The Budget Babe

Curious to try cleansing your skin with oil? The Budget Beauty Babe says new St. Ives Elements olive scrub and cleanser are a good place to start. —BB


by The Budget Beauty Babe
Harsh winter weather and going in and out of heated buildings will really take a toll on your complexion, so I decided to pick up two olive oil-based products from St. Ives' new Elements product line: St. Ives Elements Olive Face Scrub and St. Ives Elements Olive Face Cleanser.

Hydrating from the inside is important (and eating healthy fats like olive oil), but ensuring your facial cleanser won't strip your skin of its protective oils is essential as well. Olive oil has been used for centuries as a beauty treatment, and although many balk at the idea of putting oil onto their faces it makes sense; like removes like, without being drying.

These two products do just the trick. After using my skin felt clean and fresh, but remained supple, soft and moisturized. Continued use showed no signs of irritation or breaking out, and my skin seemed more resilient against the elements. Both products work equally well in my opinion, however, I favor the scrub since I enjoy exfoliating on a regular basis. It has a nice creamy texture and a fresh clean scent (don't worry, you won't smell like a salad!).

The best part is that the scrub and cleanser cost $7.99 each at your local drugstore or grocery store. So the next time you need a break from winter skin, think olive oil, inside and out.

Shop it: St. Ives Elements Olive Cleanser, $7.99 at Drugstore.com
St. Ives Elements Olive Scrub, $7.99 at Drugstore.com

A question I'm often asked is how to wear leg warmers, a fab winter accessory that got a bad wrap because of one too many aerobics videos in the '80s. Banish those images from your mind forever and hear me out: One of my favorite ways to wear leg warmers is peeking out from underneath tall boots, over leggings, because this way you get an extra layer of warmth and just a glimpse of leg warmer. Cute and understated. Leg warmers also look great worn over flats or ankles boots and either skinny jeans, leggings or tights. To truly grasp the greatness of leg warmers, it's best to see them in action, so I've gathered together 3 photos from FreePeople.com that illustrate chic ways to wear them (click on the numbers for more product info).

[1] Over leggings with flat boots
[2] Over skinny jeans, scrunched into sneakers
[3] Over leggings, pulled over the heel of flat rubber-soled shoes

All three looks are definitely on the casual-cool side. Stick with solids and chunky knits if you're unsure about how to wear your legwarmers. Experimentation is key, however, because there is no one-size-fits-all styling solution when it comes to this accessory.

How do you wear leg warmers (if you wear them at all)?

Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays to all my wonderful readers! I'm just relaxing with the fam back home in Chicago, eating a lot of good food and trying to stay warm. We were buried in beautiful snow back on the east coast (see pics), and well, we're buried in snow here in the Chi too. (Plus it's a lot colder here!) Hope you all have a peaceful, joy-filled holiday, and that Santa brings you everything your little heart desires. If not, there are always the post-Christmas sales, which experts are saying might be the best we shoppers have seen in decades. What are you doing this time of year?

If you're looking for something to wear on New Year's Eve that's both festive and a little bit more fashion forward than your standard cocktail dress (which, don't get me wrong, is certainly a fabulous way to ring in 2009), consider glamming up a retro romper. Who can forget MK's sophisticated satin romper, which she accessorized with a bright belt, killer heels and an oversized clutch? Budget-friendly renditions abound at stores like Arden B., Forever 21, and Charlotte Russe to name a few, which will leave you looking stylish and with enough cash for that champagne toast and a cab ride home.

Would you party in this look?

Shop it:
[1] Wishful Wool Jumpsuit, Was $188 Now $69.99 at FrenchConnection.com
[2] Dressy Jumpsuit, $28.99 at CharlotteRusse.com
[3] Harem Short Jumpsuit, $24.80 at Forever21.com
[4] Short Charm Romper, $78.00 at ArdenB.com
[5] Zimmermann Playsuit, Was $322 Now $161 at Shopbop.com

Gossip Girl's Blake Lively was seen wearing some unusual cut-out booties by Loeffler Randal that had me scratching my head at first, then scrambling to find my own pair of these weirdly wonderful shoes.

I was pleased to discover that many shoe brands including Dolce Vita and All Black have stylish cut-out bootie styles of their own that won't break the bank. Rock-bottom-priced retailer Go Jane also has cutout ankle boots for just $22.10; Lulu's boasts a sweet pair of Wild Diva cutout pumps for $32.

Not sure how to wear them? I think they look best with tights: Take a cue from Blake and show yours off with a skirt and colored tights to create a funky, colorblock effect. Or, for a slightly more conservative (not to mention leg-lengthening look), match your tights to your shoes.

Would you wear this trend?

Shop it:
[1] Wild Diva "Clair" Split Body Bootie, $32 at Lulus.com
[2] Dolce Vita "Tuscany," $249 at ShopDolceVita.com (check out their big sale too)
[3] All Black Cutout Bootie, $164.95 at Endless.com
[4] Suede Cutout Bootie, $22.10 at GoJane.com