I am a SAHM and I have found I am letting myself go because I always find something more important to spend money on,,, so here is my question....what are your best beauty secrets at a great value? We all can look great if we go to a salon and spend a ton of money. What I want to know is what products you all use that are inexpensive, but yet, work really well. Is there any one that uses a great make up, hair color, face/body care....what is it and is it a good value?

I am a mommy of an eight month old, so I know sometimes it is really hard to have any time to do alot to yourself.

Here are a few of my faves:

-Burts Bees Cucumber Chamomile Complexion Mist(I love this stuff! When I can't get a chance to wash, tone etc my face, I just spritz with this and feel instantly refreshed)

-Dove Energy Glow( this is a lotion with a subtle self tanner. I've never had any luck with self tanners and the tanning bed is just bad bad bad for your health. I really like this stuff)

-I love Oil of Olay products, but I actually use the Walmart Equate brand versions of these and can't tell a difference for about half the price.

-I love Maybelline Great Lash mascara. It comes in a hot pink tube and the price is great!

-Another trick I found when you are short on time and can't wash your hair that day if you rub some baby powder through your hair it really helps to refresh it. I saw this on a show about models and they do this before going on the runway.

Come on ladies, tell us some more.

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~AMY~

My blogs:
http://mylifeoneblogatatime.blogspot.com/

http://thesaltandpepperdiva.blogspot.com/

I got my nails done professionally a while ago and I've been filling them myself with a filler kit from Rite Aid ($5.99). At a fraction of the cost, I can keep my salon nails without breaking our budget and I don't have to subject myself to the pain of having the salon chick do them. Plus I don't have to find a babysitter to go get them done! It's almost too good to be true.. LOL. As for makeup, I've lately been using just Clinique, but my SIL uses anything.. $1 store, walmart, anything.. she looks like a million bucks, so I've come to the conclusion that it isn't the product as much as the technique/know-how of it all. I gotta start reading up on that stuff, just like she did to learn her tricks.

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I am a Mary Kay Consultant and I am able to get all of my skin care, makeup, lotions etc etc. at 50% off. Gotta love that.:D I do know that I will work with my customers to help them get what they want at a price they can afford. If they are willing to take book orders or host a party etc. I would be willing (and have many times) given product away free or at a deep discount. If you are interested, I could help you find a consultant in your area that would do the same or would help you out myself.

Kim, Administrators, I hope that this was ok to say. I just think that when you can't afford a quality product it can sometimes pay to figure out how you can get it free or cheap .

I've become pretty good at coloring my own hair at home,gotta cover that gray stuff,ya know! I love the Preference by Loreal brand. I also trim my own bangs inbetween hair cuts.Witch Hazel works just as good as an astringent than name brands.Tea Tree Oil for acne spots or small cuts. Thats all i can think of for now.

My two best beauty "secrets" are Bare Escentuals make up and a facial steamer. I got mine on overstock.com (I think) and it was like $13 (Conair). I try to use it for 5 minutes after my shower at least 3-4 times a week, then wash my face immediately after. (I use Walmart brand Neutrogena Deep Clean Cream Cleanser) It's amazing what a difference it makes. I can really tell when I haven't done it in a while. I follow with Walmart brand Olay Beauty lotion, wait at least 5-10 minutes, then use Bare Escentuals make up. I've never had nice skin but with this routine my face looks great.

Some other favs are from the Body Shop. I LOVE the Peppermint foot line (soak, scrub, lotion) and their Vitamin C line for my face. When I first started using Body Shop I used the Tea Tree line because I had bad acne. It cleared it right up, then I switched to Vit. C. I also love Avon's Silicone Glove hand lotion.

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Jennifer
dd Sarah 1/4/02
ds Brady 1/15/07

I like the Jane lipstick at Walmart. No, it doesn't last all day- you have to reapply, but it's only about $3 per tube, and I like the way it goes on and looks. I've tried all different kinds of lipstick and honestly think it's about as good as other more expensive brands.

There is also a book called something like "Don't go to the Cosmetic counter without Me". I've seen it at the library- it's an insiders guide to cosmetic products. I haven't read it yet but heard it's really an eye opener.

And last- someone posted recently that in the whole world there are only about 11 companies making eyeliner/eyebrow pencils, so basically they are all very similar.

