Look Gorgeous - SAVE $$$ - The Secret to Cosmetic Outlet Shopping!

by CountryDutchess.com

Are you still spending half a paycheck on foundation? Rent money on your lipgloss? Blowing your Christmas Club savings account by mid July for that bronzer to die for? Uh huh, we thought so.

But hey, no one loves make up more than we do, so we feel the need ...and the pain!

But we also have the antidote - because the truth is looking good does not have to cost a lot. And no, we're not talking making your own lipgloss out of beet juice and Vaseline, for heaven's sake!

What we are talking about is the amazing, too fabulous, money-saving extravaganza known as Cosmetic Outlet Shopping!

And yes, like you, we also ADORE places like Sephora and even QVC where the selections are amazing! But really, have you seen the prices? YIKES! And it's really DOUBLE YIKES when you realize how many of the same products sold at these and other top beauty bodegas can be in your hot little hands at 30 %, 40%, 50% less !

How do you find these bargains? It's all in knowing where to shop! And... we're going to tell you! In fact, to help get you started we are are going to let you in on some of our very favorite secret cosmetic outlets - places where you can absolutely get the beauty bargains of a lifetime ...and still have enough left over to pay a bill or two! But you have to promise ...shhhhh ! Only tell the girlfriends you really, really like!

Now that we have your sacred promise, get ready to save and be gorgeous! :)

1. CosmeticsAndMore.com - Amazing, we mean AMAZING buys on everything you can think of from Revlon, Almay and Vital Radiance -at prices that equal less than the tax you'd pay in most retail stores. We' re talking lipglosses for 99 cents, blush for $3.00, those pricey make up primers for under $5.00! The selection changes weekly (sometimes daily) so shop early and often to get the best deals.

2.SallyBeauty.com - Hair care, appliances, skin care, make up - if you wear it Sally sells it - and she sells it at a discount that's hard to beat! All name brands, the hottest new looks - all at HUGE savings!

3. Perfumania.com - Most of you may be already familiar with this discount fragrance outlet. But did you know you can also find some amazing cosmetics at prices that are hard to believe?
Lip glosses for under $3.00, a too-fabulous creme blush for $2.99, amazing nail polish colors for just $1.99 - well you'll just have to visit to believe it!

4. EyesLipsFace.com - Okay...the make up here is just so inexpensive it's almost silly! Truly, every single product is .....get ready...$1.00! Yes, you read right - one buck lets you try out that new lip gloss shade, that sexy new bronzer, a crazy new eye shadow color ... it's like a penny candy store for beauty addicts! And amazingly, the quality of the products is a whole lot better than you might expect for the price. In fact, it easily compares to "drugstore" brands at 10 times the price, and some products (particularly the glosses) are equally as good as those that sell for $25.00 in department stores! Seriously, 10 bucks will net you an entire new make up bag full of goodies - and add another dollar and you'll get the bag too!

5. The Cosmetics Company - For those of you who would rather nab your bargains in person than on line, then The Cosmetics Company outlet stores are for you! Here you will find MAC, Estee Lauder, Origins, Prescriptives, Bobbie Brown and , our very favorite Clinique - at discounts from 30% to 50% OFF RETAIL! And this is for the top of the line, brand new, hottest colors/products/styles from all the companies ! Like any other outlet, stock changes frequently, so it pays to make more than one visit! To search for the Cosmetics Company outlet in your area, click here.

PHOTO: Model is wearing lipgloss, blush and eye makeup from EyesLipsFace.com.
Turquoise Chandelier Earrings are by CountryDutchess.com

Coming Soon : Where to find designer shoes at savings of up to 75% ! Stay tuned!

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.

Money Saving Natural Hair Highlights

By CountryDutchess.com

Okay, so the economic crunch means that spending money on hair dye is no longer tops on your list of must-haves. We understand completely.

But that doesn't mean you've got to head into summer looking mousy and drab! ( Or heaven forbid, wispy gray around those "wish-I-could-afford Botox" temples! ).

Well fortunately my economic little divas, there is an answer! And who has it ? Well none other than Mother Nature herself! ( And you thought she just made flowers and trees!:)

To make your own very inexpensive, but ultra safe (you can even use them if you're pregnant) and snazzy hair highlights, try the following recipes.

·
For red highlights or to enhance red hair : Mix ½ cup of beet juice with ½ cup of carrot juice and pour on dampened hair. Let sit for one hour , then washing out. If you also spend that hour sitting in direct sunlight, (put sunscreen on your fevered brow!) the effects will be even more dramatic. ( Test mixture on hair sample first - this can be a powerful red tint! )

·For blonde highlights : Mix 1 cup of lemon juice with 3 cups of chamomile tea that has been brewed, cooled, and strained. Pour over damp hair and let sit for one hour - again sunlight will enhance the effects. Wash out and follow with a conditioner. For significant blonde color use daily for up to three weeks. Use conditioner after every use, and stop if hair begins to look or feel dry.

For brunette hair prepare strong black coffee or tea. After washing hair, pour the mixture through hair 15 times, re-rinsing using the same liquid. ( You can do this by placing a large pasta or soup pot in the sink to catch the rinse, then pour into a large jar for the next rinse). On the final rinse through, leave on hair for 15 minutes, then rinse with clear water. Again, test it first on a swatch of your hair to make sure the color isn't too dark or deep.

