12 Beauty Products Under $5–And Why You Need Them All…
Chicago knows a good deal when it sees one, but when it comes to beauty products, we're never 100% positive what's hiding behind all the slick packaging and discount stickers. If an affordable product doesn't deliver on its promise, you've just wasted money that could have easily made its way into your wardrobe. Not cool. That's why we did the road-testing for you. We're revealing the 12 beauty bargains under $5 that are actually worth way more than their teeny-tiny price tags. Expect to find some new favorites and must-haves on this list of steals, and feel free to share your saving secrets in the comments (if you're feeling generous). We have all the beauty products in the world to choose from so you can make sure every pretty penny is well spent.
Go Straight From Work To Play With These 11 Beauty Essentials
If you plan dates or nights out with the girls, during the week, you've probably done this at least once: squinted into the mirror in your office bathroom, blinking under the fluorescent lights and kicking yourself for forgetting concealer, eyeliner, a rich lipcolor, or the like. We know! Going out straight from work can cause the kind of stress that sometimes makes you want to bail on your plans and hide out at home. But what you need, to remedy that inclination for hibernation, is one souped-up makeup kit that has everything you need for an insta-makeover — something to boost flat tresses, clean up smudged makeup, and make you feel fresh as a daisy after a long day at the office. Think of it as your Clark Kent-to-Superman beauty transition kit — only these products are so awesome, you're not going to want to keep them a secret.
Beauty Test Lab: Itty Bitty Makeup Erasers
As much as we consider ourselves experts with our eyeliner, every now and then, we make a mistake. Usually, when that happens, we simply grab a cotton pad or swab, dip it in some eye makeup remover and erase our mistake. Unfortunately, makeup meltdowns can often happen outside of the comfort of your own home, when we don't have a bottle of makeup remover handy.
That's why we had to give these cool sticks from Almay a try — they're little cotton swabs that are pre-dosed with remover so you can get rid of beauty boo boos no matter where you are. See what our senior beauty editor Megan had to say about them in this video.
Almay Makeup Eraser Sticks, $4.40, available at Drugstore.com
Video still by Eric Chakeen
Almay Makeup Eraser Sticks, $4.40, available at Drugstore.com
Video still by Eric Chakeen
Sexy Scents That Are Proven To Seduce
Have you ever caught a whiff of someone's scent and suddenly thought that they were looking mighty fine? You're not alone: The link between seduction and smell is as old as civilization itself. According to the story of Cleopatra, not one but two great leaders of the ancient Roman Empire fell under her spell after smelling her perfumed concoctions. So what is it about fragrances that can bring even warlords to their knees?
Scary Hair Accessories: Even The Model Looks Scared Of These Things
Remember these things? Plastic balls attached to hair elastics that make you look like an unbalanced version of Minnie Mouse? They're back! We spotted this set on the ASOS site, and if you'll notice, not even the model is convinced. Maybe she thought her pony tail was just fine before someone attached two Christmas ornaments to it? Who knows. What's important here is whether or not you agree with us? Spill your thoughts on this major blast from the past. Should it stay hidden in the confines of the late '80s and early '90s where it belongs, or is it time for a second spin in the limelight? ASOS Oversized Bauble Ponio Hairband, $8.95, available at ASOS.
Save The Planet (& Your Wallet) With These New Shampoos
We're very big on the waste not, want not adage around here — we think beauty products should be good until the very last drop. Problem is, sometimes it's really hard to get that last smidgen of product out of its container — we've tried everything from scooping it out with our pinkie finger to violently thwacking the bottle against our hands in a desperate effort to get at what's left of our fave cream or conditioner.That's why we're so appreciative of Pureology's new Zero Waste packaging: It's specifically designed to expunge every last ounce of shampoo and conditioner out of the bottle. You can get more than 70 shampoos from just one tube! As an added bonus, all of the packaging is 100% recyclable, and the ingredients are entirely vegan and organic. Save the Earth with a shower? It might just be possible...
Photo: Via Pureology
A Crafty New Way To Make Your Casa Smell Divine
After a few months of winter hibernation, our apartments are starting to smell kind of rank. As much as we love candles, they take some time before they start to mask the funk, and fragrance diffusers are messy and always seem to lose their mojo after a few days. We're digging these ingenious new room fragrances by AirCraft, because they feature a "so simple it's genius" approach: They've infused the scent into the sticks.Instead of messing around with loose oil, AirCraft's ScentSticks are made from natural, biodegradable fibers that are saturated with pure fragrance oils. You can use them in the included ceramic holder, or get creative and put them in a cool jar. If you want to play perfumer, you can combine scents to create a unique aroma that's all your own. With twelve scents to choose from, go crazy coming up with inventive perfume combos. They last for 30 days, but we recommend adding in new sticks midway through to pep up your abode with a freshened up scent.
AirCraft Infused ScentSticks; $12.99 for a starter pack, $9.99 for refills; AirCraft for retailers.
Photos: Courtesy of AirCraft
Stella McCartney Launches A Fragrance To Satisfy Aesthetes & Nerds Alike
The UK department store we wish would come to the good ol' US of A, Selfridges, is playing host to what has got to be the most complicated perfume launch ever. Teaming up with Stella McCartney, our friends over at Gin Lane Media are helping to introduce her latest fragrance, L.I.L.Y., with a truly 360º campaign that is sure to make anyone's jaw drop, from total tech nerds to sartorial super-fans.
