EOTD: ULTA Turqoise and Purple

Today, I decided to whip out one of my many ULTA palettes, wanting to do something bright and colorful. My boyfriend helped me pick out a combination of blue-greens and purples, which came out amazing! The end result is one of my favorite looks to date.

Unfortunately, you'd never be able to tell just how pretty it is in real life by looking at the photos. ;) I am STILL in desperate need of a new camera! (If you've got recommendations, please let me know.)

As soon as I get a better camera, I'll hopefully be posting more EOTD's! I've been practicing! :)

Here's my turquoise and purple look, using nearly 100% budget products!



On Eyes:

Urban Decay Eyeshadow Primer Potion
ULTA Naked
ULTA Bayou
ULTA Electric
ULTA Key West
ULTA Turquoise
Prestige Liquid Eyeliner in Black
Rimmel Glam'Eyes Mascara

Grab Jane Cosmetics Before They're Gone!

Guess how much I got this for!

No, Jane Cosmetics is not going out of business (phew!). Instead, one of their retailers, Walgreens, has decided to cease distribution of their products. What does this mean for you? Huge savings on everything Jane at your nearest Walgreens location!!

Even the newest lines, such as the Be Pure Mineral line and Aguaceuticals line, are marked down to super-low, must-go clearance prices! Not only that, but the entire selection of regular makeup is also on sale. Everything is at least 50% off!

I couldn't resist picking up a Be Pure Mineral Tinted Lip Balm for $2.49 and a bottle of Be Pure Mineral Liquid Foundation for only $3.79!! These products aren't old or expired, either - they're fresh off the shelves.

Products are selling out fast, at least where I live, so I suggest stopping by your nearest Walgreens TODAY before everything is gone!

Olay Ultra Moisture Vanilla Indulgence Body Wash: Good Enough to Eat!

I have a major sweet tooth. Sugar is a necessity - in moderation, of course. But what I really love is when beauty products combine my love of sweets with my passion for cosmetics! And while I adore brands like Philosophy, which do just that with a great selection of dessert-inspired body treats, I recently found a budget-friendly product that fits the bill.

My new favorite body wash, Olay Ultra Moisture Vanilla Indulgence Body Wash, smells incredible. Think warm, fresh-baked vanilla cupcakes or cookies. Yum. Not only that, but it hits all my other requirements, too!

Its thick, creamy texture feels great on skin and lathers well. Even though I don't need to pile it on to my shower pouf, I like to anyway... that's how much I love it.

The wash is gentle on my skin and rinses clean. After showering, I'm left touchably soft and smooth. You might not even need lotion! If you're a dry-skin girl, there's an added bonus: it's supposed to keep you hydrated and nourished for up to 24 hours.

The vanilla lingers for a while, leaving a sweet, delicate scent. Even my boyfriend noticed, and he barely notices whether it's morning or night. (Sigh.)

If you love sweet-scented body treats, definitely consider adding this one to your shower experience. For only $7.99, you can definitely afford to indulge yourself a little!

March Makeup Madness at Cherry Culture

It's March Makeup Madness at Cherry Culture! Place your order now through March 31 and receive 20% off your entire purchase!

Be sure to enter code MMM20 at checkout. Happy shopping!

Crest Whitestrips Advanced Seal Giveaway Winners

As requested by an anonymous commenter, here are the winners of the Crest Whitestrips Advanced Seal Giveaway!

If your name is Dani or Rosanna, check your e-mail - you've won a 14-day supply of Crest Whitestrips!

If you don't respond within 72 hours, I'll be forced to pick another winner in your place.

Thanks for entering, everyone!

Ripoff Alert: CoverGirl Lash Blast Luxe and Exact EyeLights Mascara

The other day, I decided to buy and test the new CoverGirl Lash Blast Luxe Shimmery Volumizing Mascara in Black Royale in hopes that it would live up to the expectations of the original CoverGirl Lash Blast that I love so much.