For Natural Highlights To Any Color Hair : Add 1/2 cup o f champagne to your favorite shampoo!

For Instant Body : Stir 8 ounces of beer until it's flat ( no more bubbles) and then microwave it on high for 1 minute. After washing hair, rinse it with the beer solution, and let set on hair for up to 10 minutes. Follow by a rinse with clear water. The yeast in the beer will add instant body to your hair, but the microwaving will remove all the alcohol, so you won't get that drying effect.

Now that you saved all this money you can afford a brand new pair of summer chandelier earrings ( like the ones pictured above) to show it all off! You'll love the look!

Photo and jewelry courtesy of 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.

Budget Beauty Substitutions: What To Use When You Run Out!

by CountryDutchess.com
Okay so you have to make that choice: Do I buy make-up? Do I pay the rent? And in today's world, sometimes, in fact, you can't swing either one .

And although we love you like crazy, we can't really help you on the rent part. :(

But ... we can tell you what to do when you just need to look fabulous...on a not-so-fabulous budget!

What's the secret? It's called Budget Beauty Substitution - the clever art of "making do" with products you already have to create the products you need. In fact, by adding just a little bit of creative thinking, you'll not only figure out to get what you need from what you have, you'll also find a ton of new ways to use everything in that overloaded bathroom vanity drawer
( Okay, we peeked!).

If fact, you might end up saving so much money, you'll be able to buy those too fabulous new shoes you've been coveting. Or, pay the rent - up to you entirely!

To help get you thinking in the right direction, here are a handful of Budget Beauty Substitutions that will start saving you money instantly!

Cheap Chic Lipstick: Scape off a few grains of powder blush , combine with a dab of petroleum jelly and voila - lipstick! For gloss use less powder, more jelly.

Cheap Chic Foundation: Combine a tiny dab of concealer with your favorite moisturizer.

Cheap Chic Make Up Remover: Try a dab of olive oil on a cotton ball - or pop open a capsule of vitamin E and apply direct to skin. For travel try unscented baby wipes - make-up off in one swipe!

Cheap Chic Toothpaste: Combine baking soda with water.

Cheap Chic Eyelash Curler: Heat a spoon for 5 seconds with a hairdryer set on medium, then press lashes against the back of the warm (Not HOT) spoon. Be sure to touch it to the back of your hand before you put it near your eye.

Cheap Chic Hair Control : Lightly wipe any brand of cling free dryer sheet over your hair to cut static electricity and offer up a great shine!

Cheap Chic Nail File: Use the abrasive end of a book of matches ( where you strike it).

Cheap Chic Nail Polish Extender: Try a drop of olive oil to rejuvenate the sticky dried polish and get a few more manicures before the bottle's done!

You might also enjoy reading:
Give Thin Hair Instant Body - Plump Lips Naturally!
Budget Skin Care: Spend Less, Get More!

For round-the-clock fabulous time & money saving beauty and style advice drop by anytime at www.CheapChicDiary.com. Or visit us at CountryDutchess.com - your source for all things 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.

Chandelier Earring Style Tips

by CountryDutchess.com

Aren't you just wild over those fabulous new mega chandelier earrings - the ones that can turn even the most inexpensive little black dress into an expensive WOW look?

We love 'em too - but we've also noticed that many women with pierced ears are turning away from the larger-than-life styles simply because they pull and tug on ear lobes - and make those already larger-than-life holes even bigger.

Well don't be left out in the fashion cold - we have a solution: Look for these stunning new chandelier earrings in Clip ON style.

Now if you're thinking OMG they will pinch like no tomorrow -and give me a whopper of a headache- well, that that certainly would be no Cheap Chic Bargain, now would it ?

But what can give you all the look without any of the ear-aches is sticking to just a few simple rules when looking for clip on styles.

In fact, we can tell you absolutely, positively that if you follow the guidelines below not only will you end up with a clip on earring that doesn't pinch, hurt or tug on your ear, you will be able to wear even the most outrageously large fashionable chandeliers without ending up with craters in your pierced ears! So follow our design team's advice and look for the following:

Clip On Chandelier Earring Tip # 1: Look for balance in the earring design. One of the reasons clip on earrings hurt is because they are poorly balanced, especially heavy chandelier earrings. The lack of balance pulls on the ears and causes the pain.
To find a balanced earring design look for the weight to be evenly spread throughout the earring, with the bottom of the earring wider than the top. When a design is top heavy, or all the beads are clustered in one section, the balance is off and a pulling on the earlobes will occur.

Clip On Chandelier Earring Tip # 2: Look for a clip size that is in proportion to the earring. If the earring is large, or long and it's suspended from a thin, non adjustable clip wire, then it's likely to cut into your ears after an hour or two of wear. If the earring is large, the clip in the back of the earring should be substantial to hold it in place without pinching.

