Seeing Red: In Style This Holiday Season

By CountryDutchess.com
Well, what can we say .... we just LOVE IT when the big guys pay us homage by copying what we do!   Really. Seriouisly. We do love it! (We're not kidding!)

Which is why we were thrilled right down to our Spanx to see this weeks IN STYLE online offer up their version of our original story on HOW TO WEAR RED LIPSTICK.

Of course, we thought ours offered a bit more USEFUL information - but none the less, we were still very happy indeed to note the support for our way of thinking!

And since it's the holiday season, where, let's face it, RED IS EVERYWHERE, we thought we'd take this moment to reprise our orignal  post and give you one more look at our take on HOW TO WEAR RED  ...THIS HOLIDAY SEASON!

So, without further ado, from our blog post of Aug 23, 2009  ( so In Style is 4 months behind, but really, who's counting! :)  here are  our  9 Tips For Wearing Red - this season or any time of the year.   And Happy Holidays from all of us to all of you!
(Red Earrings PhotoArt  available at CountryDutchess.com)

Red Lipstick Alert : 9 Tips For Wearing Red Lipstick!

1. Before putting on a red lipstick ALWAYS ( and we mean ALWAYS) use a lip liner first, to define your lip shape. Look for a color as close to your lipstick shade as possible and if you cant' get an exact match go lighter not darker. Use the pencil to outline your lip shape then using your pinky finger "pull" the liner down towards the center of your lip. This will help form a layer of liner that keeps lipstick in place.


2. When applying red lipstick use a lip brush and don't swipe straight from the tube. Unless your red color is very sheer, you're likely to apply way too much if you go straight from the tube to your lips. Using a brush will allow you to control the application .


3. And speaking of application, go for thin layers of color that you build to get the desired intensity. Again, this will allow you to control both the color and the depth of color. To keep red lipstick on longer - and keep it from smearing - apply the first coat, then blot, lightly dust with a translucent face powder, and then add on another layer or two of color.


4. If you're looking for that glossy red lip look, it's always better to use a matte red lipstick and add the shine with a clear gloss. First, matte colors are "harder" which means they are more likely to stay-put on your lips. And second, adding a clear gloss means you can re-gloss to keep the look fresh without piling on so much red color you start to look like you're wearing wax lips from last Halloween!


5. Recognize that red comes in myriad shades - and finding the right one ( the one that compliments your skin tone ) is essential. To this end there are a few tricks you can use. First, use other lipstick colors you already know look good on you as your guide. For example, do you look great in salmon pink but dreadful in fuchsia pink? Then look for a golden red and bypass the "blue reds". Do you normally wear brown tone lipsticks ? Then look for light burgundy red shade.


You can also use fabric as a great color guide. Pack a purse mirror and visit any fabric store . Once there zero in on the red shelf. Pull out the purse mirror and start holding reds up to your face. Look for the ones that warm your complexion and don't leave you looking ghostly pale or ghoulish. When you find the right shades ask for snippets of the fabric then take it to your local beauty emporium and match the shade. You'll be more likely to find the right color without ending up with a drawer full of "dead reds" you'll never wear!


6. When you wear red lipstick, keep blush color minimal. DO NOT, ( and this is SO important we're writing it in CAPS) :) repeat DO NOT wear red or bright pink blush with red lipstick and under no circumstances should you ever use a "pinch" of that red lipstick on your cheeks. Doing so will immediately alert the local authorities that a Cupie Doll has escaped from the nearest carnival. :) Instead, use a muted wash of color on cheeks in a neutral shade - what you want to avoid is the presence of any "obvious" color.


7. Don't over do the eye make up -particularly color. Again, you want to let your red lips do the talking here , so don't contradict what they're saying by piling color on your eyes. Again, a soft neutral palette, or even just some black mascara and a smudgy neutral liner is pretty much all you will need.


8. Do compliment your red lips with red jewelry - particularly earrings or a necklace ( not both) and choose red accessories - like shoes, belt , a handbag, or a scarf. Use them to trim a basic black, navy, tan or white outfit. What you want to avoid is "head to toe " red. Other good jewelry choices for red lipstick include plain gold or silver jewelry ( no stones) or earrings with clear or black stones. In some instances you might get away with a deep blue sapphire or emerald green earring, but only if you're wearing it with neutral color dress.


9. Do polish nails red - and if you're wearing sandals or open toe shoes, paint your toes red too. This look nicely compliments red lipstick and doesn't compete. Do, however, make certain to choose a shade of red polish that compliments or matches your red lipstick - particularly if you're an animated talker and your hands are frequently near your face.

So, there you have it ! Luscious red, on trend lips that do the talking for you ! For more round-the-clock fabulous time & money saving beauty and style advice visit CheapChicDiary.com - or visit us anytime at CountryDutchess.com - Your Source For Fabulous Jewelry at prices you can afford!

And if you love HOLLYWOOD GLAMOUR, be sure to check out our brand new  Age of Elegance Jewelry Collection - with SALE PRICES ON EVERY PAGE !  Really! Brand New! And On Sale!

HURRY!

For round-the-clock fabulous time & money saving beauty and style advice visit CheapChicDiary.com - or visit us anytime at CountryDutchess.com - Your Source For Fabulous!

Copyright by Colette Bouchez 2009 - All Rights Reserved.
In addition to US Copyright, the text of this CheapChicDiary article is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 License. All Formatting and style elements of this page are not available under this license and Colette Bouchez retains all rights in those elements.  Here we go again...

Dressing For The Office Holiday Party

By CountryDutchess.com

It’s 5 o’clock – but it’s not quitting time. Instead, it’s the holiday office party ! And if you're like most of us, it's an event that can leave you shrugging your shoulders and wondering what in the world to wear.

Complicating matters further: When you don’t have time to stop home and change – and must go right from a day behind a computer to a night of champagne cocktails.

