Review: ORLY Sugar Coated Spring Collection

I've had my eye on spring color nail polishes for a while, and the ORLY display at Sally Beauty Supply really caught my attention. The Sugar Coated collection has six pretty pastels. I loved the colors, but thought, "What if they're too sheer?" Well, I decided to grab a couple and try them anyway, since the shades were just so nice-looking. And they were on sale. :)

I bought Bon Bon and Taffy from the ORLY Sugar Coated Spring Collection.

Price: $4.99 (at Sally Beauty) to $7.00 (ORLY)

Results: Sadly, they looked too good to be true: these polishes are very sheer. There was a small hint of color after one coat, and even after two, my tips were completely obvious. Three coats - still nothing. And this was while I was using Bon Bon, one of the darkest colors, which is a lavender. I did like Taffy a bit more, however; it's a very light pink with a darker pink shimmer.

The new packaging for the polishes is nice, with a silver "grip handle," but the brush doesn't seem very flexible or smooth with color distribution. It didn't really streak with these polishes, but it might if the colors were darker and more opaque. I just didn't like how the brush felt and held the color. The polish also seemed to be drying too fast for me to fix any mistakes.

These polishes were my first experiences with ORLY, so I don't have the greatest impression of them yet, but I'll be willing to give them another try. Just not for these sheer pastels - they really don't do anything for my nails. They do seem to apply pretty well, and once dried, looked and felt smooth.

They probably would work better and look much nicer with short nails, though, especially if you like this look; just a hint of fresh spring-ready color. :)

I'll be keeping these around for my French manis, though! I bet they'd look great with white tips.

ORLY Sugar Coated Spring Collection in Bon Bon

Review: ALMAY Oil Free Eye Makeup Remover Liquid

While at ULTA the other day (picking up my cute free gift ;), I began looking around for eye make-up removers, realizing I hadn't owned any for a few years. Shame on me! And now that I've been experimenting with different types of eye make-up, my regular remover wipes just haven't been cutting it for my eye area. And while Urban Decay has an $18 remover that is fantastic, it certainly isn't practical in price for someone with a budget like mine! If you're reading this, the same is probably true for you.

Thus, I became determined to find a good-quality, gentle yet effective eye make-up remover. Since ALMAY claims to make the number-one brand of remover in America, and the price was a very affordable $5.99, I decided to give it the ALMAY Oil Free Eye Makeup Remover Liquid a try. :)

Product Description:

• "With aloe, cucumber & green tea
• 100% fragrance free
• Hypoallergenic
• Nourishes skin as it gently removes eye makeup, even waterproof mascara, without irritation.
• Oil-free formula leaves no greasy residue
• Good for contact lens wearers
• Dermatologist tested
• Ophthalmologist tested"

Price: $5.99

Results: Now, I admit that I haven't tested more make-up remover products than I can count on one hand, but I really liked this. I had given ALMAY a shot before with their regular remover pads, but hated the oil left on my skin. Sure, they worked, but they just felt so... ew.

I put a bit of this new oil-free liquid on a cotton ball, swiped, and my heavy eye make-up was gone, mascara and all. I'm not one to be picky about exactly how many swipes it takes to get the job done (if you're counting, you might want to loosen up a bit), but I can tell you it was very quick and easy.

And, best of all... NO OILY RESIDUE! :) In fact, my skin looked AND felt soft and clean. I wore my contact lenses, and there were no problems whatsoever. Did I mention I also have sensitive eyes? No burning, no harsh smell or chemicals, no fogginess - it was great.

My one (very small) complaint is that I kind of wish the way the product dispenses was done differently; the bottle has only a twist-off cap, so if the bottle ever fell or spilled, well... you're out of luck. For this reason, I might consider the pads just a little more convenient - but I have no problem with the cotton ball method.

I've heard waterproof mascara is a bit more difficult to get off, but if you aren't too picky - and if you're here, you probably aren't - it shouldn't be a huge problem.

Overall, this seems to be a wonderful product for the fraction of the price others charge to do the exact same thing. And until I have reason to believe it's any less effective than an $18 make-up remover, I'll happily keep buying it. ;)

Sorry, Everyone :(

Just a short update post. Sorry for slacking off on the blogging lately, but I've been pretty busy with work - trying to get as many hours in as possible so I have some money for Spring Break! :) Less than two weeks away, yay!

Stay tuned, though, because I've got new reviews and articles I've been working on up my sleeve. Thanks a bunch, and see you around!

