Giveaway: Maybelline Lash Stiletto

For the final week of February, Maybelline and BBB are coming together to bring you a giveaway your lashes will love!

This week, five (5!!) readers will win their very own Maybelline Lash Stiletto Ultimate Length Mascara. If you've been wanting to try this product for yourself, now is your chance!

My full review is coming soon, but for now, I'll just say that my lashes are loving it. If you're looking for dramatic length, this mascara may be for you!

To enter, just fill in your name and e-mail address in the box below. This giveaway is open to residents of the US and Canada only - sorry!

This giveaway ends on March 2, 2009, so hurry and enter today!

Mandee Wardrobe Bailout

Bad economy got you - and your wardrobe - down? Not to worry - Mandee has the perfect shopping solution for all you young, budget-conscious fashionistas out there!

Mandee, a trusted name in affordable, chic apparel for 60 years, is offering all online shoppers a gracious discount to help "stimulate" their style, even in tough times. When you get to checkout, just entre the code BAILOUT to receive 20% off your entire purchase!

Mandee offers everything from basics and tees to denim, hot fragrances to cosmetics (they carry ELF!), and everything in between... bags, sunglasses, jewelry, and more.

Did I mention that for a limited time, you'll get a $7 flat shipping rate?

Head on over to Mandee's website to start shopping or find a store near you.

Has Neutrogena Lost It?

While browsing Neutrogena's website today - the What's New page, to be exact - I came across something puzzling.

Now, don't get me wrong - I adore many Neutrogena products for skincare, makeup, and even my hair. Everyone knows Neutrogena makes amazing sun protection products, too, but I wonder if they've gone a little too far this time.

Check out this product: Neutrogena Age Shield Face Sunblock SPF 90+ with Helioplex. Okay, so it's another Neutrogena Age Shield Face Sunblock... but look at the SPF. 90+? It's so high that they don't know exactly how strong it is? Is it just me, or does this seem like overkill?

I've heard experts say that an SPF of 75-80 is already excessive for most people, considering it can be up to nearly 24 full hours of sun protection (and really, when was the last time you spent 24 straight hours in the sun?). And while it's no secret that we're becoming more and more obsessed with anti-aging and preventing sun damage, you probably wouldn't need an SPF of "90+" even if you lived on the surface of the sun itself.

I know some people will love this product, but seriously? I wonder how strong the chemicals in this sunblock must be to provide this much protection. I'm not entirely sure I want that slathered all over my face.

What do you think?

Tip of the Day #11: beautycrunch

Wow, it's been a while since I've posted one of these! I need to get back into the habit of posting tips, apparently. :)

Today's tip focuses on a great website I recently discovered, which is a favorite among some beauty bloggers and many discount shoppers. If you're looking for some high-end cosmetics on a low-end budget, this site is perfect for you! I'm talking Stila, Too Faced, DuWop, and more - all at amazing prices.

beautycrunch is a site that sells overrun and discontinued cosmetics, which is why it can offer their superb deals on the makeup they carry. You'll usually find prices that are 50-75% off - or more - on the cosmetics sold here!

If you don't mind waiting a few months to buy new Too Faced collection that just came out, check beautycrunch later... it just might be there, but at a huge discount!

Just last week, I purchased the Stila Fabulous for Fall chocolate palette set that I wrote about last summer. While it was originally priced for a whopping $40 (usually beyond my budget), I snagged it for only $10! Yes, I grabbed the entire collection - a lipgloss, three shadows, a cheek color, and mascara - for $10. How awesome is that? (You can find it on the site this week for $20; still a steal!)

While order processing can take a few days and shipping is a bit more than average, the amazingly low prices make this website worth it. After my order was finally shipped, I received it in a quick two days. Overall, I was extremely satisfied with my purchase, and wish I had grabbed a few more items before they sold out!

I highly recommend beautycrunch for their great prices and large selection. But when a fantastic deal comes up, you'd better hurry - they sell out fast!

Happy Birthday, Bare Budget Beauty!

Today is the day! Bare Budget Beauty is finally celebrating its first anniversary! Can you believe it? Much like my friend Fabuless Beauty, I figured this beauty blog thing would be a passing phase. (I hear the average life of any new blog is about three months - which sounds about right.) There are so many new blogs being created every day, yet so few of them survive.

This is why I'm proud to share this day with you, my readers and audience. I've thanked everyone several times before, but I want to take this time to do so again. Without all your love, support, comments, and inspiration, I would have never gotten this far! Also, an extra special thanks goes out to those of you who have already wished me a happy anniversary!