But before try to spend the day doing spread sheets in a sequined tank top and glittery tulle skirt listen up: With just a few well placed pieces of fashion jewelry and accessories you can turn any typical work outfit into a classy party look.

Where do you begin? By starting your day with the most basic wardrobe essentials - a black or other solid color suit or dress. Or, if you wear slacks to work, choose a pair of solid trousers and matching color sweater.

Now if you're thinking that so far, this doesn't sound very festive, hold on - because the magic is about to begin. Waving the wand is the power of accessories - the best way to go from daytime to nighttime in a flash!

To help you get started: Here are 10 super CountryDutchess fashion jewelry and accessory tips that can turn any basic work attire into a glamorous night time look .The best part: You can carry the entire transformation in a plastic baggy stashed in your purse!

1.Never overlook the glam power of a great pair of earrings. And, the more dramatic the better. If you always wear nothing but small studs or tiny hoops, here’s a chance to wow colleagues with your style by choosing a dramatic pair of Boho chandelier earrings or a dressy crystal or CZ drop earrings. It's instant glamour for even the simplest dress.

2.Fill in your neckline with color and light, adding either a sparkly lame scarf, or better still, a crystal beaded necklace in a shimmering gold, silver or bright color. This will bring both light and color to your face and dramatically change your overall look.

3.If you’re not the beaded necklace type jazz up your look with several brightly colored crystal pins. But skip the Christmas trees, wreaths that light up when you pull the string and Santa Claus faces. Instead chose one, large glistening crystal pin reminiscent of a snow flake and surround it with several smaller styles in colors that match either your earrings . . .or your eyes!

4.Bracelets can also add instant glamour but this year the look is to wear them in multiples in different textures and colors. If you start with a few crystal beaded designs, you can then add a metal bangle or a dress watch into the mix for a look that is eclectic and casual, yet festive. Push up the sleeves on your jacket or sweater, to give bracelets maximum exposure.

5.Another great “glam” look this year is matching cuff bracelets, one for each hand. To create the look for less, skip the expensive precious metal and gemstones and opt for costume cuffs set with faux stones.

For 5 more fun and fabulous tips click here!

And for round-the-clock fabulous time & money saving beauty and style advice visit CheapChicDiary.com - or visit us anytime at CountryDutchess.com - Your Source For Fabulous!

Copyright by Colette Bouchez 2009 - All Rights Reserved.
In addition to US Copyright, the text of this CheapChicDiary article is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 License. All
Formatting and style elements of this page are not available under this license and Colette Bouchez retains all rights in those elements.

Holiday 2010 - The Age Of Elegance - On A Budget!

By CountryDutchess.com

So...how could you miss those glorious Ivanka Trump wedding pictures - and all the GORGEOUS jewelry! The doyenne of big business and high style definitely set a new standard for elegance - which is why we at CountryDutchess were thrilled out of our sneakers that her new look meshed so beautifully with our exciting New Age of Elegance Holiday Jewels Collection!

In fact, this is not only the year when truly elegant jewelry takes center stage, it's also the year when elegance is micro-defined by personal style -and finding yours is easier than ever!
At the same time, who has that Trump jewelry budget? Sadly, not us! But ... if you know the key factors to look for you can find fabulous costume jewelry with elegant styling that rivals that of any princess! To this end our design directors offer up these tips on not only finding and defining your personal elegant style, but finding the looks that match it - on a budget!

Holiday Elegance - 2010
If you love, love, love that Ivanka Trump wedding look then you are woman of Timeless Elegance -represented by antique jewels in old world style. It's a look straight out of Windsor Castle - or that Old Hollywood glamour styling of the 1920's and 30's - and it's timeless appeal makes it an elegant choice in any holiday setting.

Styles to look for: Lots of princess cut cz diamonds, matte silver pearls, and lots of pave bangle bracelets. Think Ivanka Trump and that timelessly elegant wedding ensemble!




MODERN ELEGANCE

Next comes Modern Elegance - a combination of new money and old world glamour! Here, think of modern elegant role models like Angelina Jolie and Scarlett Johannsen - women who blend old world grace with new world sensibility for a look that is totally fresh, new and yet elegant.

Styles to look for include those large Oscar Winning teardrop earrings, crystal chandelier earrings in unexpected colors like smokey plum or Orchid, and bangles with deep embossing and pave crystals.





SOPHISTICATED ELEGANCE

Finally comes the look of Sophisticated Elegance - for the woman who knows it all - but is very discreet about who she tells! Here, think of women like like Kate Winslet, Katherine Heigel and Katherine Zeta Jones. Indeed, Sophisticated Elegance is all about the woman who knows who she is, doesn't need to impress anyone but somehow always impresses everyone!

To achieve this look go for simple jewelry with elegant touches such as Museum Style drop earrings with lots of ornate detail and sparkling crystals in unexpected cuts and colors. Also look for soft, antiqued shades of green, blue and rose in large teardrop earrings that define sophistication and style!

And ... don't forget how easily you can turn the simplest little black dress into a glorious holiday outfit by simply adding that one great pair of Romantic Chandelier Earrings! Choose gold or silver for a more sophisticated elegant look or go totally modern and chic with a bright color - and bring it together with a matching belt, shoes or bag.


The Short Chandelier!

For a new fashion twist look for the brand new "Short Chandelier" - full, jazzy earrings with lots of flirty motion in lengths no longer than 2.5" . Perfect for the petite gal, but equally gorgeous on all women who want to bring the attention to their beautiful eyes!






STILETTO DIAMONDS

Also making a comeback this holiday season : The "stiletto" earring - those glamour girl long stone drops and dangles with an antique look and feel.

Again, turn that little black dress, business suit or even a simple black turtle neck and slacks into a sophisticated holiday look by adding stiletto earrings and pave bangle, and one cocktail ring - bingo, you're done!