Splurge of the Month - Urban Decay

Hi everyone! Sorry for the lack of blogging this weekend - I've been a busy little girl, between working and trying to get some rest.

What is 'Splurge of the Month?'

Once a month or so, if I have the extra money, I'll allow myself to take a trip to Sephora or ULTA to make a small "high-end" product purchase, kind of as a treat to myself. :) I'll usually keep the purchase under $50-75, especially now since I'm trying to save up. I will be sure to post my finds here, along with a short review.

Anyway, the other day I went with the intention of buying some of Urban Decay's famous primer potion, because I've been having a LOT of trouble with my eyeshadow staying put lately! I ended up falling in love with their gorgeous eyeshadow collections, though, and went home with my eyes made over in some beautiful purple hues! I loved it!

In the end, I selected their Deluxe Shadow Box as a kind of "starter kit," since it was a much better deal than what I wanted originally - the full-size primer potion and one full-size eyeshadow, which together are almost the same price! Yikes!

Instead, the box comes with a travel-size primer potion, and nine beautiful shadows - "Fishnet (light purple) , Honey (gold), Ransom (dark purple), Graffiti (green), Zero (black), Peace (turquoise), Shag (bronze), Scratch (champagne) , Underground (fawn)."

The packaging for all UD products, I've noticed, is amazing :) This one comes in a purple fabric box with metal mesh on the front and a pretty design inside the palette. Two small brushes are included. It'd be even more awesome if there was some kind of hiding place for the primer inside the box, but I can live without.

The colors, of course, are fresh, vibrant, and have great color payoff. Very pigmented, which is something I've been looking for! So far, I love how they blend and apply; smooth, rich and beautiful. The colors are too bold and wild for some people and occasions, but if you like color as much as I do, it won't be a problem!

Of course, everyone knows about the fantastic primer potion, which kept my shadow in place and looking pretty overnight! Crazy! It does make the make-up very difficult to remove, but I'm going to look for a good eye make-up remover to fix that.

The box is $36 at Sephora and ULTA. I would feel guilty and might not have bought it this month if my wonderful boyfriend hadn't gotten me a gift card for Valentine's Day that covered it! Isn't he the best? :)

I'll keep you updated with any photos of looks I come up with. :)

ULTA Gift Certificate and Gift

Just got this in the mail on my catalogue today. :) If you don't have one, you can shop online and use the code or print it and head to the store!

ULTA Gift Certificate - $3.50 off any purchase of $10.00 or more!
Online - enter coupon code 93212. Expires 3/15/08!

Also, they are offering a free 14-piece ULTA cosmetics gift with any $17.50 purchase of ULTA brand products. It looks like an amazing gift with some gorgeous spring items, and a choice of three cute bags! And at a $65.00 value, who wouldn't be willing to spend a little to get it?

There are lots of other great money-saving specials going on, too, so be sure to check them out!

Review: Sally Hansen Complete Care 4-In-1 Nail Treatment

Here we are, finally! My first product review for BBB, and it's a nice find! :) Sally Hansen Complete Care 4-In-1 Nail Treatment.

This product basically claims to be a miracle in a bottle, fulfilling almost any nail care need you can think of - growth, strength, shine, protection... so what exactly does it do? After many weeks of passing it by, I finally decided to pick it up and try it for myself!

The packaging is simple and attractive, the product being in a clear, turquoise-tinted glass bottle with a silver cap. This is similar to the look of Sally Hansen's latest "salon" line of nail colors and treatments.

The price is probably what will turn most people off - admittedly, it's a bit of a shock at first, and the main reason I refused to buy it for so long. However, I already believe it will be worth it in the end; the results speak for themselves, IMO. :)

Product Description:

"Advanced technology and high performance ingredients are combined to deliver the benefits of four nail treatments in one revolutionary formula!

1. Smoothing Base Coat: Ridges and imperfections are instantly smoothed. Patented Okoume extract makes nails grow out smoother and less ridged.
2. Bio-Strengthener: Sea minerals, natural plant extracts and vitamins help restore strength. Weak, fragile nails are protected and reinforced to resist breaks, splits, chips and cracks.
3. Growth Treatment: Triple protein complex and active botanicals nourish and revitalize nails. Short, problem nails grow longer and stronger.
4. Mega Gloss Top Coat: State-of-the-art micro-technology creates an incredibly durable, scratch-resistant shield of chip-proof protection with breathtaking, high-gloss shine!

Proven Results:

• Dramatically stronger, healthy nails in 3 days
• Visibly longer, smoother nails - 30% longer nails in 5 days - Nail tip measurement
• Incredibly shiny, protected manicure - 100% Pure shine for up to 10 days

Price: $12.99

Other: "DBP-free, Toluene-free, free of added formaldehyde."