I've had loads of fun working on BBB, but have also discovered how much hard work it requires.

Throughout the year, I've switched layouts numerous times - eventually settling on this amazing custom-made design - and added new content and features, reviewed numerous products, discovered tons of new blogs, and made great friends with fellow bloggers! All of it amounted to a fantastic experience that I wouldn't change for the world.

So, thank you yet again, for everything. Here's to another wonderful year - and, hopefully, many more to come.

xoxo,
JennBee

Giveaway: $50 Salon Hive Gift Card

Welcome to week three of a month full of giveaways in celebration of the blog's one-year anniversary (tomorrow!). I know this post is coming a little late this Monday, and I deeply apologize - I've been busy for the last few days and haven't had the chance to work on the blog much. Hopefully this week's prize will make the wait worth it!

You might remember that back in November, BBB teamed up with MyHairStylingTools.com for a big giveaway. Now, I'm teaming up with its sister site - Salon Hive - to bring you another great contest!

Salon Hive is a new beauty supply site that's on the rise! It aims to be your one-stop beauty shop, providing everything from makeup to hair products and tools to vitamins and salon equipment - all at great prices. They carry some of the latest and most popular brands as well, including CHI, BaByliss, HairDo extensions, and much more! (Also be sure to check out their great selection of makeup cases!)

This week, we're giving away a $50 gift card to Salon Hive to one lucky reader! All you need to do to enter is type in your name and e-mail address in the box below. This giveaway is open to residents of the US and Canada only, due to high shipping costs and delays for other countries.

Good luck, and thanks for entering! Feel free to spread the word about this great giveaway! Remember, this contest ends on February 23, 2009 - so hurry and enter today!

Triple Award

Lately, a few gracious and sweet fellow bloggers have honored me with the Triple Award! Many thanks to Beauty Tyrant, Phyrra, and T! All three of these ladies really brightened my day, and I'd love to pass it on!

Here are the rules for the recipients:

1. Put the logo on your blog or post.
2. Nominate at least 10 blogs which show great Attitude and/or Gratitude!
3. Be sure to link to your nominees within your post.
4. Let them know that they have received this award by commenting on their blog.
5. Share the love and link to this post and to the person from whom you received your award.

Congratulations to these awesome bloggers! Sorry I could only pick 10... it was so difficult! A few of you have already received it, but if this is your second (or third) time, I really think you deserve it!

1. Diva 4 Less
2. Paint Me Gorgeous
3. She's Little and Lovely
4. Yummie Bitez
5. Nessasary Makeup
6. Fabuless Beauty
7. Askmewhats
8. Musings of a Muse
9. Home Spa Goddess
10. Peace.Love.Makeup

Have a wonderful day, everyone!

Happy Valentine's Day!

Happy Valentine's Day, beauties!

What are your plans for the day? Single ladies' night out? Romantic date with your significant other? What will you be wearing, both clothing and makeup-wise? Feel free to let me know!

I plan on spending the evening with my boyfriend at a great Chinese restaurant, and supposedly he has several surprises up his sleeves. Some new makeup, maybe? A girl can dream. ;)

Have a lovely day, everyone!

Total Beauty Web Tour - 2/13/09

Welcome to the Valentine's Day edition of the TB Web Tour! Need some last-last-minute gift ideas? Keep reading!

Enjoy, and be beautiful!

Girl-Woman-Beauty-Brains-Blog and Total Beauty give you the rundown on the 10 best breakthrough products for 2009.

All the single ladies, Beauty's SPOT found a suitable replacement for men in Elemis Exotic Frangipani Monoi Bath & Shower Cream.

Check out the new Tarte "Spring Greening" palette and A Perfect Whirled cheek stain with Beauty Junkies Unite!

Beauty Anonymous wears Jewel Lips.

Neon Bible checks out some great Valentine's Day gifts for men.

Alison Blackman aka. "Advice Sister Alison" finds out why TJMaxx and Marshalls really are a shopaholic's dream, and uncovers some of the "must-have" trends for Spring 2009.

Beauty411 is delighted with the Dior Spring 2009 Makeup Collection!

Viva Woman recommends you to use organic flowers on your face with Zuii Organic Floral Makeup and offers a 15% special discount for her readers.

Come see what mascara The Makeup Divas is raving about.

Indian Girl loves the simple fragrance of KENZO's Eau De Fleur - Magnolia

Just in time for Valentine's Day,eye4style is giving away a personal lingerie fitting and a bra and panty set from Eveden. Click here to enter!

Fabulous Over Forty has a FABULOUS Kiss My Face skincare giveaway worth over $200! Hurry - giveaway entrance ends on Sat.