For round-the-clock fabulous time & money saving beauty and style advice visit CheapChicDiary.com - or visit us anytime at CountryDutchess.com - Your Source For Fabulous!



All photoart courtesy of CountryDutchess.com
ALL EARRINGS AVAILBLE IN CLIP On and Pierced.

Copyright by Colette Bouchez 2009 - All Rights Reserved.
In addition to US Copyright, the text of this CheapChicDiary article is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 License. All
Formatting and style elements of this page are not available under this license and Colette Bouchez retains all rights in those elements.

How To Buy Cosmetics Online - AND SAVE $$$

By CountryDutchess.com

Have you noticed that when it comes to beauty products, now-a-days you can pretty much buy anything on line? It's true! What's more you can also net yourself some substantial savings in the process.

Indeed, from product manufacturer sites offering coupons and rebates to beauty supply discount houses that offer huge cuts on name brands, you can save a ton-o-bucks on both skin care and make up alike.

BUT … ( and you knew that was coming! ) if you don't play your beauty cards right you could also end up losing money – and worse still, adding to that vanity drawer of products you'll never use.

To help ensure that you get the right products at the right price - here are some tips for cosmetic shopping online!

1.Lipstick Google
Never thought of using a search engine to buy a lipstick? Try it! Just enter the brand and even the color and you'll be amazed at the vast array of price points that will pop up. Our quick “Google' of the term “ Loreal Lipstick Pink” brought us price points ranging from $6.47 (Walmart) up to $18.87 ( Amazon) – for the same product!

2Avoid Budget-Buster Shipping Charges - Getting a $20 lipstick for 8 bucks isn't a bargain if it has a $12 shipping charge attached! In our online research we've found shipping as low as “free” to as high as $12.00 ( for a $5 lipstick!) , which are price points that can really determine if your bargain is a bargain! How to find the best shipping deals? Again, Search engines are a girl's best friend! Try this search term: "Cosmetics + Free Shipping". You will NOT BELIEVE the ton of offers that will pop up! In fact you can even enter the name brand of the product you want and add “Free Shipping” and you'll find out who is offering the best bargain that day!

3.Reduce Return Policy Nightmares: A beauty buy bargain is really only a bargain if you use it, right? So for this week's moment of truth, raise your hands: How many have more than 5 beauty products in their “mistake” drawer? How many have more than 10? We thought so. Indeed, even when you make a hands-on selection in your local store, color as well as product performance doesn't always translate well from the counter to your face. Well there are ways to reduce some buying mistakes ( see tip # 4), but when you can't, a stores Return Policy can go a long way in keeping that “mistake drawer” from overflowing. While some online shops have a strict “NO RETURN” policy on make-up, others offer a generous return policy, so be sure to check it out before you buy. Also important: Find out what the store does with returns. Most dump them. But some recycle the products back into stock – which means you might end up with someone else's mistake in your make up bag! UGH! To be sure, check out the return policy and if it's not clear how they handle used products, send em an email before you buy!

4. Avoid Color Mistakes- After taking a quick, unscientific but very revealing poll, we've discovered the biggest online cosmetic buying mistakes are color related. In short, because no two computer monitors display color in the exact same way, pink is not always pink! Complicating things further: Cosmetic companies which insist on using non-descriptive phrases for color choices ( Really, what the heck is the color “ Passion” or “Goddess” ? ). So,to cut down on color mistakes you can do one of several things. First, find a product you already own on the site where you plan to shop - and compare how the color rendition looks to the real thing. Is the picture lighter, darker, more vibrant, deeper than what you see in person? If so use that as a way of judging how other products you don't own will look by comparison. If you can't color -compare to something you own, at least compare swatches online. To do so always select the option “ View all colors” - and then see how different shades stack up to each other. The more shades of each color there are ( 5 shades of pink, 6 shades of red, 4 shades of peach) the more likely you are to find “light pink” or “dark pink” simply by comparing the swatches to each other.

5.Look for Beauty Bonuses! While product price and shipping are often the determining factors as to what makes a bargain a bargain, so do “freebies” - and by that we mean the 'extras' that many companies now toss in as incentives to buy. This can include anything from one-time use samples, to full sized free products! How to find the best bargains? Again, a search engine will do it! Simply enter “ Cosmetics + Free Offers” or specific terms such as “Clinique + Free Offers” or “ Prescriptives + Free Offers” - or even try store names such as “Sephora +Free Offers” and you'll be AMAZED at the bargains you will find!

For the best bargains on costume and fashion jewelry and accessories be sure to visit us at CountryDutchess.com – or for round-the-clock money-saving beauty and style advice visit
CheapChicDiary.com – Your Source For Beauty On A Budget!

Copyright by Colette Bouchez 2009 - All Rights Reserved. In addition to US Copyright, the text of this CheapChicDiary article is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 License. All Formatting and style elements of this page are not available under this license and Colette Bouchez retains all rights in those elements.

Is Your Mineral Makeup "The Real Thing" ?

By CountryDutchess

A rose by any other name is still a rose. A bargain, however, isn't always what it seems!

And that can definitely be the case when it comes to buying mineral makeup! Indeed, the sudden popularity of this natural beauty chic has, unfortunately, given way to lots of imitators, at least some of whom are using the term "mineral" a little loosely. In fact you could say there's more minerals in the ink on the label than in the jar!

Which is why we were thrilled when make up doyenne Camille Meyer, owner of the TriBecCa MedSpa and founder of Color By Camille Mineral MakeUp forwarded us this nifty little at-home test that you can use to verify the authenticity of the mineral make up you buy.