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I don't believe in miracles; I depend on them

The following is going to be what sounds like a lot of steps, but my morning "beauty" routine takes no more than 10 minutes, 20 if I shower. When you take some time for yourself you begin to see that it's not such a big deal to do, but it makes you feel like you're a woman again.

I make sure that the one thing I get all year for myself is a trip to the salon for a good cut and color. That's all it takes for me though. I try and make that land somewhere around the holidays.

I've got 6 and 8 year olds so I do have more time to myself these days. Some things I've always had/done, and still do:

- Nail polish remover, cotton balls/pads and a color I LOVE. My toes are always trimmed and painted, no matter what. I do it after I get out of my shower. So if someone was watching the boys while I was in there, I'd make sure I didn't come out until my toes were done. It's only a once a week or once every two weeks thing, but you feel so much more attractive when your feet aren't hideous looking (like mine are without polish on them).

- Palmer's cocoa butter from the tub. Not lotion, not cream. It's like vaseline consistency almost. It's thick and I use it at night after a shower and before I throw some socks on.

- Neutrogena Light sesame oil. The most feminine and clean scent ever. I put it on shortly after towel drying. It's also nice in bath water and a foot spa.

- Skintimate Shave gel, pack of decent razors, mine are Bic Soleil these days. Indulge yourself here. One bottle will last forever if you are as lax in this area as I am. I'm a once-a-week shaver, sometimes longer. But using the gel makes me feel more...erm special?

- 2 or 3 different kinds of shampoos and conditioners . I'm doing the Herbal Essences Break's Over, Sunsilk Anti-flat and Pantene Blonde something or another. I just rotate between them after a few days. It makes it seem kind of new, and it also helps wash away build-up from one to the other. I am a brush-and-go kind of girl. Just get another set when you're halfway done with one so it's not like you're buying the store out.

- Oil of Olay is your friend. This is a tried and true classic beauty staple. I use Night of Olay every night.

- A good daytime moisturizer. I wipe on Biore pore refining lotion with sunscreen every morning. I may forget to wear makeup half the time, but I always have my moisturizer on.

- Makeup that's easy for you to put on, and can travel with you incase you're sitting in the car realizing you look a hot mess (no, don't apply it in traffic). I use the compact cream foundation from Cover Girl. I think it's Aqua or H20 something to do with water. It's easy to just swipe some on in the morning and hit my cheeks up with bronzer as blush on my cheeks and at my hairline.
- Bronzer or blush. I use both, just not usually at the same time. The bronzer is a powder I brush on sparingly (Rimmel or something cheap). The blush is the creamy mousse type (Cover girl? Loreal?) with a pink tone. Whatever I'm in the mood for.
- Great Lash mascara in dark brown (I'm paler than pale). The infamous pink and green tube. If you only put on ONE part of your makeup in the a.m. Let it be mascara.
- A lipstick you like. Apply it often. Get a natural color for everyday. Mauve sorts of pinks are great and flirty. I'm using Loreal Incrediful. I also carry a pinky lip gloss with me. I just like the way lip gloss makes my lips feel, even when it's wearing off. It makes them look a little fuller.

Works for me:
I am not a bath person. So I will actually shower sitting down, once a week or whenever my legs feel like they will collapse beneath me. I pull all of my products down to the tub level and bathe as if I was standing. I take my time though, and scrub my head with one of my fragrant shampoos kind of backward to how I normally do. Like I'll start at the nape of my neck instead of the top of my head. I don't usually use my poofy thing so I always have some kind of bath gel on hand. I use my poofy during my sit-down showers. I also use a backbrush once a week.

Foot spa. This is the easiest thing to suggest when someone asks what you want for Christmas. I use it about once a week. I grab a nice soft pair of cottony socks, a small towel to dry my feetsies off with afterward and the spa. I fill it up with warm water, Neutrogena light sesame oil and stick it right here under the computer desk, or in front of me when I'm catching a show. Dry my feet off really well afterward, get my Palmers out and slather the heels up, and put my socks on. Rewarding treat, my dear.

This is honestly the best mask/beauty secret ever and so dirt cheap! (coming from a total product junkie herself). Enjoy!
http://makeupalley.com/product/showr...d_Brand/Masks/

(I mix mine quite pasty... warm water and a lot of aspirin- that's it and people will notice!)