Krista of Boutique Flair knows that silky smooth skin is one part of having a pulled together, stylish look. So, she loves this product!

Monique at Beauty Girl Musings reviews an at-home spa treatment that will leave your skin feeling and looking amazing. Read about it here!

The girls over at Beauty in Real Life are having a giveaway with Ralph Lauren's new fragrance. Click here for the details and to enter!

Beauty Beast has been taking the new MAC Studio Sculpt Foundation for a test run. Find out what the verdict is byClicking here!

Glossypink shows you how to get Shopaholic's Isla Fisher's red-carpet look!

makeup loves me tells you about a bling-tastic valentine's day spa treatment. happy valentine's day!

The HomeSpaGoddess shares her thoughts on the new Revlon Matte Collection.

Julie at More than a Pretty Face reviews brow products from Japan and provides readers continual updates on promotions and specials for February 2009. In view of MAC's Helly Kitty collection, Stila's Barbie Loves Stila collection, and Too Faced's Smurfette collection, she asks, What is with the nostalgia craze?

To celebrate Valentine's Day, Daneen from Spoiled Pretty is sharing her love of Felix Rey with all of you. Enter to win an Emma Zip Top Cosmetics Case (retail value $90). Also enter to win all ten shades of CoverGirl Outlast Lipstains, and three tubes of CoverGirl LashBlast Luxe Mascara!

Aveda Valentine's Day Masque-rade

Looking for gorgeous, glowing skin for Valentine's Day? Whether you're a single girl who wants to pamper herself or you've got a hot date, Aveda has a wonderful treat in store for you this week!

Come to any Aveda Experience Center nationwide on February 13 and 14 for a free 5-step customized skincare makeover! Sit back and relax as Aveda skincare specialists transform your skin from drab to fab in just 20 minutes.

Here's how the five-step makeover works:

Step 1: Skin Care Consultation.

Aveda experts will analyze your skin type and provide a customized skin care recommendation.

Step 2: Mini Facial.

Indulge in a 5 minute spa quality skin treatment featuring Aveda’s high performance botanical formulas—also customized for your skin type. Facials will feature Aveda’s gently efficacious, botanically-derived skin care collections including Green Science to counter fine lines and wrinkles, the luxurious Tourmaline Charged line for overall skin radiance and th NEW! Enbrightenment brightening skin care line formulated to reduce skin discoloration and increase luminosity.

Step 3: Guided Self Facial Massage.

Aveda experts will lead you through a stress-relieving self massage using the new Enbrightenment Brightening Intensive Massage Masque for a clear and even skin tone.

Step 4: Makeup Finishing Touch.

Complete your guilt-free Valentine’s indulgence with an Aveda makeup finishing touch.

Step 5: Glow to Go.

To extend the Valentine’s glow, you’ll receive a deluxe sample of the Aveda masque formulated specifically for your skin type.

If this sounds as totally divine to you as it does to me, head on over to Aveda's website to find the location nearest you! Go ahead, indulge yourself. Whether you're a single lady or happily taken, you deserve a little glam this Valentine's Day!

Review and Giveaway: Kiss My Face SOS

Yes, that's right... this week, I'm jumping on the Kiss My Face bandwagon!

If you haven't heard of or used this brand yet, you should... this independent company has some of the best values I've seen for personal care products and cosmetics. It's all about natural and organic ingredients; using nature to keep us beautiful, not the potentially harmful artificial ingredients you'll find in so many other products. No artificial colors, no animal testing or ingredients, and no unnecessary chemicals. Check out their statement:

"At Kiss My Face, we believe that nature creates the best ingredients. We believe that it's our job to combine these natural and organic ingredients in body care formulations that are potent and effective to make you look good and feel good. We strive to bring you the best nature has to offer—never at the expense of our planet, employees or values—but with honesty, humor and style."

The newest offering from Kiss My Face is the SOS collection for luscious, naturally healthy and beautiful lips. SOS stands for Sheer Organic Shimmer or Sheer Organic Shine. Don't worry, I'll tell you all about it. ;)

The Sheer Organic Shimmer collection is a set of tinted lip balms, while the Sheer Organic Shine collection is a set of lip glosses. Both come in six gorgeous, earthy shades: garnet, amethyst, topaz, ruby, opal, and pearl. These "natural mineral color" lip products are all-natural and 91% organic, and nourish and condition the lips with shea butter, Tocopheral (vitamin E), and sunflower oil. My favorite ingredient? Peppermint oil, which gives the products a great, light scent and gives a cool, tingly feeling on application!