If it turns out that what you plunked your plastic down to buy isn't exactly filled with the down-to-earth home spun goodness of natural minerals that you thought, well then bring it on back to the store and tell them why you're returning it! If enough customers do that you can be sure the message will get through to the company to stop messing with our pretty little heads! ( Like we don't already have enough to worry about!) :)

So, to put the pedal to the mineral metals and try out your products, here's Camille's test
tips:

• Scrape ¼ tablespoon of powder mix into ½ cup of water
• Mix blend for 5-10 seconds
• The powder mix should float on top of the water
• If blend mixes with water and transforms into a milky substance or the powder sinks to the bottom – your powder mix is not true mineral makeup
• Finally, insert your finger into the water – if the powder mix on your finger goes from “gooey” to “powdery” when rubbing fingers together, you’ve found a true mineral makeup

Thanks Camille!

And remember, a bargain is only a bargain when it does what it says it does, and it is what it says it is!

For round-the-clock fabulous time & money saving beauty and style advice visit CheapChicDiary.com - or visit us anytime at CountryDutchess.com - Your Source For Fabulous!

Copyright by Colette Bouchez 2009 - All Rights Reserved.
In addition to US Copyright, the text of this CheapChicDiary article is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 License. All
Formatting and style elements of this page are not available under this license and Colette Bouchez retains all rights in those elements.

Plum Lucky! Wear The Hot New Color With Style!

By CountryDutchess

If you've spent even five minutes glancing the latest Fall fashion trends then you know that PLUM is one of the hottest colors around. From accessories to full frontal fashion, from lips and eyes and cheeks to the polish on your fingers and toes varying shades of this dusky purple hue are EVERYWHERE!

And we love this color. We really, really do.

BUT ... the truth is, as gorgeous as it is, it's also one of those colors that you can easily overdo. And when you do ....uh oh ... suddenly you go from femme fatal to Barney ( not the store, the dinosaur!) . So before you plunk down those hard earned fashionista dollars on trendy buys that end up in the back of your closet, here's a little plum advice on how to make the most of your Fall fashion dollars!

Fashion Plum Do's & Don'ts !

1. Do not do head-to-toe plum. Matching sweater and skirt - fine. Matching shoes and bag - good. Sweater, skirt, shoes, bag ,tights and make-up - all in plum - no. You're entering dinosaur territory.

2. Wear plum make-up sparingly. Again, the two out of three rule applies best here: Lips and cheeks - good. Cheeks and eyes - even better. Lips, cheeks, eyes all in plum ? Nope. See dinosaur reference above. :)

3. Use plum as an accent color - just be careful what you're accenting! It's great as an accessory or trim shade for black, brown, navy, camel, grey, denim, white, and some shades of very dark olive green. It's a Fall Fashion " Uh Oh!" when paired with red, hot pink, bright green or yellow.

4. If you can't afford to buy major pieces in this hot new color, update last year's little black coat with a chenille plum scarf and gloves. For that little black dress type a smoky amethyst plump chandelier earring or a plum crystal beaded necklace. All you really need are touches of this color to seem right in style!

5. Plum looks great with every shade of hair color - just not the same shade of plum for every shade of hair. Don't know what to pick? Here's your guide:

Yellow Blondes: Choose lighter, warmer shades of plum with a red undertone.

Beige Blondes and Cool Brunettes: Go for the dusky plums with the blue undertone.

Reddish Brown or Highlighted Brown : Go for a pure plum with a neutral color base

in darker hues.

Redheads : You can wear plum! Just be sure to choose a shade that has neutral

undertones. Warm plums will clash with your hair; cool plums will

wash out your sparkle. Also try for darker more pure colors - skip

the heather shades.

6. Plum Jewels - One of the best ways to accent plum fashions is either with a smokey shade of amethyst or with sparkling silver. While we know some of you are die-hard gold fans - and we love it too. But nothing sets off plum style like the wintry shimmer of silver - and the minute you try it on you'll see the difference! For extra pizazz try plum and silver chandelier earrings!
WOW

For round-the-clock fabulous time & money saving beauty and style advice visit CheapChicDiary.com - or visit us anytime at CountryDutchess.com - Your Source For Fabulous!

Copyright by Colette Bouchez 2009 - All Rights Reserved.
In addition to US Copyright, the text of this CheapChicDiary article is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 License. All
Formatting and style elements of this page are not available under this license and Colette Bouchez retains all rights in those elements.

6 Tips For Wearing Statement Earrings

By CountryDutchess.com

They're big, they're bold, and they're hard to miss! They're called "statement earrings" - named so for a reason: They make a statement! From their bold designs to their dazzling colors, these are the earrings you wear when you want to get noticed!

On the other hand ....you do want to get noticed for all the right reasons! Unfortunately, if don't wear your statement earrings in quite the right way, well, your statement could end being "I'm fashion clueless" !

Well, we don't want that to happen! So we asked our designers to come up with a few guidelines for making the best possible fashion statement with your "statement earrings!"

How To Wear A Statement Earring

1. Keep other jewelry to a minimum. And we do mean minimum! If you wear a necklace, limit it to a thin chain with no more than a small pendant. You can add a couple of bangles and maybe a ring - but you want the earrings to do all the work - so don't distract the eye with other baubles!

2. Statement earrings look best with simple outfits - like that little black dress or pantsuit or even jeans and a tee. If your clothing is garnished with lots of sequins, sparkles or other embellishments there's just too much going on for a statement earring to take center stage.,

3. If your statement earring is in a color , then choose one other accessory in that same color - and no more than two. If your statement earrings are red, for example, you can choose a red bag and red shoes - or red shoes and red belt - but not all three. Again, you want to keep the focus on the earrings.

4. Statement earrings look best when there's not a lot competing for attention - so try to keep necklines lower than your collar bone. The other option is to wear them with a solid color turtleneck to act as a "frame" for the earring. Neutral colors such as black, white, cream, tan, plum or navy form the most attractive frame for most statement earring styles.

