BellaSugar

Recession-Proof Beauty: The Swap Meet

BellaSugar — Wed, 26 Mar 2008 15:21:23 -0700

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 biggest community for doing so is Makeupalley, which has 236,830 items up for swap today. As you can imagine, you can find just about anything there, so I'll show you how to make the most of its enormous swapping opportunities.

The concept is pretty simple. After signing up for an account, you can list your unwanted beauty items for swap. Then you can browse the up-for-grabs swap lists of other members. When you see something you're interested in, contact the member to see if she's game for a swap. If it's a fit, you'll both ship out the goods and leave a "token" - similar to eBay's feedback forum - for each other.

Of course, there are a few etiquette and sanitation guidelines you should follow. To find out what they are, read more.

What to swap: Okay, first things first: Your emerald-green Wet 'n' Wild eye shadow? Nobody wants it. Sorry. When listing items to swap, you'll have better luck if you offer boutique brands (MAC and Nars are popular; drugstore brands aren't). And only list products that are in new or like-new condition; testing a lipstick on your hand once is fine, but don't list a half-used bottle of shampoo. To make your listing stand out, be honest about the product's condition and consider taking pictures.

What to look for: You can find a lot of brand-new items on Makeupalley, but many have been tried once or twice. Personally, I'd be fine with swapping items that can easily be sanitized, such as perfume or creams in a sealed pump bottle. I'm a little less inclined to go for lip gloss (since the wand can't be cleaned), and I'd never go for used mascara. Fragrances abound, particularly in sample sizes.

How to make an offer: Read the swapper's profile. Some swappers are willing to swap for all kinds of items, but others only want to swap for items on their wish list. Then, make contact, and be realistic in your swap offer. "I'll take your Phillip Lim Nars palette if you want my Boucheron perfume sample" is not a fair swap. But "How about my new Nars Dolce Vita lipstick, Stila Kitten eye shadow, and Lancome nail polish?" is a tempting one.

Ship the goods! This part is easy - just wrap and mail your swap item promptly. To be sure that your item arrives in one piece, wrap it with bubble wrap. And while it's not required to send a few extra goodies (fragrance samples, etc.), not doing so is considered a bit déclassé. After you've received your swap, then leave feedback in the form of a token. From there, you can enjoy a new-to-you beauty product - and all you've had to pay is the cost of shipping.

Are You Buying More or Less Beauty Due to the Recession?

BellaSugar — Mon, 09 Nov 2009 11:00:43 -0800

Traditionally, when the economy sinks, people buy fewer things that they don't really need. But a couple of girly treats are actually selling better than before. Shoes are moving more than they were last year, and in the United Kingdom, beauty sales are up. Cosmetics rose 7.4 percent between 2007 and 2008, with skin care up 6.7 percent during the same period. (It'll be interesting to see if the trend continues, considering how much worse the economy is this year.) Are you treating yourself to more beauty goods these days, or are you watching your pennies?

Source: Flickr user Striatic

Recession-Proof Hair Color Tips From Stylist Kevin Mancuso

BellaSugar — Thu, 12 Feb 2009 08:00:12 -0800

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.

To find out how to make your color last longer, read more.

How can women maintain their color longer? Any tips or tricks to postpone the next expensive salon appointment?

Hair that has been color treated always requires special attention. Well-conditioned hair is essential for vibrant color but that alone won’t keep your hair from fading. The best way to maintain color longer is by using a color-preserving shampoo/conditioner with water protection. Many people think UV rays are mainly responsible for fading hair color, but water is the real culprit. Water penetrates the hair shaft causing it to expand. As a result, the hair cuticle is lifted slightly, making it easier for dye molecules to escape. Water can also cause dye molecules to break into smaller pieces, making them even easier to escape the shaft. The next time you’re in the shower, try using the new Nexxus Dualiste line to keep your hair both vibrant and beautiful. One side of the dual chamber is optimized for color protection, the other side for added moisture, anti-breakage or volume. It delivers 40% better color protection…you will be amazed with the results!

Come back tomorrow for more expert tips!

What Do You Refuse To Give Up During the Recession?

BellaSugar — Wed, 17 Dec 2008 08:00:54 -0800

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. Forget facials - it's all about the at-home face mask. Pedicures are an extravagance that they can't justify anymore.

Then again, there are some things people just don't want to give up. I'm willing to skimp on my sunscreen and nail polish, but you'll get my Schick Quattro when you take it from my cold, dead hands. I've tried to go cheap on razors, which results in razor burn, so I'm willing to spend a few extra bucks for a better shave. So while you're cutting back on some things, what won't you give up?

The Look For Less: 10 of Your Favorite Dupes

BellaSugar — Mon, 02 Nov 2009 06:00:20 -0800

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. To join in on the fun, why not become part of our Beauty Dupes Group? And for more lookalike cosmetic items, check out some of my Look For Less coverage, too.

View Slideshow ›

Recession-Proof Beauty: Free Fragrance Samples

BellaSugar — Thu, 26 Jun 2008 14:00:21 -0700

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.

For three ways to score a sniff, read more.

You might remember my review of Escada Moon Sparkle. It's a fizzy fruity scent that works well for Summer nights. Request a sample at Escada's site and see whether you like it.

Sarah Jessica Parker's Covet can be tried for free if you fill out a survey.

Finally, you and a friend can each receive a postcard with a sample of Yves Saint Laurent Elle.

Even though you have to watch out for phishing schemes online, all three of these sites are legitimately connected with the fragrance brands. Supplies can run out, of course, but this is a pretty smart way to discover a new scent.

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.

Recession-Proof Beauty: Free Mario Badescu Samples

BellaSugar — Wed, 02 Apr 2008 07:00:25 -0700

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. You just have to fill out an online questionnaire, and in a few weeks, you'll get free samples of products customized to your skin situation.

The deal sounds too good to be true, but it's actually great. I went undercover, using my own name and not mentioning BellaSugar. Within days of filling out the online questionnaire, a Mario Badescu representative e-mailed me to ask some follow-up questions about the state of my skin. I answered them and sent a picture, too. In about two weeks, I received a packet of samples along with a guide to using them. No freaky sales pressure, just detailed guidance and generously sized samples. So if you're looking for a new skin-care regimen and want to try before you buy, you know what to do.

The Recession Brings Deep Cuts - in a Good Way

BellaSugar — Wed, 11 Nov 2009 04:00:21 -0800

Are free haircuts for the unemployed a new trend? Last weekend, Christiano Cora salon in New York was offering gratis cuts to people who've lost their jobs, and I've heard stories about other stylists offering similar assistance. Since salons are one of the first businesses to suffer in an economic downturn, it makes sense that they'd be reaching out to their communities more - the stylists have some free time, and helping people now makes them loyal to you once they do get a job - but I still think it's a very kind gesture. Have you heard about free haircuts or deep salon discounts for people who've been laid off or hard-hit by the recession? And would you avail yourself of something like this?

What Are Your Favorite Makeup "Dupes?"

BellaSugar — Fri, 23 Oct 2009 04:00:04 -0700

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.

Now I need your help. Whether it's a trendy new nail polish shade or an old-school lipstick favorite, share your favorite affordable alternative in the Beauty Dupes group.