I knew something was wrong from the start. The first thing I noticed about Luxe is that it did little for my lashes and that the formula seemed much thicker and clumpier than the original. Next, I tested the color on my hand with a quick swipe of the mascara wand - and a weird feeling of deja vu swept over me.

I went to grab the mascara my mother had just bought herself a few weeks before; coincidentally, CoverGirl Exact Eyelights Eye Brightening Mascara in Black Sapphire.

After swatching both mascaras side by side, I discovered that, lo and behold, these two products are the exact same color. Not being very creative with these "new" colored mascaras, are we?


Well, no big deal, right? They could've easily just used the same coloring, I suppose. They couldn't actually be the same product, right? ...Right?

I hate to say it, but I was wrong. Comparing the ingredient lists for both products reveals something even more surprising about the formulas. Take a look:

CoverGirl Exact Eyelights Eye Brightening Mascara, Black Sapphire:
Water , Glyceryl Stearate , Ammonium Acrylates Copolymer , Disteardimonium Hectorite , Propylene Glycol , Stearic Acid , Carnauba Wax - Copernicia Cerifera , Triethanolamine , Synthetic Wax , Acrylates Copolymer , Mica , Polyvinyl Alcohol , Lecithin , Propylene Carbonate , Oleic Acid , Alcohol Denat , Methylparaben , Phenoxyethanol , Benzyl Alcohol , Propylparaben , Panthenol , Glycerin , Simethicone , Ethylparaben , Sodium Laureth Sulfate , Xanthan Gum , Trisodium EDTA , Iron Oxides , Titanium Dioxide - May Contain , Ferric Ferrocyanide - May Contain , Aluminum Powder - May Contain , Carmine - May Contain , Ultramarines - May Contain , Manganese Violet - May Contain , Bismuth Oxychloride - May Contain , Chromium Oxide Greens - May Contain

CoverGirl LashBlast Luxe Shimmery Volumizing Mascara, Black Royale:
Water , Glyceryl Stearate , Ammonium Acrylates Copolymer , Disteardimonium Hectorite , Propylene Glycol , Stearic Acid , Carnauba Wax - Copernicia Cerifera , Triethanolamine , Synthetic Wax , Acrylates Copolymer , Polyvinyl Alcohol , Lecithin , Propylene Carbonate , Oleic Acid , Alcohol Denat , Methylparaben , Phenoxyethanol , Benzyl Alcohol , Propylparaben , Panthenol , Glycerin , Simethicone , Ethylparaben , Sodium Laureth Sulfate , Mica , Xanthan Gum , Trisodium EDTA , Silica , Iron Oxides , Titanium Dioxide - May Contain , Ferric Ferrocyanide - May Contain , Aluminum Powder - May Contain , Carmine - May Contain , Ultramarines - May Contain , Manganese Violet - May Contain , Bismuth Oxychloride - May Contain , Chromium Oxide Greens - May Contain

Is anyone else seeing a problem here? I know many mascara formulas are similar, but this seems like overkill.

Worse still, CoverGirl is advertising and selling these mascaras as two entirely different products - one to brighten, and one to volumize. The only difference I saw between them is that one has mica, and the other has silica... both of which are far down the list of ingredients. The brushes are different, but not enough to affect how well the formula works.

Sorry to call you out on this, CoverGirl, but from a long-time customer: this is wrong.

I, for one, will be returning my tube of Lash Blast Luxe and checking the labels on all the products I buy before purchasing.

Since a comment came up about the brushes being different, here's a picture to show that, truly, they are quite similar.

Thanks to my boyfriend for posing! :)

Product and ingredient information from Walgreens.com

High-End Highlights: Elizabeth Arden Pure Finish Mineral Powder Foundation SPF 20

I feel terrible, girls - I'm so behind on my posting! Can you forgive me?

Today, I'd like to share an amazing product with you as the first feature of High-End Highlights: Elizabeth Arden Pure Finish Mineral Powder Foundation SPF 20, a lightweight, buildable, illuminating powder foundation in a revolutionary new grinder compact!

