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Frugalista
It just wouldn’t be right to not round out the new year with all the beauty products I loved last year. There was a lot of makeup! And most of it was awesome! I’ve collected, curated, and narrowed down what I think is worth your hard earned money.
Check out all the products in the video!
It’s video time again.
I have some favorite products to share with you! I’m so excited. If you’re looking for a new lipstick, or a great price for Argan oil, or maybe an awesome face mask – this video is for you!
Links mentioned- www.edenallure.com
www.tataharper.com
www.kateryanskincare.com
www.mirenesse.com
Okay ladies and gents, (mostly ladies) because I’m talking product! I LURV me some product.
I’ve got some enticing tips and items for your shopping list.
So let’s all get excited for EYE CREAM!
And read my post here- Eye cream, eye cream, We all scream for eye cream!
Here’s the thing- I love me some product. Put me in a Sephora store and let me run free. I could spend hours in there. I get this crazy high from the product smell. The florescent lights. The colors and product to dabble with. I smile and act like I know what I’m doing. Nobody bothers me. I don’t feel intimidated. It’s a playground! It’s like a little Julie Andrews- hills are alive- moment I feel each time.
I should just go to cosmetology school. I could do hair, nails, facials, you name it! Well, I THINK I can. There’s a difference of what I THINK I can do, and what I actually SHOULD do.
Things I SHOULDN’T
Let’s start with 7th grade:
You TOO can have golden locks!!
You know you did it. It didn’t matter what your natural hair color was. The temptation of those cute beach girls lightening their hair in the commercial was too much to resist. How easy it was to just spray on the stuff- and Voila! Orange hair. Or straw blond. Not strawberry blond. STRAW blond. Like hay. Dry and yellow. Whichever. Guys used it too <<cough McSweetie cough>>.
Ogilvie Home Perm
How many times I made my mom do this god awful process. Hey- perms were IN back in the 80s! Who DIDN’T want body and luscious waves? Who DIDN’T want a poodle perm? COME ON! Sad thing was- my hair was so hard to curl, it only lasted about a week. And the SMELL. Oh the smell…
If I could ONLY have looked like this!! Luckily, I have no actual pictures documenting MY hair don't.
Adult beauty mistakes:
DIY Hair color
Within the last 10 years, I went against better sense and colored my hair at home. My cool blond tresses have never been the same. The box of color was on the Target clearance end-cap. Tell me Sarah Jessica Parker doesn’t just pick up her hair color at Target. Right? I followed the instruction booklet closely. The color was something like Champagne blond on the label. I looked more like Blush champagne when I was done. Like Arbor Mist Blond. A little on the strawberry side. A little flat too. It killed my highlights and made me really reddish blond. If that is even a color. I went to my regular gal and got a foil to break it up a bit. She laughed at me and made me Girl Scout swear never to do it again. Anyone out there who does color their hair from a box- I’m jealous.
Frownies- WTF? Huh!
Just look at this picture.
Yes, that's my forehead.
They are these paper sticky things you put on your ‘frown lines’ and it takes the place of Botox. Trains your facial muscles to relax so you don’t furrow and squint unnecessarily. Are they working? Well, it’s like a treadmill, it might work if you use them. But they kind of feel weird and hurt when you peel them off and you need to wear them up to 3 hours at a time or overnight. When am I going to go 3 straight hours with paper triangles stuck to my face?? And at night, I always ‘forget’ (translation, I’m too embarrassed to wear them in front of the hubs). So they just sit in my drawer collecting dust.
Be careful of fruit acid peels. When it says not to use more than 2 times a week. Follow that rule. If you don’t. You will look like you went skiing with goggles on a sunny day.
Fruit peel or idiot who didn't use sunscreen?
Waxing-
I wax my eyebrows successfully each month. Remember when I told you I didn’t wax anywhere else?
Well, I decided to shave instead. BIG MISTAKE.
Let’s see how I can put this.
If you trim DOWN THERE with just a regular razor for your legs, it gets a little hedgehoggy. Maybe waxing would eliminate the stubble. But right now, the grow-out is pretty prickly. It seems that after writing my blog, Wax On, Wax Off– I almost felt like I could challenge myself and see what could be done DOWN THERE. Well, never again. I’m leaving it alone. It’s not itchy though. Yet. Maybe I shouldn’t have used the razor that was a month old sitting in my shower.
Oh look- it's my vajajay!
THINGS I WON”T TRY-
Anal bleaching- there is no reason I would do this myself or pay someone to do this for me. My anus has never been the same since child birth. I will leave it at that. I’m not auditioning to be in a porno in the near future, so it will stay its original color I was born with.
Eye lash extensions. I might get this done by a professional. I won’t do it myself. I don’t have a steady surgeons hand. I would look like Tammy Faye if I tried this. I don’t even think you can get your hands on the stuff if you aren’t a professional.
Eyebrow tinting.