The Shimmers glide on like a lip balm and leave behind a natural-looking, smooth, shimmery tinted finish that is perfect for balm-lovers everywhere. The shades are lightly pigmented and versatile, and add the perfect finishing touch to any natural look!

The Shines are slick, non-stick, highly reflective glosses that give lips a sexy, shiny finish. Before now, I've never found a lip gloss with so many qualities I love - they're perfect. Just as nourishing as the balms, they too have great shimmer and pigmented colors for a more dramatic look. And trust me when I say the colors are really, really beautiful, even on pigmented lips!

If you haven't already guessed, as part of Bare Budget Beauty's month of giveaways, I'm giving readers the chance to win one of two Kiss My Face sets in either the Shimmer or Shine collection!

As usual, just enter your name and e-mail in the box, then pick your collection preference. One winner will be chosen for each set. Open to residents of the US and Canada only, sorry! (Shipping costs kill.)

Hurry, though - like before, this giveaway will only last for a week, until February 16. Don't miss your chance to grab these great lip treats!

Total Beauty Web Tour - 2/6/09

Sorry for the late post... but, it's time for another edition of the Total Beauty Web Tour! Get a week's worth of giveaways, Valentine's Day tips, the latest on MAC Hello Kitty, and more!

Enjoy, and be beautiful!


Girl-Woman-Beauty-Brains-Blog is giving away a pair of ICE.com diamond stud earrings valued at $250. Enter for a chance to put a little sparkle in your Valentine's Day!

Viva Woman shows you how to use Aloe Vera juice for DIY facial masks.

Neon Bible looks at Lush's adorable bath products in the Valentine's Day Gift Guide.

The Jet Set Girls are supporting Operation Smile and giving away 5 sets which include Crest Pro-Health Toothpaste, Crest Pro-Health Rinse, and Oral-B Power Toothbrush.

Alison (aka. "Advice Sister Alison" has discovered a bracelet that can help you lose weight without any effort at all!

Beauty Anonymous reviews Shiseido's Integrate Nail Polishes.

Boutique Flair reviews the new Kiss My Face Sheer Organic Shimmers and Sheer Organic Shines line. And, they're giving away $50 Worth of Kiss My Face Swag! Good luck!

Daily Dose of Coffee is loving the new Make Up For Ever High Definition line. See which products we've tested out recently!

Beauty Junkies Unite became pretty amazed with the new AmazeMint lipglosses and Outlast Lipstains from CoverGirl! Check out the swatches!

Enter to win a Marc Jacobs Star Charm Watch Necklace over at The Makeup Divas.

At Fabulous Over Forty learn how to maintain your hair coloring longer.

Kendra Wilkinson Beauty Secrets an interview by Marta Walsh-Talking Makeup.

Indian Girl is celebrating her Blog's First Anniversary with MONTH LONG GIVEAWAYS!

Monique at Beauty Girl Musings shares her love for a face cream that contains real liquid gold! Read about it here.

Beauty411 is captivated by the Givenchy Spring Makeup Collection inspired by the colors of India. Gorgeous!

Makeup Files has a brand new look! Head on over and see the sleek and beautiful new design.

Frappelattes highlights special Valentine's Day womens fragrance deals on Amazon, including discounts on Lovely by Sarah Jessica Parker fragrance and more.

Check out Glossypink's Valentine's Day Get Glam Guide!

MissWhoever You Are takes you through the foundations she has, needs, and gotta have!

Face Candy gives you a sneak peek at Laura Mercier's new Gilded Garden Collection.

Mineral Makeup Reviews discusses the Benefits of Mineral Makeup.

Suzanne at RN Guide to Skin Care reviews Tinted Moisturizers.

Valentine’s Day is a big perfume holiday. The Beauty Blog reviews theBest Selling Romantic Perfumes.

Get CLEAR SKIN with Beauty Blvd. & Phisoderm! Enter the GIVEAWAY and win a facial cleansing bar two pack, anti-blemish body wash, anti-blemish cleansing pads, and nurturing toner!

Jenn of Beauty in Real Life shares her beauty picks of the week. Click here to find out what they are.

GIVEAWAY ALERT! Enter for a chance to win Kenzo BELLE DE JOUR at Makeup Bag.

Still battling with dry skin? Hot Beauty Health discusses known foods that will help treat your dry skin.

Blaq Vixen Beauty wants you to take advantage of Pretty City's Love You Campaign! Did you remember to wear red in honor of National Wear Red Day?

One week left to enter the contest to win a 12-piece makeup brush collection from More Than a Pretty Face and Beauty Strokes. Have you entered?

