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Recession-Proof Beauty: The Swap Meet
Welcome back to my series on recession-proof beauty. I've already written about how to keep your beauty spending under control, but if you want to get beauty products for free, there's another way: swap them. I know some of you are skeeved out by this idea, but if you follow a few guidelines, it's a great way to purge unused products from your stash and pick up a few goodies at the same time.
The Look For Less: 10 of Your Favorite Dupes
Once a makeup item has achieved cult status, we can almost assuredly expect replicas to pop up anywhere from drugstore brands to competing department store collections. Recently, I mentioned that I had found a great dupe for Nars's famous Orgasm blush in Milani's Luminous. Thanks to input from readers Baby Girl, yajairab, JessRose, and SnufaLuffaGus143, I've gathered together 10 products that could easily pass for the original.
What Are Your Favorite Makeup "Dupes?"
The economy might (might) be on its way to recovery, but that doesn't mean I'll stop saving my pennies as much as possible. I'm always in the pursuit of looks for less, and over the weekend, I picked up Milani Blush Compact in Luminous ($3.50) — a pretty decent lookalike of the classic gold-toned peachy pink Nars blush in Orgasm ($25). While Milani's Luminous is not an exact replica of the famous afterglow shade, as it's not quite as pigmented, since it's about $20 less, I'm a happy lady.
This Saturday, Head to Empire For a Cut and Contribution
Whether you've never been to a beauty school for a service, or you're a frequent patron, this Saturday (Oct. 24) is the day to go. From 9 a.m.
Recession-Proof Hair Color Tips From Stylist Kevin Mancuso
Everybody is looking to save money these days, especially when it comes to pricey treatments such as hair color. But Nexxus Creative Director Kevin Mancuso, whose hairstyling mastery has appeared in magazines such as BlackBook, Marie Claire, Glamour, and Bazaar, has a few ideas for extending the life of your cut and color. I'll share a few of his tips over the next week — so read on to find out how to keep your hair looking its best while sticking to your budget.
What Do You Refuse To Give Up During the Recession?
No matter what you call it, the economy is dismal. And whether it's due to necessity or just a little financial prudence, a lot of my friends are trimming the fat from their budgets. Gone are the expensive salon highlights; instead, they're coloring their hair at home.
Recession-Proof Beauty: Free Fragrance Samples
We've already talked about which department stores give the best fragrance samples, but considering how high gas prices are, why leave the house if you don't have to? Fortunately, a few perfume promotions will bring the scents to your mailbox. You don't need to do much — just fill out a form online — and you'll get a goodie in the mail within a few weeks.
Recession-Proof Beauty: Use Gift Cards Wisely
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.
Recession-Proof Beauty: Free Mario Badescu Samples
There may be no free lunch (unless you're enjoying Taco Thursdays, of course). But there is free skin care. Mario Badescu, the spa where celebrities such as Jennifer Aniston and Natalie Portman have their pores purged, offers complimentary skin consultations through its web site.
More Tips For Stretching Out a Haircut
Are you in between haircut appointments? Or maybe you're like me, and you're looking to save money by going to your stylist less often. While we're on the topic, be sure to check out some recession-proof hair color tips for low-cost ideas on keeping color looking fresh.
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