While listening to Pandora this afternoon (Ella Fitzgerald radio for a little old school Hollywood glamour!), I was sucked in by an audio ad for HauteLook and decided to check out the site.  It’s been a looong while since I last visited.

Lo!  Good timing: HauteLook is currently featuring a huge sale on Pop Beauty makeup, on until tomorrow (Saturday, 7/24) at 8 AM PST.

Check it out here and get items like Lid Pastel Eyeshadow Palette, normally $22, for only $6.60–a savings of 70%.

Vas-y!

Like spa deals on the cheap?  Of course you do!  This special just arrived in my inbox and I had to share – très exciting for those of you who live in New York and love to be pampered without breaking the bank, but I wish there were more deals for my readers in the rest of the country!  (Well, if and when I hear about them, rest assured I will pass along.)

The essentials: Every Tuesday a different New York City spa will offer a service for just $25.  Visit 25Tuesdays.com to view deals and purchase. Can only buy on Tuesdays, but spa deals can be used any day within a year.

Sample services:
$25 O2 Marine Vitality Facial from Orchid Aesthetics Med Spa
30 minutes (62% off – regularly $67.00)
“The perfect facial to fend off Jack Frost and his damaging winter winds. The Marine Vitality facial includes a marine oxygen mask with grapefruit extract that acts as a light AHA peel. In addition, a marine vitamin spray intensely hydrates the skin to create a complete antioxidant, skin repair treatment.”

$75 Eyebrow Lift Botox Treatment
20 minutes (73% off – regularly $280.00)
“Botox Cosmetic is a simple, anti aging non surgical procedure for rejuvenating the eyebrows.”

Cologne just shot this amazing deal my way; it’s a L’Oreal Luxury Sale at the Metropolitan Pavillion in New York featuring discounts between 50% – 90% off on some of my favorite brands: Lancome, Shu Uemura, Kiehl’s, Vichy and La Roche-Posay, as well as Yves Saint Laurent, Ralph Lauren and Giorgio Armani.  The sale is on now and runs until this Sunday, December 20th.  Print out the invitation below for admittance.  Get to it!

By Gloria Yang, contributor:

Since trying NARS Oil Free foundation during my second year in college, I believed that no other liquid foundation would work as well with my skin.  It’s not like I haven’t tried other brands; I’ve given it a go with MAC, Clarins and Laura Mercier.  Even though the formulas are oil-free, they still felt greasy and streaky on me, or the undertone of the foundation was simply too pink.  NARS was everything but – it was matte, lightweight, and the coverage was sheer yet buildable.  It was everything I’ve ever wanted in a foundation – except for the price.  It’s $40 for a tiny 1 oz bottle.  Not cheap!

Thus began my search for something different.  My coworker, A, always wears impeccable makeup.  I also know that she’s somewhat on the frugal side, living alone in LA while going to school.  Her secret to incredible flawless makeup?  L’Oreal TrueMatch. (more…)

I’m not subtle about playing favorites: Bare Escentuals is, and will remain, my all-time favorite beauty brand until the day I die.  Bare Minerals foundation changed my life–no more redness!  children no longer scream and flee when confronted with my makeup-free complexion!–and so I happily pledge allegiance to Leslie Blodgett’s wonderful offerings.  From tomorrow Friday June 19 through Sunday June 21, all products from Bare Escentuals and their sister company md formulations will be 20% off.  Enjoy!

 One of the most frequent questions I get is: “What should I splurge on and how can I save?”

I think only with hair do you really get what you pay for.  Splurge on a gorgeous cut and artful highlights and your hair will be easier to style, will grow out more evenly and you’ll be more likely to love what you see in the mirror every morning.Is this a hard and fast rule?  No.  You can get nice color from a box–although from-a-box highlights truly are dicey–and you can get a good cut from Susie Q at the local salon.  The more complex the style and intricate the color, however, the more you’ll benefit from a pro.  If you have the same color God blessed you with, rarely blowdry your hair because it airdries perfectly!, and haven’t the foggiest why everybody moans about frizz and damage, then Supercuts and Feria away!  For the rest of us–you know, us split-ended, monthly root-touch-up requiring, coarse-stranded, thick-haired gals with cowlicks?–you’d better believe we’ll see results from a great stylist.  (“Great” means, say, $100 – $200…not $1000.  We are not Billionaires here, people.)

Now.  As for pretty much everything else …with the exception of powders (more on that below)…more expensive does not equal better!  Cleanser, face moisturizer/serum, nail polish, intensive conditioner…you can find genuinely amazing buys for all at the drugstore!  Below, my all-time favorites (all of which are currently carving out real-estate in my bathroom).

Moisturizer/Serum/Sunscreen: Neutrogena Ultra-Sheer Dry Touch SPF 55, Olay Regenerist, Purpose Dual Treatment Moisture Lotion SPF 15 

Cleanser: Check out Cetaphil, Purpose Gentle Cleansing Wash, Neutrogena Oil-Free Acne Wash

 Nail polish: OPI will do just fine, thanks!

Intensive Conditioner: VO5 Hot Oil, Infusium Leave-In Treatment, Aussie Three Minute Miracle

 Mascara: Cover Girl Lash Blast, Max Factor Lash Perfection, Maybelline Great Lash (if that’s your thing)

The only thing besides hair I will voluntarily splurge on until the day I die is Bare Escentuals Bare Minerals foundation, because those drugstore imitations just do not compete.  Why?  More expensive powders are more finely milled; your NARS blush will produce less streaks than the Rite-Aid version; it’s not your imagination–those MAC eyeshadows really are more pigmented than the corner knock-off.So, shop at the drugstore and remain confident that–as long as you’re picking the right products–you can still equip yourself with the best…all while saving money for those expensive highlights!  Or for rent.  Toss up.