Bird Poop beauty masks- yeah in Japan or somewhere they take bird poop- I’m hoping it’s special birds and not just pigeon shit. Not that it makes it better! They use the poop in beauty masks. Anyway- Asian women are on a quest for white, porcelain skin, and there’s an ingredient in the poop that lightens skin.
Leaches- yep. This is sort of making a ‘come back’. Apparently, Demi Moore does this. Demi Moore also smoked some bad salvia and ended up in the hospital. I’m not taking beauty advice from Demi any time soon.
Botox- okay, except for the lady who injected beef fat in her own face- who would ever do this on their own? My Beef with Botox I’m not saying I’m not doing Botox ever. I’m just not doing it MYSELF!
Piercings, tongue splitting or scarring. Just don’t even go there..
So there you have it. Confessions of a not quite Beauty School Dropout. Not bad, right? Okay, maybe just a little…
This list beats all other lists. It’s a list my husband shouldn’t read. Because he does not need to know that mascara can cost $20 and all my maintenance and beauty arsenal isn’t found at Walgreens or Big Lots.
Extravagant Hussy is a term my mom’s friend uses when she buys something expensive for herself. It’s sounds better than Fancy Slut or Expensive Bitch. But everyone, even Frugalistas have an Extravagant Hussy inside them that needs to come out sometimes.
So these are products that I LOVE and buy infrequently, or when I’ve done something spectacular, like chaperone a field trip for my kids’ school. It’s healthier than binge drinking and cheaper than therapy, so this is how I rationalize it.
Here they are:
1. Dior Addict Lipstick (Nordstrom, Sephora)
I find this lipstick to be luxurious, dewy, somewhat glossy, and just the right amount of opacity. The tube looks fancy and the colors are flattering. What more could you ask for?
2. Shellac manicures at Julep (Seattle area only)
This is definitely a local gem to the Seattle area. I’m sure there are other nail bars in metropolitan cities that offer immaculate conditions, toxin free products, and aestheticians that are deft in their craft. Emmy did my last shellac at Julep. She is like the Michelangelo of nail technicians. Perfection.
3. It’s a 10 leave-in conditioner spray (Ulta, CVS)
You may already know I’m crazy about my WEN cleansing conditioner. But this leave-in spray is so good for these harsh, cold, dry days. I always get fly-aways from wearing hats, but this seems to tame them. Emma is using it too on her ends to keep them smooth.
4. Koh Gen Do moisture foundation (Barneys, Sephora.com)
Oh this stuff is magnificent. I’m not sure why the Japanese have the cornerstone on make up, it must be all those Geisha girls in Japan that know how to have flawless skin. This is truly lightweight, buildable coverage; dewy, yet not greasy and makes you look flawless in pictures.
5. Giorgio Armani wet/dry powder compact (Nordstrom)
I use just a smidge of this with a nice fluffy brush over my foundation. It sets the makeup, doesn’t look chalky, and if you are having a bad face day and oily skin, you can use a wet sponge and go to town all over to get maximum coverage.
6. Cle de Peau concealer (Nordstrom, Barneys, Neiman Marcus)
The Rolls Royce of concealers. This baby wins awards from editors all the time. Pricey, but good. You will love it. Lasts forever too. I dot it on with a brush over my foundation before I powder. I even cover some freckles and sun spots with it. Truly a make up junkies magic wand.
7. Benefit High Beam (Sephora, Macy’s)
I love a little dot of this high light over my cheekbones. It’s great for date night, holiday parties, or special occasions. Not too much to draw attention to your wrinkles, but just a little glow over your makeup. Makes you look 20 again.
8. Benefit Powderflage (Sephora, Macy’s)
This is a funky little product. It comes in a little round orb. It’s a very light weight, light-diffusing concealer powder that comes with this tiny fan shaped brush. I use it to just dab a little bit of powder under my eyes for high light, to set my concealer, and to whisk away any eye shadow dust that’s fallen on my cheekbones. Such a little itty bitty thing- but lasts a long time since you don’t use much.
9. Dior Eyeshadow Palette (Nordstrom, Sephora, Nieman Marcus)
Dior eyeshadow is the best. It’s pigments are intense, true and lasting. The compacts are convenient and pair the perfect color combinations. Once you’ve tried these, you will never ever go to any drugstore product again. Worth. Every. Penny.
10. Avene moisture SPF 25 for Redness Relief (Soap.com, Skinstore.com)
I have sensitive skin. And I have rosacea, an alabaster complexion, I flush easily, and I get bumps when I go out in the sun. Wow. Lovely, huh? I always, always, always, (one more time) always, wear SPF, all year ’round. To keep my dry skin from being too dry, and or it to not break out from something too heavy, I need the perfect product. This has a slight tint of green, but not enough to make you look like a zombie or you need a new liver. It’s just a bit to cancel the red, ruddy cheeks my English genetics gave me.