Results: The product has a soft brush that helps it go on silky-smooth, no matter how many coats you apply (I usually stick to two on bare nails). Immediately after drying, it isn't perfectly smooth to the touch, but this may help your polish adhere better if you're using this as a base coat. The texture does seem to become even smoother after it's been dry for a while. :) The drying time is fairly quick, about a minute or two.

After drying, the shine is fabulously smooth and glossy! Even my boyfriend noticed right away and commented on how pretty they looked. And even over a week later, the shine looked nice. I might apply a refresher coat at this point, but the choice is yours.

I didn't exactly take my before-and-after tip measurements to see if their three-day growth claim was true, but I did notice some growth - whether or not this was at the normal rate, I couldn't tell you. :)

Here's one of my favorite parts, though: the product removal is so CLEAN. And I immediately noticed a difference in the ridges and natural shine in my nails - they looked as if they'd just been lightly buffed! I hadn't even buffed my nails in weeks, but they looked great. I couldn't believe it!

I have yet to try this product with nail polish over and under it, but I already love the results - beautiful shine, some growth thrown in, and a definite, visible improvement in the condition of my natural nails! While the price may be a bit steep, it looks like the bottle can last you a while if used smartly - and trust me, you'll want to try your own manicure after getting this! Maybe it can even save you a few trips to the spa. ;)

I know I'll definitely be purchasing this nail treatment again!

The Quest for Beautiful Hair, Part 2

Continued from Part 1...

Things are getting better, and as I type, I have several inches of new, soft, natural hair at the top of my head. :)

This week, I took yet another step towards healthier hair: I decided I wouldn't use unnatural shampoos anymore. This is way, WAY harder than it sounds! Lately I've heard quite a bit about the harmful ingredients in most shampoos: many sulfates, chemicals, etc. I'm not really brave enough to try out the "no 'poo method" yet, so I wondered what the next best thing would be - hair products that are almost completely natural!

Trying to maintain the "bare budget beauty" spirit, I headed to my local drug store and searched the entire hair care section for over an hour. What did I find? All but a few brands had similar ingredients, the ones I was trying to avoid! But here is what I settled on:

Burt's Bees More Moisture Raspberry & Brazil Nut Shampoo

Product Description: "Gentle natural cleansers made from coconut and sunflower oils effectively cleanse your hair while raspberry extract, rich in Omega-3 and essential fatty acids, combines with Brazil nut oil to deeply moisturize your hair, making it beautiful, soft and shiny."

Ingredients: "water, decyl glucoside, lauryl glucoside, coco-glucoside, glyceryl oleate, glycine soja (soybean) protein, coco-betaine, betaine, glycerin, honey, hydrolyzed vegetable protein, triticum vulgare (wheat) protein, glucose, sucrose laurate, bertholletia excelsa (brazil nut) oil, rubus idaeus (raspberry) fruit extract, citrus aurantium bergamia (bergamot) fruit oil, citrus aurantium dulcis (orange) peel oil, eucalyptus globulus (eucalyptus) leaf oil, foeniculum vulgare (fennel) oil, fragaria vesca (strawberry) fruit extract, citrus reticulata (tangerine/petitgrain) leaf oil, litsea cubeba fruit oil, vanillin, artemisia pallens (davana) oil, xanthan gum, fragrance, glucose oxidase, lactoperoxidase "

Price: $8.00

Other: "98.12% natural"

Ok, so I was a LITTLE skeptical that these natural ingredients could do much of anything for my hair - after all, I've tried nearly everything! I was also a little sour on the price, but I thought - if this works, then I'd rather spend the cash now than keep wasting my money on trying more harmful products that are ineffective!

I have to say, though, that I am pleasantly surprised by the product so far. I've only been using it for a few days, but my hair has already been softer and more manageable after each use. I use it in combination with the conditioner of the same type. They both smell kind of fruity, and while the shampoo doesn't have much lather (no artificial ingredients to do that!), my hair does feel very clean after use. :)

My hair also feels very light, as in, not weighed down... and I'm one of those girls who thinks they have to use a LOT of conditioner to gain any benefit. But it still feels great - very light and bouncy.

I've decided that I'm going to continue using the Burt's Bees products for about 90 days to see the long-term results and benefits. I'll definitely be sure to keep you updated on my progress!


