It’s time for the annual photo of my sun damage to freak you the hell out and remind you that, even if your skin looks clear and glowy at first glance, there are likely pigmentation issues lurking beneath!

Skin cancer in not only the most common form of cancer in the US–1 million new cases each year–but it’s also the most preventable.  (I learned this from a press release sent my way today by Neutrogena.  Thanks, guys!)  Coincidentally, one of my two favorite sunscreens is made by Neutrogena: Ultra Sheer Dry Touch SPF 55.  (The other?  Fenix SPF 30 Rehydrating Sunscreen, which is totally the bomb and which I adore.)

 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.

My mom was on my mind a lot this weekend!  It’s been over four months since she died and I love feeling her with me as I’m driving, walking, getting ready for bed or simply lost in my thoughts.   I feel so insanely blessed–to be alive, to do what I love, to love what I do, to have developed enough resilience that I take the bad with the good and keep pressing forward–and I remind myself of my luck and of life’s gifts to me on a daily basis.

When Johnson’s Body Care approached me, offering to host a charity beauty sale, I jumped at the chance!  We threw a party today, generously supported by J&J through a kick-off donation of $100, in honor of my mother’s memory, with all proceeds going to the Lymphoma Research Foundation.  In total, we raised just under $1000–somewhere, my mother is pleased!  As luck would have it, the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society was hosting a bachelor auction on Friday night, so I attended that as well, and “won” a strapping young man for a fun date.  Mama Jolie would have been pleased by that, too!

My beauty sales have become yearly events, and I’m already planning the next one, which I’m tentatively throwing in late November/early December.  If you’re interested in getting involved, either as a guest or as a sponsor, please email me at nadine@jolienadine.com.

Here are the Johnson’s gift bags, full of Johnson’s Body Care 24 Hour Body Lotion and 24 Hour Moisturizing Body Wash, and Be Radiant Exfoliating Body Wash and Be Radiant Cocoa & Shea Butter Lotion.  I also threw in some extra Neutrogena goodies I had from my last sale, some Bare Escentuals Bare Minerals foundation samples, and a copy of my new book Confessions of a Beauty Addict!

Here’s the table with the beauty products on it before the sale started…

And a video after the sale ended!  Thanks to all who came, and a very special thank you to Johnson and Johnson for hosting!

Congratulations to Raha, the winner of the Neutrogena/Teen Vogue giveaway!  More exciting prizes to follow soon, so if you haven’t won anything yet, don’t lose hope!

A reader emailed me recently asking which teen magazines I loved.  We discussed how Teen Vogue is one of the only good ones around and bemoaned the lack of quality publications for teens remaining on the stands (Sassy, we hardly knew ye!).  So, how’s this for a cool giveaway?  Teen Vogue and Neutrogena are offering two lucky readers a mega-booty prize.  US residents, enter below in the comments section with your name, email and all-time favorite magazine and you’ll be entered to win one of two prizes:

One winner will receive:

A copy of the April issue of Teen Vogue signed by Emma Roberts, plus a set of Neutrogena products to replicate Emma’s cover look:

Nourishing Eye Quad in Tea Biscuit

MoistureShine Lipstick in Berry Burst

Healthy Volume Mascara in Black

Oil Free Acne Wash Pink Grapefruit Facial Cleanser

Healthy Defense SPF 30 Daily Moisturizer

(And ’cause they’re cool like that, a second winner will get all the products, too!)

The contest runs until Friday AM when I’ll pick a winner from the comments at random.  Good luck!

Congratulations to Karen, Ashlyn, Jodi, Lisa G, Jeanne, Ivanna, Heather, Madison, Rachel and Kat, the winners of the Neutrogena giveaway!  More free goodies from some of my favorite brands coming soon…