The windows at Selfridges' on Oxford Street will (starting today!) display an innovative public art installation that features video content by Margosia Bella and Dan Tobin Smith, with distinctive interactive features that allow passersby to not only enjoy the installation but also engage with it and alter the display. As if that wasn't cool enough, UKers get to play along with an L.I.L.Y. iPhone and Android app that allows users to create collages and upload them to a collage gallery (we Americans get our own app this October. These creations are uniquely formatted to be easily sent to email, Facebook, Twitter, and (our fave) Instagram so sharing with friends is a snap.
Peep some pics below that Gin Lane president, Emmett Shine, shared with us from London. If you are in the UK, make sure to get down to Selfridges to see it for yourself — the display will be up 'til February 15. We're crossing our fingers that this project comes to NYC in the future, but until then, you'll find us on our phones collaging away!
Photo: Courtesy of Gin Lane
The windows at Selfridges' on Oxford Street will (starting today!) display an innovative public art installation that features video content by Margosia Bella and Dan Tobin Smith, with distinctive interactive features that allow passersby to not only enjoy the installation but also engage with it and alter the display. As if that wasn't cool enough, UKers get to play along with an L.I.L.Y. iPhone and Android app that allows users to create collages and upload them to a collage gallery (we Americans get our own app this October. These creations are uniquely formatted to be easily sent to email, Facebook, Twitter, and (our fave) Instagram so sharing with friends is a snap.
Peep some pics below that Gin Lane president, Emmett Shine, shared with us from London. If you are in the UK, make sure to get down to Selfridges to see it for yourself — the display will be up 'til February 15. We're crossing our fingers that this project comes to NYC in the future, but until then, you'll find us on our phones collaging away!
Photo: Courtesy of Gin Lane
20 Drugstore Beauty Must-Haves — From Our Fave Bloggers…
Real talk: Looking good does not need to cost an arm and a leg. This is especially true from the neck up, thanks to the hidden beauty gems scattered throughout the aisles of unassuming places like...um, Walgreens! Don't believe us? We tapped 10 of our favorite bloggers from around the Bay to show you exactly what we're talking about. From totally on-trend lipstick shades (Revlon seems to be the prevailing fave) to mascaras that'll make you do a double-take, here's a gaggle of tip-top (and super-cheap) drugstore picks from local ladies who definitely know a thing or two about being drop-dead gorgeous.
A Luxe Beauty Bag Of Tricks For Your Stylin' Weekend Ski Trip!
It may be scorching hot here this weekend, but it is almost February (God bless Califor-ni-a!), and that means there's most likely trips to the local slopes penned in your planner—President's Day can't come fast enough, man. Although we're not necessarily ones to trek it up and down the mountain like some brave souls, we're definitely all about the après ski scene. And that means lodge-style luxury of the champagne swilling, cozy-up-with-a-good-book-variety.
Whatever mountain mayhem you're up to, we've got a collab that's suited for any luxe-hunter: Starting February 1st, Veuve Clicquot and natural beauty line Fresh will launch their Snow Beauty Survival Kit, that will keep you feeling smooth, sexy, and well, fresh!
Packed into a super cute Clicquot In The Snow logo-ed little pouch are the famed champagne house-inspired Citron de Vigne scent, Seaberry Restorative Body Cream To-Go, Brown Sugar Hand Cream, Crème Ancienne, and Sugar Lip Treatment. While we were Sundance-ing, we used each and every product ('twas sheer necessity), and we promise they provided extreme, opulent comfort while we braved the elements. For only $60 bucks, it's a steal of a high-style sack for your next ski/après ski excursion, and trust us, you'll realize it's for both function and frills.
Photo: Courtesy of LaForce + Stevens.
Learn Your Lines: We're Loving This Easy-To-Apply Liquid Formula
We confess: Some days we skip parts of our beauty routines — a shampoo here, an exfoliation there — but one thing we never forgo is eyeliner. It's the finishing touch that makes us look pretty and polished (and awake), and whether you’re creating the perfect winged line or an understated, ultra-wearable look, finding the right product is key — especially when it comes to liquid formulas. We all want something that’s easy to apply, not too thick or too thin, and affordable, which is why we’re obsessed with our latest drugstore find.
Maybelline's Line Stiletto Ultimate Precision liquid eyeliner goes on smooth, thanks to a thin felt-tip brush that makes drawing a straight line effortless. Our favorite shade? Blackest Black, which transitions from office-appropriate to girls’ night out with no more than an extra stroke or two. At less than $10, who can afford to skip that step?
Maybelline Line Stilletto Ultimate Precision Eyeliner, $7.25, available at Maybelline and mass retailers.
Photo: Via Maybelline
Video Exclusive! DKNY's Do-Gooder Mission
What's more beautiful than a lush perfume? A socially-conscious, eco-friendly one, of course. We were big fans of the PureDKNY Verbena fragrance when it first launched, but when we learned that the brand had partnered with CARE — a leading humanitarian organization — to help support the local farmers who provide the raw ingredients for the scent, we were legitimately overjoyed.
To get a sense of just how impactful this partnership is for the local African women who produce these ingredients, DKNY Fragrances sent us this exclusive video. Narrated by model Angela Lindvall, it shows you what goes into the fragrance, then drops some surprising knowledge and some pretty eye-opening stats about these women and their plight. We were particularly shocked to learn that 70% of farmers in Africa are women, yet these women and girls are some of the poorest people in the world. Check out the video to get informed, see some breathtaking scenery, and be privy to some really touching moments between Angela and the women. After you've finished watching the documentary, which is sure to help start your day off on a positive note, head to DKNY's Facebook page to learn more about the fragrance, the initiative, and how you can get involved.
Video still: Courtesy of DKNY
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