See you again soon! :)

The Quest for Beautiful Hair, Part 1

And every woman knows what a struggle it is! We'd all like the kind of hair the celebrities sport; shiny, voluminous, vibrant, long and healthy. Unfortunately, almost no one is born with this kind of hair... look at the lengths we go to achieve it! Dying and other chemical damage, extreme heat, styling and cleaning with all sorts of ingredients that come from who-knows-where... sometimes the cost is more than the results are worth.

Well, about 9 months ago, I finally decided to start taking steps towards naturally healthy hair. My first and most painful decision was to stop dying my hair - a big step for someone who had been religiously dying and highlighting every month or so for quite a few years. After over-processing my hair to death, the unfortunate side effect was a large amount of hair thinning, damage, dryness, and split ends. I knew I had to stop after a particularly awful at-home dye job that ruined the color and texture for months!

My next promise to my hair was to heat-style as seldom as possible. This almost proved to be even more difficult than not dying, because most people have to do some degree of styling to make their hair look half-decent, right? I'll admit that I haven't been so good with this one, but I have reduced my heat styling to a few times a week, and always use a heat protective serum (John Frieda Frizz-Ease!) beforehand. I'm trying very hard, though. :)

I won't lie about this, either: the last several months have been very, very dark for my hair. It's so damaged that it will never behave, and now that it's much less thicker, it only adds to the fussiness. At one point, each time I took a shower, my hair was falling out in clumps. It was terrible and depressing, but I knew I had to keep going...

Continued in Part 2 :)

Sick Day

Hi everyone :)

Well, I was definitely planning on my first "real" post today, but I am toootally sick. I'm also working most nights this week - I'm at work right now! - but I still want to try and get in some entries here. I have lots of reviews to share!

In the meantime, I'll work on fixing up the blog a little bit and will get back to you ASAP!

Product Review Criteria & FAQ

Hi everyone! I decided to write this to answer any questions that might pop up about the way I review products - how they're reviewed, how long they're tested, etc. This is just to ensure that my readers know how reviews work and that they are being tested under fair conditions.

I hope this answers your questions! If not, scroll down to find out how to contact me and ask your own.

How do you rate and review products?

First and foremost, I evaluate the claims the product makes. I then look at the ingredients, and research the primary ones to see what they do and how they work. When I try the product, I balance the results against both the claims and the abilities of the ingredients. I also research every product I buy thoroughly, whether it be through other reviews, websites, books, or a combination of the three, and report on my findings. My reviews are not completely objective, but they have to be personal in order for me to determine why I do or don't like or enjoy a product.

Products are rated on a scale of 1 to 5, one being the lowest and five being the highest:

• 1 - Far below average, poor, terrible
• 2 - Below average, slightly poor
• 3 - Average, fair, so-so
• 4 - Above average, great
• 5 - Far above average, amazing

How long are products tested before a review?

• Skincare - 1-6+ months minimum, depending on results
• Hair care - 1-3 months minimum
• Makeup - 1-4 weeks or 10 applications minimum
• Nail care - 2-4 weeks minimum
• Nail polish - 3 uses minimum
• Bath & body - 1-4 weeks minimum

Do sponsors and companies send you products? Are you paid to review products?

Currently, no. I am only sent products to test on occasion by my blogging community, which does not endorse or pay me in any way. All my reviews are personal, unpaid, and genuine, based solely on my own experiences with the products.

I bought a product you reviewed and I hate it!

Please not that all my reviews are my own personal opinions and experiences, and that you should purchase products at your own discretion. I always recommend researching products and making a personal, informed decision before buying.

Do you have a question not answered here? Drop me a line by e-mail or leave a comment here!

Welcome to Bare Budget Beauty!

Hi everyone! Well, I'm not really sure how many people will be reading this thing, and it's my first real blog, but I'm hoping for the best! :)

My name is Jenn, and I'm a student working part time as a customer service rep (so I'm poor, haha!). In the last few years, I've finally become very interested in beauty and make-up. My only problem is that I am on a very tight budget! :'( I covet the very rare trip to Sephora and have yet to step foot inside a MAC store - sad, right?

Well, I made this blog because I know there are plenty of other girls like myself who are in similar situations - passion for beauty, little money to spend. That's why I'm going to do my best to review products and share info and tips for the bargain-hunters and drugstore shoppers out there!

Thanks so much for reading, and I hope you enjoy! Feel free to comment and talk to me, share stuff, make recommendations, etc.!

About

JennBee
I'm a budget beauty blogger going to college and working a small part-time job. I love buying and trying new beauty products while finding the best deals available. I also adore blogging and learning new things every day!