The Budget Beauty Babe lathers up and finds three new budget body washes by Softsoap worth trying. —BB



by The Budget Beauty Babe
Softsoap recently sent me free samples of three of their newest body washes: Body Butter Mega Moisture Heavenly Vanilla, Black Orchid & Velvet Hibiscus, and Nutri Serums Mineral Extracts. I can honestly say that I did see a difference between the products—and that I loved all three of them equally.

For those who love to treat their skin to deep conditioning moisture, there's Softsoap's Body Butter Mega Moisture Heavenly Vanilla (the name says it all!) It left my skin feeling so soft and silky, and it was also great to shave with. It's an awesomely creamy formula that lathers nicely and washes off without a gross residue. "Heavenly vanilla" is a rich, relaxing scent, perfect for cuddling in the cold winter months.

The Budget Beauty Babe finds a convenient, affordable way to get that just-brushed-teeth feeling on the go. —BB



by The Budget Beauty Babe
So, I'm going to be totally honest here. When I first saw the Colgate WISP ($7.79 per 4 packs x 4 brushes box) on the market I thought it was a dumb idea, and I said to myself, "Why would I ever need a tiny toothbrush?!"

Boy, was I wrong.

After receiving several complimentary samples of Colgate WISP to test, I have had to eat my words. To my surprise, I absolutely love having these mini mouth refreshers in my purse or bag whenever I need them. They are the perfect thing to keep in your purse when you are out and about as they require no water, no rinsing and they are disposable (which is the one eco-unfriendly downside). Meeting friends right after work and don't have time to get to real toothbrush? Use a Wisp! Eat something freaky before an important meeting? Use a Wisp! Traveling (need I say more)? Use a Wisp!

The October issue of People StyleWatch mag gives us a look at Payless Shoesource's new makeup line, which will be sold under the names Unforgettable Moments and Zoe & Zac. Priced between $3 and $20, the beauty collection will include things like fragrances, lotions, nail polish, lip treatments and eye shadow.

Payless is probably thinking that customers who come in for shoes won't be able to resist a few impulse purchases on supercheap makeup strategically placed near cash registers. I'd be willing to try something like a lip gloss from the allegedly eco-friendly Zoe & Zac line which will be free of parabens, sodium lauryl sulfate and chemical phthalates.

Has anyone see makeup at Payless or better yet, tried it out?

A few weeks back, China Glaze sent me three complimentary bottles of nail polish from their new fall 2010 China Glaze Vintage Vixen Collection, including Jitterbug, a grey chrome with silver micro glitter polish that I absolutely love. I wore two coats of Jitterbug to a wedding on my fingers and toes to glam up my bridesmaid dress, then kept it on for the start of Fashion Week because it looked good for an entire week. It's a versatile metallic that can go from day to night depending on your mood and attitude. My pedi still looks like new. Talk about staying power! I thought I had used China Glaze in the past but couldn't find any bottles in my nail polish stash, so this might be my first time using the brand but I can't verify that. All I can say for certain is that this won't be my last time. Really impressed.

On a scale of 1 to 5, 1 being "poor" 5 being "excellent," here's how I'd rate this polish:
Smell: 3
Applicator: 3
Coverage: 4
Staying power: 5
Ease of removal: 3
Color: 5
Price: 5 (found it for $3.35 on Amazon.com)
Additional: China Glaze is free of DBP, toluene and added formaldehyde.

Recently I received a free sample of NEW Caress Whipped Soufflé Ultra Silkening Body Wash in Blackberry Cream and also White Peach Cream ($4.49, 15 oz). These new body washes boast "Silky Fragrance Infusion" which combines fragrance and moisturization for silky skin in one body wash. Did Caress deliver on its promise? Keep reading to find out...