It's like a decadent dessert for your desert-dry skin. The Budget Beauty Babe gushes about new Olay Body Quench Mousse. —BB



by The Budget Beauty Babe
Every once in a while I find a product that I just go nuts for, and this is one of them! I hadn’t seen any ads for it, but while grocery shopping at Jewel (of all places) I spotted an end-of-isle stand with this lovely product sitting upon it: It’s the new Quench Mousse by Olay Body, and boy is it fantastic!

The gimmick on the bottle is “a little goes a long way” and it really does. This fantastic product comes in what looks like a hair mousse container, and puffs up like it too - but it's body lotion! The puff-up mousse action thing that goes on really makes spreading the product a dream, and as a result, very little mousse will cover a very large area.

It's super fun to play with, and it smells delightful. This is something I just LOVE! And to add to my glee, it’s a fantastic product. My skin felt soft, hydrated, and natural (read: bare). It makes my skin feel like I just popped out of the womb, and not like I’ve slathered myself with I-can’t-believe-its-not-butter (you all know what I’m talking about, putting lotion on your legs and then not being able to pull your pants up cause they stick, don’t even try to pretend like that hasn’t happened.)

The bottle boasts 24-hour moisture that breaks the cycle of dry skin, and I can’t deny it. My skin is loving this stuff, and so is my wallet. It's 7.99 a bottle and comes in either Ultra Moisture with shea butter and vitamins E & B3, or Active Hydration with green tea and vitamin complex. It’s a 7.1 oz bottle, and with the mousse foaming action it really lasts. Absolutely fantastic for spring and summer, and a must for those who want quick, fun, fantastic moisture.

>> New Olay Body Quench Mousse in Ultra Moisture is $7.99 at Drugstore.com.

Related post:

• Olay Botanical Fusion Body Wash in 'Hydrate' Review

Next up for Target's GO International collection is Korean-American designer Richard Chai. We don't know much about him, but hey, that's the point: GO introduces up-and-coming talent to the masses, right? We welcome the opportunity to learn more about any man who has designed for The Man in fashion right now, Mr. Marc Jacobs (Chai helped launch the Marc by Marc Jacobs line). As if that wasn't impressive enough, Chai launched his namesake line in 2004 to rave reviews. Let's see how he brings his modern designs (which have been called "sophisticated, wearable and quietly feminine") to the modern marketplace when the limited edition collection hits in August.

The Budget Beauty Babe extols the virtues (and mentions a few shortcomings) of new Revlon ColorStay Mineral Foundation. —BB



by The Budget Beauty Babe
Revlon has jumped onto the mineral makeup bandwagon and released a mineral foundation product for their ColorStay line, Revlon ColorStay Mineral Foundation - and so off I went to Walgreens to pick it up. I literally feel like I have enough mineral makeup to now last me for the next five years, but as a result I think I’m getting pretty good at telling the differences between them. I’m like a mineral makeup connoisseur.

Revlon is a great budget makeup line, and I’m usually a big fan of their products. I think that although this is not top quality mineral makeup, it’s a nice middle of the road product that delivers enough for me to keep it around. It is definitely better than the Maybelline Mineral Power line, and far better then the E.l.f. mineral makeup collection (gross!)

Cute container, although the first day it took me at least ten minutes to figure out how to open it (I’m special) but once I did I was charmed. The brush is tucked into the lid, and rotates out with a twist of the top, and the makeup is stored down in the bottom half which has a very nice deeeeep sifter, which I think is a really great way to swirl the product onto the brush without covering yourself in it.

The makeup provided a nice level of coverage, wasn’t too matte or too shiny, and sat well on the skin. Didn’t feel too dry or get too oily, and was overall satisfactory. I couldn’t say I’m in love with it, because I did feel the look was a tad bit chalky (probably the talc), but on my mother it looked really nice, maybe its more important with this line to really match your shade correctly (real mineral makeup is more vague and tends to blend better). Speaking of my mother, she thought it was very nice, and that it didn’t collect in any line or wrinkles and gave her skin a nice even look.

Let me mention though, that this again cannot really be considered pure mineral makeup: it has minerals in it, and it’s a loose powder that you buff on, but the ingredient list is long and full of things that are not minerals. So if it's really truly mineral makeup you are after, keep on looking (and so will I!)

>> Revlon ColorStay Mineral Foundation is $13.99 at Drugstore.com.

Move over arm candy, hello shoe bauble! Ring in Spring with these seven sensational shoe trends—for less.

[1] Prints: Isaac Mizrahi for Target Drew Print Ballet Flats, $29.99
[2] Sculpted Wooden Heels: Bakers Veletta $59.95 $39.99
[3] Citrus brights: Patent Wedges at OldNavy.com, $34.50
[4] Patent Leather: Worthington 'Penelope' Sling, $34.99
[5] Embellished Gladiators: Mia Morocco, $60 at Piperlime
[6] Colorblocking: Gavivi Wedge Sandal at Forever21.com, $16.80
[7] Ombre: Faded Mid Heel Shoe at Topshop.com, £35.00

She's back! The Budget Babe's International Travel Advisor Fifi LaMode returns from hiatus with colorful and inspiring insights gained during a recent trip to beautiful Guatemala. —TBB


by Fifi LaMode
When first deciding to visit Guatemala, I only knew of the Mayan ruins at Tikal, which was my primary reason for going. After booking the trip I was filled with apprehension amid the personal safety warnings (crime in the street, purse snatchings, muggings, etc.) What I was not prepared for was a country of warm, friendly, hospitable people, ideal weather, natural beauty, and loads of history.

This is one of the best-kept tourist secrets ever! There should be throngs of visitors everywhere, rather than just a smattering here and there. From the moment you go through immigration and are greeted with a "Bienvenidos" and a smile (quick - when was the last time you experienced THAT? Not in the U.S. of A., that's for sure!), to the youngster in the market who gave me a bead necklace with parrots (plus one for my friend) because I bought something from him, to the gracious and elegant waiters at the Mayan Inn at Chichicastenango (yes, it's as fabulous as its name) who also acted as our "butlers," lighting the fire in our rooms in the evening, asking if everything was ok, and cheerfully waving us goodbye and saying "come back…"

…To the smiling and attentive bartender who didn't expect a tip, to the 16 year old girl selling handicrafts with the piercing eyes and quiet voice who spoke slowly and precisely in English and wants to be a teacher, to our guide Tony, whose pride in his country and its history and traditions was evident every day of the tour, and who instilled in us a desire to learn more about this fascinating place, to the water at the Camino Real in Tikal who assured me I could sit as long as I wanted sipping the same beer in the dining room while taking notes and watching the sunset on the lake (He also encouraged me to get the delicious pig-out buffet for a whopping $16 US - Did I mention your money goes a long way here?)…

…To the guides at Tikal, Aquilino and Nixon, whose knowledge of Mayan history was matched by their skills in conjuring up various flora and fauna to our delight, and treating us like old friends after only a few minutes, to the shopkeeper in Guatemala City who remembered that I had passed by her store a few days earlier and thanked me for coming back; throughout the country you get the feeling that you are welcome. These are the faces of Guatemala, and a very good reason to go there.