by The Budget Babe's Beauty Expert
There's nothing like a great manicure and pedicure for the summer, but with mannies and peddies running quite a pretty penny at reputable salons, we prefer to polish at home.

But wait, you say, Isn’t the time and effort of redoing home manicures not worth it? Don’t your home pedicures chip off within hours?

Nope, not anymore. This summer, I’ve been sporting the many shades (over 30 in fact) of Sally Hansen Hard As Nails Xtreme Wear Nail Polish. My personal fave for summer is Chocolate Nut—delicious!

Get this, budget babes: I gave myself a pedicure with this stuff, did not apply a topcoat, and then went swimming every day for two weeks (pool + chlorine = bye-bye nail polish) and yet my toes still look just as fab as the day I did them! Unbelievable, but true.

Now here's the really exciting part: it's only $2.59 a bottle!

Keeping you lovely for less,

The Budget Beauty Babe
XOXO


Attention Budget Babes: Have you ever wondered about a budget beauty product, remedy, or potion you've seen but didn't want to try it out yourself? Get the Budget Beauty Babe to go on assignment for you! Drop us a line at info(at)thebudgetbabe.com and have The Budget Beauty Babe test it out for you and feature it in an article! Got an idea? Let us know!

Eyes lips face (e.l.f.) cosmetics are now available at select Kmart stores.

e.l.f. is one of those companies we wish we had bought stock in because we knew the moment they launched that it was going to be a huge success. Every product they sell is just $1! You can't help but try it at least once—and then try it again because, heck, it's only a dollar. Plus, they have frequent sales and promotions, online coupons are easy to find, they donate to charity and don't test on animals.

Browsing their site, you feel like a kid in a candy store! We've been pleased with many of our purchases, including a cream blush, eyeshadow brushes and eyeliner. Didn't care for the mascara or the particular lip gloss we tried. Unfortunate, as those are our two makeup staples.

Overall, we enjoyed treating ourselves to a load of goodies for so little cash (and we like getting packages in the mail). They really do have some innovative, good-quality products that are well packaged and pretty, so you can have fun and experiment without blowing your budget. Just wish they had nail polish...

Oh, and this certainly seems like a good partnership for Kmart. They have a long way to go before they reach Target standards, but at least they're trying. (We've heard rumors that some Targets sell e.l.f. too but haven't been ably to verify this from their site.)

Do you think e.l.f stacks up to other pricier brands? Or do you find it hard to trust makeup that cheap? Will you check it out at Kmart?

Posted by The Budget Babe's Beauty Expert

Please tell me I wasn't the only person to watch Victoria "Posh Spice" Beckham's Coming to America (amusing show btw, and she rocks some fierce shoes!).

Alrighty then.

Amid the British invasion insanity, Posh brought to light an important issue while visiting with her neighbors the Beverly Hills Socialites: frightening amounts of red lipstick. What are these women thinking? Just because you can afford to go through a tube of lipstick a day doesn’t mean you should.

Where those with money seem to fail, we the budget babes of the world must step up. Less is often times much more, so please note that unless carefully planned out (i.e., goes harmoniously with other minimal makeup) please avoid fire engine red lipstick.

Instead, opt for L’Occitane Tinted Balm in Wild Rose. Made with beautifully soft shea butter, this tinted balm has just a hint of pigment that works on both cheeks and lips for a natural looking color (natural being the operative word). It's perfect for summer and literally lasts forever. I’ve had my diminutive jar for almost two years and use it daily on my cheeks, which makes it a steal at $13.00. Also comes in lighter and darker shades to suit your every need.

Keeping you lovely for less,

The Budget Beauty Babe

If sun-kissed is the look for summer skin, then sun-silked is the look for summer hair. The Budget Babe's Beauty expert shares her favorite haircare products for a sexy 'do at a super hot price. —TBB


It's mid-July, and we ladies—and guys—find ourselves in the middle of the season we like to call “how-do-I-manage-my-hair?” (also known as summer). Now, I hate to toot my own horn here (lie), but when it comes to hair I think I’m the perfect budget-beauty-babe guinea pig. With wavy, layered, half-blonde half-black hair (that through the years has been every shade in between) I’m a pretty good test subject for a whole gamut of products—and I have been.

In the not too distant past, a new product hit the shelves that has really taken off—and for good reason. It has unfailingly taken me from winter, to spring, to summer with miraculous results. A perfect balance of what hair needs, with no side effects to color (dark or light!)

And it is with this confidence that I recommend to every budget babe out there that they stock up on the uber deal that is Sunsilk. The line has a product that's perfect for every hair problem and they ::gasp:: work! When I want to tame my waves I go for the Straighten Up, which gives me soft silky hair without any product feel. Then when I want to go back to waves I use either the Anti-Poof, Hydra TLC or De-Frizz. They all work wonders and I’m proud to say I own the collection. At around $4 bucks a pop, who can afford not to?!

Beauty Tip: Going to the beach or swimming pool? Pop a Hydra TLC 24/7 crème into your bag; apply small dollop post-H20, and tada!!! Gorgeous summer sexy hair (smells lovely too!).

Tips for the budget-beef-cake: Guys, take a hint: super crunchy hair is not that appealing, but neither is a frizzy pile! Solution? Anti-Poof 24/7 crème. Just a dollop to wet hair, let air dry, and you have luscious locks! (Tested and approved on the Budget Beauty Babe’s Beefcake)

Keeping you lovely for less...
Kisses,
The Budget Beauty Babe

P.S. The products also come in no-fuss, no-muss containers that are easy open, easy squeeze and definitely please!

Note: We do not conduct our tests on animals, just each other!

Shown above: Sunsilk Hydra TLC product line, $3.99 each at Drugstore.com.

Related Links:
Step-by-step summer skincare
The only lip gloss you'll ever need

In August, Marc Jacobs will launch Daisy, a new fragrance for women. Developed by perfumer Alberto Morillas, Daisy will include notes of wild strawberry, violet leaves, red grapefruit, gardenia, violet, jasmine, musk, vanilla and white woods.

We love the novel idea of naming a perfume after a fun, freedom-inspiring flower—the daisy, of course—even though it's not exactly known for having a pleasant scent. The bottle is to die for with whimsical white flowers made of soft plastic adorning the bottle cap.

Anything Marc Jacobs attaches his name to tends to be stellar, so we considered the $55 pricetag to be entirely reasonable. After all, our grandmother's bottle of CHANEL N°5 is, for us, a priceless heirloom. And it still smells as lovely as the day we became its owner.

Then we wondered: Are pricey perfumes worth the cost? Is there a considerable quality difference between the pricier and less expensive brands? How much are you willing to fork over for a precious fragrance?