking to switch mascaras or, this freebie isn't the right look for you never fear!  You can still use this soft little wand as a great brow brush to smooth down those pesky brow hairs.  I can't have my readers walking around looking like, Spock!