5. Put on your earrings before you put on your make-up. More so than any other style of jewelry,a statement earring is right next to your face, so it's almost like part of your cosmetic look. That means you probably want to skip the glittery eye shadow or blush and opt for a cleaner simpler look. Having your earrings on while you apply your make up will help you build a total look without overdoing it.

6. Scale down your other accessories. If you're wearing a statement earring, skip the "statement bag" or "statement belt". You only need one outstanding item per outfit - so let your earrings shine!

For more round-the-clock beauty and fashion tips, visit CheapChicDiary.com - or for the best in statement earrings - including clip on chandeliers - and lots and lots of jewelry galore - visit CountryDutchess.com - Your Source For Fabulous!

Copyright by Colette Bouchez 2009 - All Rights Reserved.
In addition to US Copyright, the text of this CheapChicDiary article is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 License. All
Formatting and style elements of this page are not available under this license and Colette Bouchez retains all rights in those elements.

Red Alert: 9 Tips For Wearing Red Lipstick

By CountryDutchess.com

It seems that every fall we hear about the return of that sexy, pouty, ruby red lip - and this year is no exception! Red is in for fall and winter 2009 - and painting your pucker with a glossy red sheen is the quickest way to update your look!

Moreover, did you know that studies show men find women who wear red sexier - and are more likely to ask them out on a date , then women who wear any other color? It's true!

At the same time, make-up artists the world -over tell us that wearing red isn't quite as easy as flicking up the tube for a quick swipe of color. Why? More so than any other lipstick shade , if you "color outside the lines" and don't get red on right, you run the risk of looking like an escapee from the nearest puppet show! Not exactly a date magnet !

But worse still, once red lipstick hits the skin it stains - so not getting it on right means you run the risk of looking like an escapee from a puppet show who also ate too much raspberry pie on the way out the door!
The good news: There are tips and tricks to wearing red lipstick that make it easy to look on trend! What follows is what our consortium of experts say is the best way to wear red lips this year.

Red Lipstick Alert : 9 Tips For Wearing Red Lipstick!

1. Before putting on a red lipstick ALWAYS ( and we mean ALWAYS) use a lip liner first, to define your lip shape. Look for a color as close to your lipstick shade as possible and if you cant' get an exact match go lighter not darker. Use the pencil to outline your lip shape then using your pinky finger "pull" the liner down towards the center of your lip. This will help form a layer of liner that keeps lipstick in place.

2. When applying red lipstick use a lip brush and don't swipe straight from the tube. Unless your red color is very sheer, you're likely to apply way too much if you go straight from the tube to your lips. Using a brush will allow you to control the application .

3. And speaking of application, go for thin layers of color that you build to get the desired intensity. Again, this will allow you to control both the color and the depth of color. To keep red lipstick on longer - and keep it from smearing - apply the first coat, then blot, lightly dust with a translucent face powder, and then add on another layer or two of color.

4. If you're looking for that glossy red lip look, it's always better to use a matte red lipstick and add the shine with a clear gloss. First, matte colors are "harder" which means they are more likely to stay-put on your lips. And second, adding a clear gloss means you can re-gloss to keep the look fresh without piling on so much red color you start to look like you're wearing wax lips from last Halloween!

5. Recognize that red comes in myriad shades - and finding the right one ( the one that compliments your skin tone ) is essential. To this end there are a few tricks you can use. First, use other lipstick colors you already know look good on you as your guide. For example, do you look great in salmon pink but dreadful in fuchsia pink? Then look for a golden red and bypass the "blue reds". Do you normally wear brown tone lipsticks ? Then look for light burgundy red shade.

You can also use fabric as a great color guide. Pack a purse mirror and visit any fabric store . Once there zero in on the red shelf. Pull out the purse mirror and start holding reds up to your face. Look for the ones that warm your complexion and don't leave you looking ghostly pale or ghoulish. When you find the right shades ask for snippets of the fabric then take it to your local beauty emporium and match the shade. You'll be more likely to find the right color without ending up with a drawer full of "dead reds" you'll never wear!

6. When you wear red lipstick, keep blush color minimal. DO NOT, ( and this is SO important we're writing it in CAPS) :) repeat DO NOT wear red or bright pink blush with red lipstick and under no circumstances should you ever use a "pinch" of that red lipstick on your cheeks. Doing so will immediately alert the local authorities that a Cupie Doll has escaped from the nearest carnival. :) Instead, use a muted wash of color on cheeks in a neutral shade - what you want to avoid is the presence of any "obvious" color.

7. Don't over do the eye make up -particularly color. Again, you want to let your red lips do the talking here , so don't contradict what they're saying by piling color on your eyes. Again, a soft neutral palette, or even just some black mascara and a smudgy neutral liner is pretty much all you will need.

8. Do compliment your red lips with red jewelry - particularly earrings or a necklace ( not both) and choose red accessories - like shoes, belt , a handbag, or a scarf. Use them to trim a basic black, navy, tan or white outfit. What you want to avoid is "head to toe " red. Other good jewelry choices for red lipstick include plain gold or silver jewelry ( no stones) or earrings with clear or black stones. In some instances you might get away with a deep blue sapphire or emerald green earring, but only if you're wearing it with neutral color dress.

9. Do polish nails red - and if you're wearing sandals or open toe shoes, paint your toes red too. This look nicely compliments red lipstick and doesn't compete. Do, however, make certain to choose a shade of red polish that compliments or matches your red lipstick - particularly if you're an animated talker and your hands are frequently near your face.

So, there you have it ! Luscious red, on trend lips that do the talking for you ! For more round-the-clock fabulous time & money saving beauty and style advice visit CheapChicDiary.com - or visit us anytime at CountryDutchess.com - Your Source For Fabulous Jewelry at prices you can afford!

Copyright by Colette Bouchez 2009 - All Rights Reserved.
In addition to US Copyright, the text of this CheapChicDiary article is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 License. All
Formatting and style elements of this page are not available under this license and Colette Bouchez retains all rights in those elements.