I'm not usually a fan of powder makeup because if its tendency to look cakey and emphasize my pores and fine lines. Mineral foundations are even worse, making my skin seem pale, dull, and overly matte. What's a girl with fussy skin to do?

This is where Elizabeth Arden's new powder foundation comes in. Not only was it completely safe for my problematic skin, but it did exactly the opposite of nearly every other powder I've tried. It can address almost any skin problem. Dullness? A soft, barely there shimmer will help brighten your face and give you a healthy glow. Wrinkles and fine lines? It won't settle in them, but rather, will help minimize their appearance. Dryness? It never looks or feels cakey or unnatural, and has several ingredients to soothe and improve skin.

Do I have your attention yet?

I haven't gotten to the coolest part yet - the compact! Each time you want to apply your makeup, just turn the dial once or twice for a fresh serving of powder! If you love mineral makeup but hate the mess and hassle, this foundation is perfect for you. No more mineral makeup mishaps while traveling, either!

The compact includes a nice powder puff, but I like to use a kabuki brush or powder brush to apply. It works perfectly every time!

Unlike many other powder foundations I've tried, this one is also incredibly blendable. As proof, it turned out that I received the wrong shade at first - one shade too dark. I was skeptical that it would work with my skin, but once I buffed it in, I couldn hardly tell the difference! It still had a great amount of coverage, but seemed to adapt to my skintone to look natural and even. It was my skin, but with just a hint more color, and no one had any idea!

While this product does contain negligent amounts of bismuth oxychloridem (gasp!), its effects are countered by a variety of skin-soothing and strenghtening ingredients such as antioxidants, vitamins A, C, and E, a sea water complex, and aloe. My skin hasn't encountered a single problem since beginning to wear this foundation.

And who could forget amazing sun protection? SPF is definitely a must these days, and Elizabeth Arden has you covered with SPF 20 built in the powder!

Elizabeth Arden Pure Finish Mineral Powder Foundation SPF 20 comes in 9 beautiful shades and is available at department stores and online for $37.50

Crest Whitestrips Advanced Seal Giveaway Reminder

Hey y'all - I'm back! Okay, I know I didn't say I was going anywhere this week, but I did - it turned out that the BF and I were headed up north for a few days on a last-minute trip. I didn't even get the chance to post and say I'd be leaving! Sorry, but not to worry... I'm here again and ready to go. :)

If you haven't already, I suggest entering the Crest Whitestrips Advanced Giveaway: it ends Friday at 8 PM EST! If you've been dying to try these and give your smile a little extra "oomph," you might want to hurry! Don't say I didn't warn you...

As always, stay tuned for more giveaways in the future!

Buy 1 Get 1 Free at ULTA

This is an ULTA sale just for you girls who love budget eye makeup - you won't want to miss it!

Now through March 21, you can buy 1, get 1 free on the following brands of mascara, eye shadow, and eyeliner:

ULTA

L'Oreal

Maybelline

Cover Girl

Max Factor

I recommend stocking up on ULTA eyeshadow and any of the great mascaras and liners made by the other brands (Lash Blast, Colossal, Lash Stiletto, Voluminous, and more)! Please note that brands cannot be combined.

Head on over to your nearest ULTA or online to shop! Don't forget about your $3.50 off $10 or more coupon!

First Look: High-End Highlights

As a beauty blogger, I'm constantly trying to find ways to liven up and reinvent my content. This means, of course, keeping an open mind about new products and brands and making new discoveries.

Although Bare Budget Beauty has been and always will be dedicated to finding the best in budget cosmetics, skincare, and more, I've decided to begin a new feature that will spotlight a few very special high-end products and brands that have caught my attention. While I've been meaning to start one for a long time, I was a little worried about what kind of reaction such a feature would receive.

In the past year, though, I've realized that many excellent high-end products exist, and that my readers might like to know about them. The new feature will focus only on the quality of the product being presented, not the price or value - I'll leave that for you to decide.