Remember, I haven’t been endorsed by any companies, nor has anyone certified me on my expertise. Although my husband might certify me as crazy since I am a self-confessed product whore. Hey, if you’re going to be any kind of whore, a product whore is the right kind. Right? I’ll shut up now.
Maybe some of you read my blog for my witty banter about my kids and husband. Maybe some of you like to hear what my super cat is up to. And some of you read it and don’t finish it because you’re like, this woman is an idiot.
For those that read for my shopping, fashion and beauty wisdom, this is for you. Because I can say I’m so wise when it comes to beauty because….well, because, I buy a lot of shit and I worked in cosmetics for like 5 years. There. Yeah. Basically, I’m a self taught makeup/product aficionado. Just so you know, there’s no real scientific explanation or actual certification I got. It’s just my opinion. ALSO, the cool thing about my recommendations is no one is paying me to endorse them. I think beauty editors and bloggers get paid by companies. SO mine are completely neutral and honest. If I do ever sell myself out, you know it would only be to put my kids through braces, college and their weddings.
Here’s my list:
WEN cleansing conditioner (QVC.com)
Their slogan is ‘Friends don’t let Friends use shampoo”. I love this stuff. My hair is like flaxen strands of silk. (okay, that’s a little exaggerated) I would bathe every head and follicle in my household in this ‘cleansing conditioner’, (it is not shampoo), if I could afford to. This is a mostly natural, non-sudsing, shampoo- conditioner-detangler-deep conditioning treatment in one product. If you’ve used it and don’t like it, it’s probably because you didn’t use enough product and water to make it do it’s thing. It’s a tricky deal. But once you’ve mastered it, you’ll be hooked. If you don’t want to afford it, or bother, just promise me you’ll use sulfate-free shampoo. If you color your hair and are using shampoo with sulfates (even high end brands have it, check the label) you are not doing yourself any favors.
Jane Iredale Magic Mitt (Beauty.com)
This washcloth is a microfiber mitt with a million little grippy loops that take away your makeup and dirt. No cleanser needed. You wash it with hand soap after you’re done, rinse it well, wring it out to hang to dry and use it over and over. It’s made of antibacterial fabric. Takes off everything- waterproof stuff too.
Nature’s Gate Glow lotion (Target)
This gradual self tanner lotion has replaced my Jergens bottle. I like it’s natural ingredients and it’s pump dispenser. It’s very subtle for my alabaster complexion but gives a honey-tinted glow.
Weleda Food for the skin (Target, Whole Foods)
This is like Aquaphor but natural and made by Germans. I love products made in Germany. If you need something heavy and slick for chapped areas but don’t like petroleum in a lot of products out there, this is very pleasant.
It seems to nourish your skin- just like the label says- ‘skin food’. Don’t eat it though.
Clean and Clear pimple paste (Target)
I’ve talked about this one before. It’s white so you can only use it at night. Dries up zits. Period.
Josie Maran Argan Oil (QVC and Sephora)
If you’ve noticed, Argan Oil is everywhere now. It’s like what soy was in 2005. You’re going to start seeing it in baby formula and cat food for crying out loud! It’s a precious oil from Morocco that is great for your hair and skin. You don’t need a fancy brand of it, it can be very expensive, just read the ingredients list that what you do buy isn’t full of fillers and preservatives. You want the pure oil.
EOS lip balm and shave cream (Ulta)
These lip balms come in these round balls they are so cute and roll over your lips soothingly. (That read kind of weird.) Their lotion is similar in packaging. All eco-friendly, happy ingredients and no fillers.
Urban Decay shadow primer (Ulta, Sephora, Beauty.com)
This is it. You will wonder why you lived without this product. It comes in four different formulas. All good. It just depends on your taste. Does your eyeshadow fade, crease, wander? This will stop it from doing all of those. Done. You’re welcome.
Bliss Oxygen mask (Sephora)
I love Bliss products. One day I want to go to their New York spa. This is their affordable version of your own spa at home. It foams up and makes your skin feel soft and look brighter. I put it on in the shower and let it do it’s thing while I shave my legs. And then I look like Heidi Klum.
Preserve Toothbrushes (Whole Foods, Trader Joes)
I love these little guys. They are made with recycled yogurt containers. When you’re done with one, buy a new one and pop the old one into the new one’s wrapper. Tape it shut and drop it in a mailbox. They will recycle your toothbrush into another toothbrush. Not in the gross way. They refab the plastic, not the bristles! No worries.
Oh, one more I had to squeeze in-
John Frieda Full Repair Flyaway Tamer
You know those little frizzy hairs at your part line? Or the baby hairs at your temples that are from when your hair grew back after it all fell out having kids and then it never grew in the same way? Well, whatever stray hairs you have- this product is for that. Some magazines and editorials say to take an eyebrow brush with hairspray and brush over them. What I don’t like about this, is, the hairspray evaporates and within a couple hours, my hairs are springing up like goosebumps in December. This is the perfect blend of control and non-greasiness.
Have fun and let me know how you like them. I promise I won’t say I told you so.
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