FREE BEAUTY PRODUCTS! Really. Free!

We love free. Who doesn't? And we don't care what the stock market is doing, free is still MAJOR in our book!

Which is why we are thrilled right down to our new free pantyhose to bring you the best CheapChic bargains yet – a list of 8 of our favorite beauty products - ALL FOR FREE!

Of course it does require just a tad of work on your part – filling out some forms, and maybe getting an email or two. But the products and the deals are real – and some of the best out there!

So buckle up your seat belt and get ready to power shop until your booty hurts!

FREE BEAUTY PRODUCTS!

1.Calling All Brunettes! From the John Freida Collection comes your free sample of Brilliant Brunette Liquid Shine- a too fabulous way to put super sparkle in any shade of dark hair.Get it here

2.Keep your hands looking gorgeous with a brand new Aveda hand care cream. Just print out this coupon and get a free generous size sample!

3.Been dying to try that new Dove Heat Therapy Shampoo? Us too! Which is why we were thrilled to snag this coupon for a free sample!

4.BodyCology is the hot new natural frangrant skin care line from Walmart. Now don't go turning up your little designer nose – they smell amazing! And just to prove it, here's your chance to get a FREE sample in two of their most luscious fragrances!

5.FREE BARE MINERALS MAKE UP! Do you live near a JC Penny Store? Just pop into the Sephora Boutique inside any JC Penny's and get a FREE 10 day supply of Bare Minerals Make up! Plus a brush. Really FREE!

6.Love L'Oreal Products? We do too! Just register your email address at their website and you can get a FREE SAMPLE of Advanced Revitalift Anti Wrinkle Serum – plus coupons for some of their best products. Just fill in the blanks right here!

7 .The hottests new natural shampoo is Pantene Pro V Nature Infusion - and guess what? You can get it for free! Just click here to fill out a short coupon and it's yours!

8. And for the grandest give-a-way of all : Don't miss ALLURE Magazine's Month Long Free Beauty

Give-Away! Get a TON OF FREE STUFF - and we mean a ton! Plus snag ALLURE for under $8 bucks
for the whole year - and get a free gift ! You can't beat this deal!

For round-the-clock fabulous time & money saving beauty and style advice visit CheapChicDiary.com - or visit us anytime at CountryDutchess.com - Your Source For Fabulous!

Copyright by Colette Bouchez 2009 - All Rights Reserved.
In addition to US Copyright, the text of this CheapChicDiary article is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 License. All
Formatting and style elements of this page are not available under this license and Colette Bouchez retains all rights in those elements.

Bronzing On A Budget

By CountryDutchess

So... it seems that summer is more than halfway gone – but who wants to give up that gorgeous glowy bronzy look? Not us!

Which is why were just thrilled right down to our bikini bottoms to discover there really are some too –fabulous budget bronzers available that can not only give you that glow clear through October, it won’t cost you your food budget to get the glow!

Now bronzers are not to be confused with self tanners, which provide semi-permanent color much like a real tan (and, unless you strike the right one could also leave you looking like a giant Cheese Doodle). And we’re also not talking about the all-over gel bronzers, which always seem to make everyone look like they just ate chocolate pudding with a toddler.

We in fact are singing the praises of powder bronzers – like blush only …bronzy! In the past, lots of these products were either muddy, too dark, too orange, or just too heavy so the end result looked cakey and fake-y. In fact unless you spent almost as much on a bronzer as you would on a trip to Bermuda, most weren’t very convincing.

Surprise! There are now the most incredible crop of inexpensive (and some really cheap!) bronzers that not only have great color, but also great texture, so they go on smooth and won’t go in your pores leaving black speckles all over your skin!

After trying a fair sampling of what’s out there for a bargain price, we came up with this list of what we found to be the absolute best bronzing bargains for the money – and honestly, you almost can’t go wrong with any of them!

1. IsaDORA Bronzing Powder Compact - $14.00 - Our fav! So smooth and finely milled it’s like sprinkling sunshine on your skin! It comes in 9 fabulous shades – with and without iridescent flecks of gold. So, if you’re under 35, “go for the gold”; over 35, stick with the matte shades, which make your skin look MUCH younger! Our favorite shades: Highlight Tan and Highlight Bronze.

2. Clinque Almost Bronzer - $28.50 – It’s a bit of splurge, we know, but what makes it such a Cheap Chic bargain is that you can’t seem to use it up! Our model –cam beauty spies report they have been using it daily for two months – and there’s hardly a dent in their compact! Plus the color is sheer and lightweight, and the bronzing really lasts all day. Even better – you can touch up right over it and it won’t get cakey! In two shades, each compact features a lighter and darker version. Will not age your skin or accentuate wrinkles! Yay!

3. ELF Contouring Blush and Bronzing Powder - $3.00 – This dual pan compact gives you a warm, shimmery, cocoa colored bronzer, paired with the perfect shade of Rosy-peachy-afternoon-in-the-sun blush for a year-round combination that keeps the glow going indefinitely! A touch of iridescence in this product means it accentuates some lines and wrinkles so it’s not quite right for over 35 skins. But, if you’re younger, go for it – you won’t find a better bronzing bargain!

4. Fake Bake Bronzing Compact - $17.95 – This bronzer has been around forever - and many of the models we’ve worked with swear it’s the world’s best-kept bronzing secret. The reason? It works! And it works on pretty much all skin types. While it’s not really promoted as a product that changes according to your skin tone, we swear it does (or, maybe it’s just doing some wowie-zowie optical illusion, we’re not sure). But either way, it seems to look just perfect on every one – probably the reason it only comes in one color! Plus it won’t go in fine lines so it’s perfect for all ages and stages of skin!

