BellaSugar

When It Comes to Services, How Much Is Too Much?

BellaSugar — Mon, 13 Jul 2009 11:00:34 -0700

About 10 years ago, I used to save up money for a haircut at Orbit in Ann Arbor, MI. (Go see Chuck if you're in town; he's great.) A trim cost $35, which was a princely sum to my working-three-jobs-at-once self. Surprisingly, the salon's prices for a haircut have gone up only $5 to $15 - which isn't too crazy, considering how much time has passed.

Meanwhile, in the last year and a half, my hair-removal esthetician's prices have jumped twice. First it was $40 for a bikini wax, then $45, and on July 1, it just increased to $55 - which means that when I'm not going the DIY route, I'll have to find someone more affordable. Especially considering the rough economy, I'm all for people earning a fair wage for their work, but at what point do you move on because of pricing?

Photo by dborman2

Recession-Proof Beauty: Use Gift Cards Wisely

BellaSugar — Fri, 11 Apr 2008 08:00:20 -0700

Not to step on Savvy's toes, but if you're having a hard time keeping your spending under control, this post is for you. I've already talked about strategies to spend less on beauty products, but a post on Get Rich Slowly gave me a great idea.

Instead of charging that splurge item, go with a creative kind of installment plan. Purchase gift cards with cash when you can afford it, then save them until you have enough money to buy the item. Yes, you'll have to wait a little while before putting your hands on that Clarisonic or T3 dryer, but it's better than paying interest on a credit card balance. To see how long it'll take you to save up your money for a few big-budget beauty buys - and to see the money you'll save on interest - read more.

The splurge	If you want it in a month, then save...	If you can wait two months, then save...	If you can wait three months, then save...
Clarisonic, $195	$49 a week	$25 a week	$16.25 a week
no!no!, $250	$63 a week	$32 a week	$20 a week
Bespoke Labs Overnight Dryer, $130	$33 a week	$16.25 a week	$11 a week

To put things in perspective, let's pretend that you decided to buy the $195 Clarisonic with your credit card and took three months to pay it off. Assuming a 10% interest rate that same purchase would cost $258.50 - more than 60 dollars more! And if your rate is even higher - let's say 19% - you'd wind up paying $328.60 over three months. So as you can see, a little planning will save you a ton in the long run.

Four Products You Shouldn't Splurge On

BellaSugar — Thu, 03 Jan 2008 16:05:23 -0800

This will come as no huge surprise to you, but some fancy products aren't worth the money. (I know, shocking, right?) I always like to find products of good value, but there are some things that you never need to splurge on. Next week, I'll share some beauty products that are worth their price. But for now, read on to find out which things are just as effective as their costly counterparts.

Nail polish
Sad to say, Chanel polish doesn't warrant the $19 price tag. You can get great results without spending more than $10, or even five bucks. Essie, CND, and OPI are all great choices. Sally Hansen and Revlon also make long-lasting polishes for about $5. Why pay more than you have to?

For three more cheapies, read more.

Facial cleansers
It makes sense to invest in a good night cream, since that'll be on your face all night. But a cleanser? You put it on and rinse it off in less than a minute, washing money down the drain. I recently tried Olay Regenerist cleanser and was floored by the quality - not to mention the price. And every dermatologist I've talked with recommends Purpose or Cetaphil.

Body scrubs
Ditto body scrubs, unless you absolutely love the fragrance (and can afford to shell out $30, $40, $50 for a fancy one). I once tried a $95 body scrub, but it did nothing that my drugstore scrub didn't do. And to keep your bank account fat and happy, you can make your own scrub.

Pencil lip liners
The difference between a Wet 'n' Wild liner and one that costs $24 is usually minimal - if it even exists at all. Although I find that certain nonpencil liners go on more smoothly and stay longer than their cheaper counterparts, most pencils behave in pretty much the same way. So try a cheap version before splurging on a department-store brand. At best, you've found a huge bargain; at worst, you're out a buck or two.

Quick Quiz: Should You Tip The Owner of A Salon?

BellaSugar — Fri, 16 Nov 2007 11:00:22 -0800

I get lots of emails asking about tipping etiquette for hair, nails, and other general salon and spa treatments, so I thought it was time to address the issue. Growing up, my mother always told me that it is not standard practice to tip the owner of a salon.

This unspoken rule stems from the idea that the entire cost of your treatment goes to the house. So unless your level of service was exceptional (say they gifted you with a deep conditioning treatment or an eyebrow coloring), a tip is unnecessary. Do you think this rule still applies today? To find out, take this quick quiz!

Source

Take the quiz

Look Inside the Beauty Diaries of Four Women

BellaSugar — Tue, 04 Sep 2007 13:00:22 -0700

I just came across a revealing story about beauty routines. Four women kept a beauty diary for a month, writing down what they did (and how much it cost) to look good. While these women profiled aren't spending $1,000 a week, it's still easy to see why the beauty industry is so profitable!

On the low-maintenance end of things is 23-year-old Siobhan, pictured here, who has a busy schedule filled with parties. (And as only a 23-year-old can, she can get away with two hours of sleep.) She saves money by getting free trims as a hair model, uses Nivea on her face, and buys Rimmel cosmetics. Total spent? £145.62 for the month, about $292.

Then there's Lisa, a 35-year-old DJ and mother of two. She says she doesn't pamper herself much since having children, and her routine is a balance between high-end splurges and drugstore steals. She uses Kiehl's products in the bath and pricey Elemis eye cream on her face, but goes for Johnson's Baby Skincare wipes to remove makeup. Including products and beauty treatments, Lisa spent £699.44, about $1,409.

