The Budget Babe | Affordable Fashion & Style Blog

Beauty Review: NEW Pantene Pro-V Fine Hair Solutions Shampoo & Conditioner




Last month, Pantene launched four new collections based on four unique hair structures: Pantene Pro-V Fine Hair Solutions, Pantene Pro-V Medium-Thick Hair Solutions, Pantene Pro-V Curly Hair Series and Pantene Pro-V Color Hair Solutions. The company says that after five years of research, 1 million ingredient combinations, and worldwide testing among 20,000 women, the New Pantene series is a "complete reinvention," boasting an upgraded ingredient list, tailored systems, new packaging and new fragrance.

Mind you, Pantene has been my old standby for years, so I was little wary about the changes (if it ain't broke, don't fix it) but of course I was curious to see the results for myself.

I received free samples of NEW Pantene Pro-V Fine Hair Solutions Flat to Volume Shampoo (retail $3.99) and NEW Pantene Pro-V Fine Hair Solutions Flat to Volume Conditioner (retail $3.99). I made my selections after completing Pantene's Personal Hair Consultation tool that will help identify your structure and suggest products to work with your unique hair needs. Fancy!

I've been using it every couple days for the past couple weeks and here's how it went:

Spot the Real: Artist's Palette Beaded Necklace

One of these plastic bead necklaces costs 5 times as much as the other. Examine them carefully: Does one "look" more expensive than the other? How can you tell? I think I'd be willing to buy the more expensive necklace if it were A) vintage B) real gemstones, or C) handmade by an artist. However, none of these things are true, so I'd opt for the more affordable find (I think it's prettier, too!). Ready to check your guess? Click on either image for the answer.



Anthropologie at ShopStyle





Charlotte Russe at ShopStyle


Win Cool Stuff: $100 Kohl's Gift Card

And the winner is… #197 Karen! Congrats to our winner and thanks to all who entered!




Please note: This giveaway is now closed to further entries.

Kohl's wants to help you shop back-to-school styles with a $100 Kohl's Gift Card! One lucky reader will win a $100 Kohl's Gift Card, courtesy of Kohl's, redeemable on thousands of fabulous items at Kohl's stores and online at kohls.com. Get all your back-to-school must-haves from clothes and shoes to backpacks and dorm-room decor. Kohl's kinda has it all!

To enter, visit kohls.com, then tell us one thing you would buy with your gift card if you won in the comments section below.


Good luck!!

This giveaway is open to US residents only since there is no Kohl's Canada at this time. Comments must be posted by 12 noon ET on Thursday September 2nd to be eligible to win. I received a $100 Kohl's gift card and promotional materials about the back-to-school 2010 offerings at Kohl's in conjunction with this giveaway.

Shown above: ELLE for Kohl's collection military jacket, $64; jeggings, $48; Ryder boots, $79.99; Mirabelle shopper, $89

Off the Rack: Love 21 Contemporary for Forever 21




I finally managed to visit a big Forever 21 store in an upscale mall to check out the Love 21 line, which is Forever 21's sorta grown-up contemporary line for young women in their 20s and 30s. Dare I say Shopbop on a budget? Cuts are supposed to be more modest and silhouettes more sophisticated so you can wear this stuff to the office, then out with the hubby or boyf. I spotted a stylish 40-something as well as several mature tweens browsing the section with equal levels of enthusiasm. I liked a lot of what I saw, Rebecca Taylor-ish dresses, BCBG-ish tops, even a Nanette Lepore-ish green blazer. Unfortunately I didn't have time to try anything on, but the sizing definitely seems to be more misses than juniors as I eyeballed items on the rack. Lots of potential here for mixing and matching Love 21 with quality basics purchased elsewhere…maybe a designer bag, some nice shoes, and you've got yourself covered. Anyone a devoted Love 21 fan?

More pics after the jump.

New Balance for DSW Fall 2010 Collection




New Balance has teamed up with DSW for a special sneaker collab, the New Balance for DSW Collection. Priced around $59.95 per pair, these stylish sneaks feature a lightweight upper, a TPU banding detail in the forefoot for "flair" and a translucent polished sole unit that "adds a glossy pop." It's now available at DSW stores and online at DSW.com. I wonder if this means more collabs are in store for DSW, although I'm kinda collab-ed out at present. LOL.

More pics after the jump.