5. Neutrogena Natural Radiance Bronzer - $10.99 – This is one of those products that features tiny squares of lots of different colors that you swirl together to get a perfect shade of bronze for you. And you pretty much can do that! The look is lighter than the other bronzers mentioned, depending on where you concentrate the brush, so it’s perfect for ultra fair skin. So if you’re looking for a lighter shade of bronze, in a finely milled powder that won’t age you even one day, this is it! Plus – 30 SPF protections! In 3 colors, but we love Sunkissed best!

ECO-Bargain Alert: If you want to be eco-gorgeous while you’re bronzing, say “no” to the plastic shopping bags and instead tote your goodies home in a JOEY bag. These ingenious re-usable totes are as light as a feather, tuck-away into their own carry case (small than your make-up pouch, guaranteed) then whip open in a snap, to carry all your shopping goodies home in eco-friendly style. Made from parachute-like material they last 4-ever too! So do your part for the environment and lug those beauty buys home in eco-cheap-chic style. Starting at $5.00 for one, up to $20 for the set!

For round-the-clock fabulous time & money saving beauty and style advice visit CheapChicDiary.com - or visit us anytime at CountryDutchess.com - Your Source For Fabulous!

Copyright by Colette Bouchez 2009 - All Rights Reserved.
In addition to US Copyright, the text of this CheapChicDiary article is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 License. All Formatting and style elements of this page are not available under this license and Colette Bouchez retains all rights in those elements.

Beauty Myth - Or Fact ?

By CountryDutchess.com

What could be cheaper – or chicer – than a pocketful of beauty tips that don't cost anything? Well, actually nothing could be cheaper or chicer ...which is why we were absolutely thrilled down to our thongs to discover The Beauty Diet : Looking Great has Never Been So Delicious. by Lisa Dryer, MA,

She's a super savvy - not to mention super chic - nutritionist who has filled an entire book with some of the best time saving, money saving natural beauty tips you can find!

Among our favorites can be found in the “Is It or Isn't It True” Beauty Myths – sensational little tidbits sprinkled generously throughout the book. All are tips you've probably heard dozens of times but wondered ...are they really true? Now Miss Lisa sets the record straight!

Here are few of our favorites :

Beauty Myth or Fact: Mayonnaise is a good conditioner for your hair?
Answer: MYTH!
Miss Lisa tells us there's no evidence to show it works – plus it's smelly, messy and will leave your hair feeling heavy and greasy. Plus it good be hard to wash out, especially if you have fine hair. To give hair a natural shine (from the inside out) Miss Lisa suggests consuming lots of omega 3 fatty acids , found in fish, nuts and flax seed.

Beauty Myth or Fact: Lemon juice will lighten your hair.
Answer: Myth ...and Fact!
On it's own Miss Lisa says lemon won't do a thing to make your hair lighter. But what the acid in the juice can do is open your hair cuticle (the outside covering of each strand) which in turn makes hair more sensitive to sunlight. So, if you put on lemon juice and go out in the sun, the combination of the acid, the oxygen in the air and the UV rays of the sun will net you some nice highlights. Our Country Dutchess tip is to always follow this process with a mild shampoo, followed by a leave in -conditioner. Too much lemon juice, particularly in conjunction with the burning rays of the sun, can fry your hair.

Beauty Myth or Fact: Eating gelatin – or soaking your finger tips in it – will make nails stronger.
Answer: Myth!
While Miss Lisa says that although gelatin is protein, and protein is the main component of nails, there is no evidence to show that gelatin in and of itself holds any nail growing magic. Unless you are deficient in protein ( highly unlikely) she says adding extra protein in the form of gelatin to your diet won't make a difference in your nails. What can help, says Miss Lisa is drinking plenty of water, take extra B vitamins, eat lots of foods rich in calcium ( think low dairy products) as well as foods rich in iron ( like broccoli) and zinc ( yogurt, shrimp, eggs.

Beauty Myth or Fact: Bathing skin in milk can help keep skin soft and smooth.
Answer: Fact!
Milk contains lactic acid, which are enzymes that can gently exfoliate dry patches and keep it soft. If you choose high fat milk it can also be a great post-sunburn skin soother.

Beauty Myth or Fact: Green tea can reduce under eye puffiness.
Answer: Fact!
One cause of those annoying under eye puffs is water retention. Miss Lisa says green tea is generally high in caffeine, which in turn acts like a diuretic to pull water from tissues. What can also help to reduce water retention: Eating foods high in B vitamins such as walnuts, yogurt, salmon and spinach.

So there you have it! For more fabulous natural beauty tips and tricks do pick up a copy of The Beauty Diet : Looking Great has Never Been So Delicious . We learned a ton of new stuff and found the suggestions easy to understand and easy to try!

Plus, there are some yummy “beauty recipes” included – foods that taste great and make you look great too. What's not to love! :)

For round-the-clock fabulous time & money saving beauty and style advice visit CheapChicDiary.com - or visit us anytime at CountryDutchess.com - Your Source For Fabulous!

Copyright by Colette Bouchez 2009 - All Rights Reserved.
In addition to US Copyright, the text of this CheapChicDiary article is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 License. All
Formatting and style elements of this page are not available under this license and Colette Bouchez retains all rights in those elements.

The Price is Right : Fashionista Style!

Attention bargain hunters!

Thanks to the deluge of love letters for our " Is it Chic Or Is It Cheap Chic? " accessory quiz, we're back with another "is it or isn't it" quiz - this time on fashion jewelry! Think of it as The Price is Right - Fashionista Style!

To take the quiz examine the 8 sets of photos below. In each picture one jewelry item is a MAJOR bargain. The other ...well, your credit card will scream for mercy if you even try to buy it!

Do you think you can guess which is Cheap Chic - and which is the budget buster?