For two more routines, including one very pricey one, read more

Debby, 59, is a reiki healer who says that meditation, not products, gives her a healthy glow. She uses the legendary Boots serum and drugstore foundation, but treats herself to fragrances from Prada and Issey Miyake. It's not clear whether she counts her new age therapies in her final tally, but she reports spending £347.13, about $699.

Finally, there's Melissa, a former model who designs the Melissa Odabash swimwear line. Her jet-set lifestyle takes her to Cannes (twice!) and to fabulous parties. It's strictly top-of-the-line for her: She uses Chanel foundation, YSL mascara, Decléor facial oil, and she opts for a £250 laser facial with famed dermatologist Dr. Sebagh. By the end of the month, she's spent £1,704.88-roughly $3,435.

I always think it's interesting to look into the routines of other women. These four have very different lifestyles, but beauty plays a part in each of them. I'm somewhere in between Siobhan and Lisa: I love a bargain, but I'm willing to pay a little extra to be pampered. What about you?

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Attractive People Make More Money, A Study Says

BellaSugar — Mon, 13 Aug 2007 10:08:39 -0700

A new report confirms something that will be unsurprising to most people: Beautiful people earn higher salaries than average-looking and unattractive people. The Daily Mail reports:

Economists James Andreoni and Ragan Petrie wrote: "We find a beauty premium even though beautiful people contribute, on average, no more or less than others. Attractive people make more money than middle attractive people, who in turn make more money than unattractive people."

Why is this, you ask? The assumption is that beautiful people are more cooperative and helpful. They're subconsciously judged on how bosses expect they'll behave, rather than their actual performance. The (good?) news is that when attractive workers start slacking, they're evaluated more harshly than their homely counterparts.

While I've definitely seen attractive people move up the career ladder, I've also seen some of them falter because supervisors assume they're all beauty and no brains. For instance, a good friend of mine is an Ashton Kutcher lookalike-only more handsome-and people are shocked to find out that he's also a brilliant bookworm with a head for business. I'm curious: Do you think that attractiveness helps or hinders you in the workplace?

Source

Do You Think Price Correlates With Quality?

BellaSugar — Sun, 29 Jul 2007 06:02:38 -0700

There are some beauty products I'll shell out good money for-a non-greasy sunscreen, a concealer that blends perfectly, a shampoo that lets me go an extra day without needing to wash my hair. But sometimes, fancy products don't seem to do anything better than cheaper drugstore versions do. What do you think-do you get what you pay for?

Source

Women Who Spend $1,000 a Week on Beauty

BellaSugar — Thu, 28 Jun 2007 11:45:09 -0700

How do you define a beauty splurge? A Bliss spa treatment? A Dior lipstick? After seeing this article on extreme beauty regimens, you might have to rethink your definition.

The story begins by introducing a real estate agent who spends 10 hours and $1,000 a week on beauty treatments-and the wild part is, she says her routine is minimalist by LA standards. But she and the other people profiled are typical of many upper-middle-class women, says Lisa Oliver, the head colorist at The Salon by Maxime in Los Angeles.

“Depending on how much Botox and the pricier stuff you get done, when you add in hair care, nails, face and body, it’s got to be between $2,000 to $3,500 a month,” Ms. Oliver said. In Los Angeles, she added, such grooming is considered basic maintenance.

“If you are high maintenance, you could spend a lot more money,” Ms. Oliver said. “I can think of a couple of people where $3,500 a month might be low.”

Boy, do I feel like a penny-pincher in comparison! Don't get me wrong, I like to look my best and I splurge occasionally, but I don't know where I'd find the time (much less the $1,000 per week!) to have that many beauty treatments. I'm curious: How much do you spend every month on looking good? Is there a point when it becomes too much? And would you want to trade places with these women?

Reader Review of the Day: Laura Mercier All Over Eye Color Brush

BellaSugar — Fri, 20 Nov 2009 14:00:48 -0800

Laura Mercier is known for her lovely products, and her All Over Eye Color Brush ($30) is apparently no exception. Reader ElisabethR says:

"I have been fighting with eye shadow brushes for months. Every single one I bought was too small, too stiff, and didn't distribute color evenly on my lids. I finally broke down and bought this one. What a difference. It covers my eyelid beautifully with color, and I can blend right up into the crease. In a pinch, it works as a crease brush, as it fits perfectly into the crease of the eye. If you were trying to keep make-up brushes to a minimum during a trip, you could easily survive with this one. I can't recommend it enough. It's expensive, but you'll waste so much more money trying to go for cheaper, smaller brushes. I wish I had bought this one sooner."

Finally found something that works? Do us all a favor and write it up in the Product Reviews pages, then I might even feature your post. While you're there, check out the ever-growing number of reviews from other readers and see what other people have to say about the latest and greatest products.

Who Should Win ANTM Tonight?

BellaSugar — Wed, 18 Nov 2009 14:00:29 -0800

Tonight, we'll find out who will win this cycle of America's Next Top Model. Oh boy! While it wasn't the most exciting season, it did introduce us to Laura, whose bloggin' is just as endearing as her talkin'. Will this Kentucky blonde leave the farm and go on to fame and fortune? Or will the red-haired Nicole come out on top? My money's on Nicole, if only because she has apparently stolen Andie Walsh's prom dress. Who do you think deserves to win more?

Photo courtesy of The CW