Clip On Chandelier Earring Tip # 3: Whenever possible look for adjustable back clips - either those with a tension screw back that adjusts to the size of your ear lobe, or tension set clips that close according to the size of your ear lobe. When checking for these in a store, the clip should be able to stop at any point between open and completely closed. If your earring has only two positions - fully opened or snap shut, then it's likely to pinch.

Clip On Chandelier Earring Tip # 4: When purchasing the "look of lever backs" - a popular new clip on style that
simulates the look of a pierced earring - always look for the adjustable screw back styling. Clip ons with the look of pierced that have a simple snap back closure will almost always pinch and pull on your ears, especially if the earring is substantial.

Clip On Chandelier Earring Tip # 5 : Finally, for the most comfortable clip on Bohemian style earrings look for designs that are suspended from a bead that in turn is attached to a loop situated on the front of the earring - not swinging freely from a loop at the bottom of the earring.

If the entire weight of the design swings from a loop that comes close to or at the bottom of your ear lobe, the weight is more likely to create tension - and that creates a painful pull on your ears. By placing the weight of the earring in the center of the lobe your ear will support the earring and keep away the pain!

For round-the-clock fabulous time & money saving beauty and style advice visit stop by and see us at http://www.CheapChicDiary.com - Your Source For ALL THINGS cheap and fabulous! Or stop by CountryDutchess.com for designer jewelry at outlet prices!

You might also enjoy reading:
Give Thin Hair Instant Body -Plump Lips Naturally!
Instantly Deflate Under Eye Puffs!

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.

Budget Green: Getting The Best Buys On Natural Cosmetics

by CountryDutchess.com

From supermodels to Hollywood superstars to the girl next door, everyone, it seems, is “going green” – partiucularly when it comes to skin care and cosmetics.

But can these often times pricey "green" beauty products really make a difference – and if so, do you really get what you pay for?

As with most things, much depends on what you're looking for. But if it's kinder, gentler skin care you're seeking you could be in for a nasty surprise.

"The perception is that natural ingredients are more pure and kinder to skin than something that is made in lab – but nothing could be farther from the truth," says dermatologist Joel Schlessinger, MD, Immediate Past President of the American Society of Cosmetic Dermatology and Aesthetic Surgery.

So, says Schlessinger if you’re buying a natural product to avoid breakouts or even allergic reactions, well you could be in for big disappointment. In fact, one study in the British Journal of Dermatology found that popular natural ingredients - including tea tree oil, feverfew, lavender and jasmine - are among the most likely ingredients to evoke allergic or sensitivity responses .

In fact, if your skin really is sensitive, then experts say your dollars will be better spent by choosing a product designed for sensitive skin - even if it's not technically "green".

But you're like many of our girlfriends, your reason for going "green" has less to do with your skin care needs and more with avoiding certain questionable chemicals found in many cosmetic products . If so, then it's important to know there are many shades of "green".

And by that we mean that there is no regulation that defines the term " natural" when used to describe cosmetic or skin care products. So, in fact, a cream, lipstick, shampoo, or foundation - in fact any cosmetic product at all - could be labeled " natural" and still be brimming with all the chemicals you don't want.

“There are companies who take the term natural very seriously, and produce products that are, for the most part free of many of these questionable chemicals, but there are still many that use the word in a meaningless way," says Daniel Fabricant, PhD, the vice president of scientific affairs for the National Products Association.

The worst part: Even the products that don't deserve to use the term frequently use it to jack up the price above what " regular" products of the same type might cost. And that is no Cheap Chic Bargain by any standard!

Is It Really Green? How To Tell!

So, how can you tell what you're really buying - and whether or not it's worth the extra price?

Well one way is to look for a brand new seal of approval from the Natural Products Association. Although this is an inter-industry organization representing natural cosmetic companies, they have launched a new set of strict ingredient and preparation guidelines that products must meet before they get that coveted seal . While seeking the seal is totally voluntary, if you don't pony up the right ingredient list, you' re not getting in the club!

To make it a little easier to find the brands that do carry the seal , the Natural Products Association website maintains a full list of every item that has met the approval standards.

Of course not every face cream or lip gloss that does meet the standards applies for the seal. So, if you see a product that you think you like - and it doesn't have the seal - before plunking down your hard earned dollars, put it through this quick test to see if it makes the grade.

1. Find out what percentage of the ingredients are natural. ( To carry the seal 95% of ingredients must be natural).

2. Find out if the product is tested on animals? ( No animal testing of any kind allowed on products that carry the seal).

3. Read the label to see if the product contains any of the following ingredients : Parabens, sulfates, chemical sunscreens, petro chemicals, gycols, pthalates, PEGs, PPGs, DEA/TEA, synthetic polymers, formaldehyde donors or 1,4 -Dioxanes. ( Natural products do not).

4. Give it the "whiff" test." If it smells like a chemical or if it says it contains a natural ingredient like strawberries but you think it smells like an imitation strawberry flavored lollipop, then it may not be as natural as you think!

You might also enjoy reading:

Quick and Easy Eyeliner Tips: How To Make It Last!
Eat Chocolate - Look Younger!

For round-the-clock fabulous time & money saving beauty and style advice visit CheapChicDiary.com - or CountryDutchess.com : Your Source For Cheap, Chic and 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.