Visit Spoiled Pretty and enter to win a "Love Enamel Bangle" from Cynthia H Designs (retail value $65) and KENZO Belle de Jour Face Cream (retail value $105)

Jennifer Hudson sure looked gorgeous at the Superbowl! Find out how to get the look at eye4style!

Bobbi Brown has done it again. Butterflydiary shows you how to do the "Blushed Pinks" collection.

makeup loves me exposes the white hot nail trend.

Beauty Blogging Junkie chats with The City's Jay at the MAC Hello Kitty party! Click here to read about the event and learn about the new collection.

First Look: L'Oreal True Match Super-Blendable Compact Makeup

Have you seen the new L'Oreal True Match Super-Blendable Compact Makeup in stores yet? L'Oreal has totally reformulated this part of the True Match line, the powder compacts. There are several noteworthy changes in the new formula that may be worth checking out! (Great for me - I didn't have success with the original formulation.)

For one, L'Oreal has used the newest True Match shade system, reminiscent of any department store foundation line. There are 18 shades to choose from, with six colors each in three different undertone categories: warm, neutral, and cool. The selection isn't as large as with the liquid foundation, but it's likely to fit most skin tones and is still bigger than the majority of other drugstore brands'.

The big change is the texture of the formula. It's no longer a simple powder foundation, but liquefies on contact to create the feel of a liquid foundation! Said to "mimic" the skin's tone and texture, it supposedly goes on smooth and light and is non-greasy and blendable. Sounds like powder-to-liquid foundations are really becoming a trend!

Right now, L'Oreal is offering a coupon for $1 off their new True Match Super-Blendable Compact Makeup! Simply visit the site, log in (or register if you aren't a member), and click the coupon link towards the bottom of the True Match page. Or, go here if you're feeling a little lazy. Click, print, and run to your nearest drugstore or supermarket!

Let me know how you like the new formula!

Review and Giveaway: Johnson's Body Care

Winter, for many of us, means dry, rough, cracked skin. Even here in the desert (where it doesn't get very cold), it's always dry, dry, dry! My search for deeply moisturizing skincare products on a budget usually leaves me empty-handed... until now.

A brand that many of us used as a baby, Johnson's & Johnson's, has been developing a line for us women who want long-lasting moisture and baby-soft skin. The Johnson's Body Care 24 Hour line delivers just that with simple, affordable products that provide 24 hours of moisture - just what dry winter skin needs most.

The Moisturizing Body Wash is a rich, creamy wash that leaves skin feeling soft, but without the residue left behind with some products. The Body Lotion, my favorite, is thick and hydrating, yet non-greasy, so it feels great going on and quickly sinks in. It also contains shea butter, vitamin E, and mica, to create the look of healthier, brighter skin. And, with each use, the condition of your skin will improve every day!

What's even better is that these products are a great value. Each comes in a generous size - 20.3 oz. for the body wash and 14 oz. for the lotion - for a suggested retail price of $5.49 each! They're sure to last you through the cold months and beyond.

To kick off a month of weekly giveaways, Bare Budget Beauty and Johnson's are teaming up to bring you a giveaway that's sure to beat the winter blues! Up for grabs are two prize packs, each containing the following:

Johnson's Body Care 24 Hour Moisturizing Body Wash (1)
Johnson's Body Care 24 Hour Body Lotion (1)
Johnson's Softwash Nourishing Green Tea 24 Hour Moisturizing Wash (1)

What are you waiting for? Enter today - because this giveaway will end on February 9, 2009! Just enter your name and e-mail in the box below. One entry per person, open to US and Canada residents only, please.

Good luck!

First Look: Birthday Extravaganza!

Happy February, beauties! As it turns out, this is a very special month for Bare Budget Beauty... and why's that? Because February 17 marks the blog's anniversary!

To celebrate my first year in the blogging world, I've been saving up some special surprises for my readers.

First, though, I have something to confess: I've been hiding some great products from you for a while now, so as not to ruin anything. And while I was thinking of giving everything away in one big contest, I've instead decided to give everyone a chance to win something by breaking it up into four smaller giveaways.

Yep, you heard me... four giveaways this month! All month long, I'll be giving out free stuff to my readers as a thank-you for sticking with me this past year. Each contest will begin on a Monday and last through the following Monday, so enter quick!

Some of the prizes will be smaller than others, but in my opinion, they're all wonderful! And, as I said, this way everyone has a chance to win something. Sounds good, right?

Ready for February? I know I'm excited! Check back later this evening for the first giveaway! Here's a hint: baby-soft skin!