Don't worry, though; I'll never abandon my bargain-hunting roots! I'm still going to inform you about the best sales, deals, and low-cost cosmetics I can find. But if you're feeling a little less frugal, I also want to point you in the direction of a quality, high-end product as well.

As always, you can provide feedback on this and anything else by either e-mailing me (see the text links in the side bar) or leaving a comment.

Keep an eye out for the first installment of High-End Highlights this weekend!

Total Beauty Web Tour - 3/13/09

Beauty Anonymous brings you Anna Sui Summer 2009 Makeup Collection.

Alison of the Advice Sistersreviews Chanel's Spring collection that features a lovely, "boho" vibe--channel your inner "Gypsy Queen!"

Beauty Secrets Revealed tells you whether Acai Berry Really Helps You Lose Weight.

Girl-Woman-Beauty-Brains-Blog is giving away a H2PRO ceramic flat iron valued at $195. Enter now!

Steal The Informed Makeup Maven's looks and checkout this week's reviews. . Steal her look now!

Fabulous Over Forty has a new Beauty on a Budget find that is a great look and value.

The Makeup Divas is giving away some fabulous Chella anti-aging skin care products valued at $175.00! So hurry on over and enter today!

Viva Woman shows you how to customize your own lipstick color the cheap and easy way!

Beauty Junkies Unite is giving away a stimulus package fit for any Beauty Junkie! Enter to win over 50 beauty products valued at over $1000 in the Beauty Stimulus Package Giveaway!

Anti Hair Slave shows you how to work hair treatments into your daily schedule without taking making you a "slave" to your hair.

Amber at Beauty Blogging Junkie lists all you need for a fakecation.

I Heart Heels has a super-hot handbag giveaway as seen on Miley Cyrus at the Oscars - click here to enter!

Frappelattes gives us a mini how-to guide on how to apply false eyelashes, perfect if you're a beginner to this look.

eye4style is giving away DERMAdoctor's new Poetry in Lotion. Enter here to win!

You don't wanna miss out on Indian Girl's The Body Shop Giveaway !

A Little More Beautiful is giving away BOTH amazing books by Nina Garcia, The Little Black Book of Style and The One Hundred: A Guide to the Pieces Every Stylish Woman Must Own!

Check Out Lipgloss Break's review of SPINLASH and Enter to win Your Own!

Beauty411 reviews The SPF 30 UV Protecting Fluid from LaMer.

ThisThatBeauty shows off NEW!!! Prescriptives U-PICK Refillable Compacts...Check out ThisThatBeauty's chosen compact combo and Felicia's FACE OF THE DAY

Glossypink tells you how to get the look of a Victoria's Secret Angel, AND it's the final week to enter the Elizabeth Arden Pretty Fragrance Set giveaway!

The girls over at Beauty in Real Life are having a giveaway with Shecky's Girls Night Out. Click here to enter to win 2 tickets and 2 goodie bags to a GNO event near you!!!

Monique at Beauty Girl Musings shares how to give yourself a great manicure at home!

Face Candy is introduced to Jouer Cosmetics.

Sephora goes eco-chic with the Pure line and the new Wanderlust Palette. Beauty Beast has the scoop.

Everyone has been talking about Maybelline New York's new mascara, Stiletto Lash. Does it live up to the hype? Daily Dose of Coffee takes it for a test.

Watch Laura Mercier Backstage at Pamella Roland New York Fashion Week Fall 2009-by Talking Makeup!

This week, Spoiled Pretty is partnering with Barry Fletcher for a hair product giveaway. You're gonna love these products...so enter today!

Free Shipping at Cherry Culture

Today, March 10, through Thursday, March 12, Cherry Culture is offering free standard shipping on all US orders!

Also don't forget to check out the Beauty Deals page to find items up to 75% off normal prices. NYX diamond sparkle lip gloss and fabulous eyelashes are only $4 each, while eyeshadow trios are now $5 each!