Go on ...give it a try! If you win ... well, you'll have our undying respect for life. And if you lose ....well, then no more whining! Because you'll see for yourself you can have your jewelry - and pay the rent too!

PS: The answers are at the end ...with links to each item - but no peeking! Don't ruin the fun! :)

Is It Chic ...Or Is It Cheap CHIC ?

One of these earrings is $34.95 - the other is $290.00. Which is which?

Answers!
1. The gold earring on the left ( and on model) is $34.95 in clip and pierced from CountryDutchess.com; the earring on the right is $290.00 in pierced from Neiman Marcus .

2. The gold bracelet on the left - $12.99 from Target.com the silver one on the right , $175 from Ross-Simons.com.

3. The Clip on earring on the left - $149.00 from HSN; the clip on earring on the right, $26.95 from CountryDutchess.com.,

4. The round pierced CZ on the left, $75.00 from Bloomingdales.com; on the right, a pear shaped CZ dangle earring from CountryDutchess.com in clip on or pierced, just $36.95.

5. The black enamel bracelet on the left is from Kate Spade and costs $125. The black and red bracelet on the right is just $28.95 from CountryDutchess.com .

6. The pierced heirloom earrings on the left: $95 from Judith Jack at Ross-Simons.com ; the pierced earrings on the right are just $10.99 from Target.com.

7. The clip on black teardrop earring on the left is $240 at NeimanMarcus.com; the clip on or pierced teardrop on the right is $34.95 from CountryDutchess.com .

8. Pierced earrings on the left : $75 by Carolee at Bloomingdales.com; the clip on or pierced earrings on the right: $22.00 from CountryDutchess.com .

So, there you have it! CheapChic at it's finast!

For round-the-clock fabulous time & money saving beauty and style advice visit CheapChicDiary.com - or visit us anytime at CountryDutchess.com - Your Source For Fabulous Designer Quality Jewelry on a budget!

Copyright by Colette Bouchez 2009 - All Rights Reserved.
In addition to US Copyright, the text of this CheapChicDiary article is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 License. All
Formatting and style elements of this page are not available under this license and Colette Bouchez retains all rights in those elements.

Allure Magazine vs Cheap Chic Diary: Making Up For Less!

We're always flattered like mad when these big, corporate fashion giants pay attention to what we write!

Which is why were were particularly excited to see that this month Allure Magazine jumped on our Cheap Chic Bandwagon by recognizing that you don't have to spend a ton-o-bucks to look good.

In fact, though flabbergasted as they seemed to be that these products even exist, much less that they don't cause your skin to burst into flames when you use them, still, in a feature titled "Beauty's Big Secret" they did give the ultimate Fashionista Nod to saving money!

Well, as you Recessionista's already know, we at CheapChicDiary have been exaulting the power of low priced beauty products for quite some time now - and never once were we shocked and awed at their power to make us ( and you!) look amazing!

In fact, we would venture to say that with a little bit of creative picking and choosing, you can come away with some truly fabulous product buys in every category across the board - and still have enough left over to take your beautiful new face out on the town!

It is in this spirit that we offer up some of the suggestions from Allure Magazines low end beauty buys - alongside of some of our CheapCHic Diary picks - to give you a make up bag full of low priced products that really do what they say!

Allure Picks: Ulta.com Cheek Color - $6.50 - Assorted Colors
Cheap Chic Diary Picks: Avon Be Blushed Cheek Color - $5.99 (in 8 shades)
ELF Natural Radiace Blush - $1.00 (in 6 truly radiant shades).

Allure Picks: Femme Couture Mineral Effects Pressed Powder Make up - $12.99
Cheap Chic Diary Picks: Physicians Formula Talc-Free Mineral Face Powder - $12.95 (in 9 really natural shades

Allure Picks: Femme Couture Flawless Touch Brightening Corrective Pen - $8.99
Cheap Chic Diary Picks: ISADora EyeBrow Lift and Define Pencil -With a fabulous eye brown pencil on one end an and a pink-white highlighter on the other that doubles as an eye brightener, a brow lifter and a concealer! - $13.00
ELF Eye Widener Pencil - $1.00

Allure Picks: Sephora Blush Me Trio for a bronzy glow - $15.00
Cheap Chic Diary Picks: ISADora Bronzing Powder - $14.00

Allure Picks: Sephora Colorful Eye Shadow Palette in Taupe ( $24.00)
Cheap Chic Diary Picks: Physician's Formula Baked Wet/Dry Eye Shadow in
Oatmeal or Butter - $7.95 ( for three shades) ( Also available in 9 color combinations).

And when it comes to Lip Glosses and Lipsticks, well our friends at Allure seem to think there just aren't any worth mentioning - or at least they didn't mention any in this article. We think they're wrong! So here are our picks for budget lip glosses that really go the distance in color and shine!

Cheap Chic Diary Lipgloss Picks:
ELF HyperShine Lip Gloss - $1.00 - in 8 shades
AVON Floral Delight Lip Gloss - $4.00 - 4 shades
ISADORA Crystal Gloss stick - $12 - 6 Shades

So there you have it! And whether you listen to us or Allure, it's important that you think twice before you plunk down that credit card and bring home your rent payment in cosmetics. You can look great on a budget!

Model pictured wearing ISADora Bronzing powder in Highlight Bronze, ISADORA Crystal Gloss Stick in Mango Fizz, Physician's Formula Wet/Dry Shadow in Gingersnap. Jewelry: Silver and Red Coral Chandelier Earrings from CountryDutchess.com

For round-the-clock fabulous time & money saving beauty and style advice visit CheapChicDiary.com - or visit us anytime at CountryDutchess.com - Your Source For Fabulous!

Copyright by Colette Bouchez 2009 - All Rights Reserved.
In addition to US Copyright, the text of this CheapChicDiary article is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 License. All
Formatting and style elements of this page are not available under this license and Colette Bouchez retains all rights in those elements.