The Budget Babe | Affordable Fashion & Style Blog

60 Second Beauty: güd Red Ruby Groovy Shampoo and Body Lotion




A lot of beauty products come across my desk, but never reach the blog because it's nearly impossible to thoroughly review each and every one. At the same time, I want to alert you to new products that I think you might love - so allow me to introduce "60 Second Beauty" - quick beauty reviews based on my 60-second experience with a product, that you can read in under a minute. Then, you be the judge!

First up, I received one complimentary bottle each of güd's new Red Ruby Groovy shampoo and body lotion and gave them each a whirl.

What they say: "With the lush scent like Red Ruby Groovy, güd's new hair and body care essentials combine natural formulas with indulgent experiences, so you can have it all. Red Ruby Groovy lavishes skin and hair with the lively scent of grapefruit and wild thyme. Discover that wild thyme isn't just an ingredient, it's a promise."

What I thought: I love that güd products are from Burt's Bees, a company known for its "greener" approach to beauty. Granted, Burt's Bees is now owned by Clorox, so it's probably impossible for them to uphold the high standards once set by their founder. Do what you will with that information.

Both güd products contain no parabens, phthalates or petrochemicals. They are not tested on animals and the containers are made with 25% post-consumer plastics. Also, they're made in the USA, which is a plus.

I've used the lotion (Natural Body Lotion – 8oz for $6.99) a few times on my hands and the smell is just overwhelming. But I am super sensitive to smells! My girlfriend looooved the scent and thought I was nuts for complaining. Everyone is different. It's a very pleasant, crisp, clean, citrusy, invigorating scent but just too strong for my tastes. Also, the lotion is a bit on the watery side so you really only need the tiniest amount and it doesn't absorb super fast. I didn't like how it felt on my fingertips (slippery) and it seemed to come off when I washed my hands.

Now the shampoo (Natural Nourishing Shampoo – 12oz for $6.99), on the other hand, had me swooning! It's pretty much the same scent as the lotion - grapefruit and thyme - but for some reason, I loved it in the shower. It was really like "washing your hair in a sunny rain" as the company suggests. It's gentle, got a good lather, and left my hair soft and clean but not squeaky clean. I will definitely be buying this on my own and can't wait to try the body wash. It's so refreshing and smells natural, not chemically at all. However, one of the ingredients is "fragrance" and that could mean a lot of things, so I'm not sure if the fragrance is naturally derived or some chemical cocktail.

Have you tried any güd products? Let me know what you think!

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Ask BB: What to Wear to an FBI Graduation Ceremony


Business casual outfit ideas

I've never been to Washington D.C. and have no idea what the weather will be like towards the end of March, so packing ideas would be appreciated. On top of it I will be attending an FBI graduation ceremony and have NO idea what is appropriate and stylish. I was thinking long dress? Am I waaay off? —JS

March weather in D.C. can be unpredictable (if you live there, please feel free to chime in) so you'll want to dress in layers. Temperatures might climb into the 50s but you need to prepare for high 30s, too. I'd pack some sweaters and a trench coat, dark jeans and comfortable flats as well as boots that you won't mind getting wet.

For outfit ideas and inspiration, you might also want to check out some D.C. fashion bloggers. I recommend Wardrobe Oxygen and High Fashion 4 Less, two ladies who know how to look amazing on a budget.

As for the FBI graduation ceremony, I have never been to such an affair so I put my feelers out on Twitter and my savvy readers tell me the dress code is "business dress." This roughly translates to a pants suit or a dress and blazer. I think as a guest you can have fun with color, prints and accessories so long as the cuts are conservative (think sheath dresses, pencil skirts and such).

What advice would you give JS? Let her know in the comments!

{Shown above: Some sample looks created using H&M's virtual dressing room, ranging from casual (for sightseeing) to a business-casual graduation ceremony.}

Derek Lam for Kohl's: The Complete Lookbook (Continued)


Derek Lam for DesigNation exclusively at Kohl's Lookbook

Here's the second installment of the Derek Lam for DesigNation exclusively at Kohl's collection lookbook, launching in April at Kohl's stores and online at kohls.com. The lookbook is divided into two parts: The first part is styled with a younger, cooler slant (in my opinion), while this second half showcases the extensive collection in a more mature manner - I see these pieces as being more office-appropriate and aimed at a slightly older audience. Featuring dresses and separates in a palette of mostly cobalt blue, black, and white, this affordable line seems made for easy mixing and matching.

Some items are downright pedestrian, to borrow a word from Project Runway judge Zac Posen, like the pleated black pants or the silver button down shirt and black pencil skirt look. Very confusing. Other items are totally cute and sexy, like the colorblock dresses, and still others show Lam's unique design vision, such as the boxy chambray jacket and skirt set. Sizing ranges from xs-xl or 2-16, and the most expensive piece is an $88 maxi dress. Most pieces are much less. Unfortunately the shoes are not part of this collection.

Which pieces can you see yourself wearing?

Derek Lam for Kohl's: See the Complete Lookbook with Prices Here

Derek Lam for Kohl's Lookbook Image 1

The complete Derek Lam for Kohl's lookbook is here, and it is so good! Can you believe this is Kohl's?! Coming April 5th, we'll have our choice of apparel and swimwear from the acclaimed designer priced at just $36 to $88. Lam's inspiration for these spring must-haves was the city of Rio de Janeiro, and you can see it plays out in the prints, styles and details. My favorite two pieces are the striped dresses (see below) but there's so much good stuff going on here. It's modern and cool but has a certain warmth to it, and all the pieces seem very wearable. I've gotten to preview a few pieces in person (here) and think the quality is good and reflects the pricepoints. I don't plan on paying full price either. The debut DesigNation designer's collection, Narciso Rodriguez, made it to the clearance racks at the two Kohl's stores near me so I'm not worried.

Click through to see all the looks, and check back later for part two. Mouse over any image for pricing and availability.

Rent Dresses from Anthropologie, ASOS and More at Lendperk.com


A review of Lendperk.com dress rentals

Recently I had the chance to test out Lendperk.com, a "Netflix for Dresses" company that allows you to rent affordable dresses that you would find in stores like Anthropologie, ASOS, Modcloth, and more. Lendperk's cheapest plan is $20/month for one dress rental every month. For $34 per month, you can rent 2 dresses and $49 per month gets you unlimited dress rentals.

There's a 9 day free trial where you can check out one dress during this period for free to test out the service. It's a month to month subscription service and you can cancel anytime. Shipping and returns are free, and you can also choose to roll over your rental from one month to the next if you don't think you're going to rent anything.

For the purpose of my review, I got to rent the dress of my choice in two sizes. I got special treatment because I'm pregnant and a blogger, but because of my growing bump, the dress I chose didn't work out for me in either size. Putting that aside, the service was great - I got my dresses delivered within 3 days, complete with a thoughtful note and small treat (candy). To return my dresses, all I had to do was pack them up in the prepaid shipping envelope that was included in my order and leave it by my front door for the mail carrier to pick up. Easy, peasy!