Happy shopping!

Free Gift with Barbie Loves Stila Purchase

It seems like it was just yesterday that I wrote my review of Stila's Illuminating Tinted Moisturizer... wait, it was yesterday! And like magic, this morning I woke up to awesome news from Stila's website!

In celebration of Barbie's 50th birthday, when you purchase any of the five items in the Barbie Loves Stila collection, you'll not only get free standard shipping, but a free gift - your very own Stila Illuminating Tinted Moisturizer!

Act fast, because this offer only lasts a week. Simply add any product from the Barbie Loves Stila collection to your basket and enter the code BIRTHDAY at checkout! It's the perfect reason to check out this beautiful and fun collection, inspired by the timeless Barbie, and save money (about $40!).

Review: Stila Illuminating Tinted Moisturizer SPF 15

While on my search for a great tinted moisturizer, I recently realized I had a gem in my makeup case that I had hardly touched since I received it as a gift months ago. Feeling terrible about it, I whipped it out and have been wearing it on a weekly basis ever since!

Yes, I've finally found a Stila product I love! Keep reading for my full review of Stila's Illuminating Tinted Moisturizer SPF 15.

Product Description: "Skin instantly looks softer and younger with this handy multi-tasker. It delivers a hint of sheer coverage, subtle shimmer, SPF 15 and added moisture in one effortless application. Perfect for everyday use, the silky formula blends beautifully for a pretty, luminous look."

Prize: $32/1.7 oz.

Results: I held off on seriously trying this product for a while because I hadn't yet realized the potential of tinted moisturizers. I was always a moisturizer-and-foundation kind of girl, so combining the two products into one felt unnatural to me. If you find a quality tinted moisturizer, however, eliminating the extra step is not only convenient, but saves time (and possibly money) as well!

Stila's Illuminating Tinted Moisturizer SPF 15 is one such product. While pricey, it actually lives up to its claims - it softens, moisturizes, brightens, and protects, all in one easy, quick step.

The product comes in a simple squeeze tube, eliminating waste and potential health hazards that can come with other forms of packaging (such as pump tops or built-in sponge/brush applicators), which I really appreciate. You can squeeze out the exact amount of product that you want, without having to worry about getting too much.

The texture of this tinted moisturizer is very creamy and thick; probably more so than any other I've tried. This can make it difficult to spread across your skin, so I suggest warming it between your hands first. This should help reduce any pulling or tugging of the skin that might happen when you're working the product into your face.

Because the formulation is so thick, though, it also works great as a replacement for your everyday moisturizer. However, oily skin types might find that it is too greasy feeling, and some have said it may also cause acne. If your skin isn't exfoliated often enough, it will not sink in as well, either, and may feel heavy.

The coverage is good for a tinted moisturizer, sheer and light with a hint of color, and does a nice job of concealing redness. It also has an instant brightening, or "illuminating," effect, providing an excellent pick-me-up for tired-looking skin. I was a little put off at first because it simply made my face seem shiny, but after it sank in, I was left with a pretty, more subtle glow. (Hint: if the shine is still too much for you, try a light dusting of translucent powder to tone it down! This will also help keep oil away.)

One major downside is that the product is only available in two shades. Shade 1 is said to be ideal for light to medium skintones, while shade 2 is intended for darker skin; but it appears the choices for women of color are very limited, seeing that both colors look fairly similar. This is disappointing, considering Stila's other line of tinted moisturizers comes in 10 different shades.

The other drawback is, of course, the price. $32 for 1.7 ounces is definitely not within the budgets of many. And as you probably know, I wouldn't pay this kind of money for a product on a regular basis. However, I highly recommend looking into buying one of Stila's many sets, which often include this product (sometimes full-size) and are an amazing value.

Also keep an eye out on beautycrunch, where you can often grab discontinued Stila sets for even less!

All in all, I enjoyed this product for its quality and multi-tasking abilities. It moisturizes, softens, and brightens, providing me with a great option on days when I'm in a hurry, but still want to look fresh and luminous. I'm currently searching for a budget equivalent, but for now, I'll definitely continue using this!

Giveaway: Crest Whitestrips Advanced Seal

Earlier this week, I told you about some free samples you could sign up for - Crest Whitestrips Advanced Seal, the newest addition to the Crest Whitestrips family. Well, guess what? After I expressed my excitement for this product, Crest decided to surprise me and my readers with a giveaway!

This week, we're offering up two full-size boxes of Crest Whitestrips Advanced Seal! That's a 14-day supply to help get your teeth their whitest in no time. These newly redesigned, improved whitening strips only require 30 minutes of your time, once a day, for two weeks. Their great no-slip grip technology stays on your teeth until you remove them, and won't leave behind any filmy residue.

I'm only on day four of my trial, and I can already see a great difference in the whiteness of my teeth!

If you smoke or drink coffee, tea, or soda often, or if your smile just needs a little pick-me-up, enter your name and e-mail address in the box below from now until March 20 (10 pm EST). Two readers will win their own 14-day supply. This contest is open to residents of the US and Canada only.

Good luck!

$2 Shipping at e.l.f.

Here's something to smile about today! Check out e.l.f. - the company famous for its $1 cosmetics - to get an amazing deal on shipping!

On any order of $20 or more, enter SHIPTWO at checkout to get shipping for an incredible $2!

Better hurry before they change their minds. While you're at it, why not check out the new Studio products and let me know how you like them?

First Look: ecoTOOLS Brow Grooming Set

Every time I find a brand new ecoTOOLS product at the store, my heart skips a beat or two. I have been impressed by this brand time and time again in the past, and they haven't let me down once. Quality, affordability, and a strong commitment to staying eco-friendly - this brand has it all!

Let me tell you what I spotted at my local Walgreens the other day: the new ecoTOOLS Brow Grooming Set. This five-piece kit contains everything you need to keep your brows in shape while being respectful of the environment. And as with all ecoTOOLS products, you can be sure every piece of each tool is low-impact, recycled, and cruelty-free! I don't even need to mention the wonderful quality, do I?

The Brow Grooming Set includes the following:

Tweezers
Scissors
Angled brush
Spoolie
5x mirror

The mirror is lead-free and made from bamboo, and even the scissors and tweezers use recycled stainless steel!

You can find this great set online at Walgreens for $11.99, or at Target for $9.99. Also look for it in stores now!

Maybelline Lash Stiletto Giveaway Winners

Now that the Maybelline Lash Stiletto Giveaway is over, it's time to announce the five lovely winners!

If your name is Huguette E., Zahra, Audrey C., Kirsty R., or Karin, check your e-mail - you've won your very own Maybelline Lash Stiletto Ultimate Length Mascara!! Be sure to check your spam folders as well. You have 72 hours to respond before another winner is chosen in your place.

As always, a huge thanks to everyone who entered. Come back and see me later this week for another awesome giveaway!

Free Samples: Crest Whitestrips Advanced Seal

Everyone knows that a beautiful smile is as important to your appearance as the makeup you apply and the clothes you put on! And the more you smile, the more confident and friendly you appear.

If you think your teeth could stand to be a bit whiter these days, why not give Crest Whitestrips Advanced Seal a try? These aren't your momma's Crest Whitestrips, though - this teeth-whitening system can go anywhere and do anything you do! That's because the newly designed strips are made to mold and adhere to your teeth, so you can continue your normal routine (even drinking water!).

You'll begin to see results in as little as 3 days, with full results in 14, just by wearing the strips for 30 minutes a day. The strips even remove cleanly, meaning (hopefully) no more gooey messes to deal with when you're done.

The kit retails for $44, but wouldn't you rather try Crest Whitestrips Advanced Seal for free? Sign up to receive a free sample from Walmart today! Hurry, though... supplies are very limited, and these freebies go fast!

Also check out the product website for a coupon!