Easy-On-The-Wallet Beauty Care: Part II

Wake up, eyes!

Adding some shimmer to your eyes can make a huge difference in looking like you're on your way to the office or you're on your way out for the night. And, I'm not going to lie, I made my own shimmer eye shadow and I just love it. It really brings out my eyes. In fact, when I wore it one time to a Mexican restaurant on a date, the waitress told me that I looked like a TV star. I admit, I was hooked after that. And, it was so easy to make. I took probably one teaspoon of petroleum jelly (I got the tub at the dollar store for $1.00) and smashed up some cheap eye shadow (Wet 'n Wild, Walgreens, $2.99). Then I mixed the two together in a bowl and spooned it into an empty Carmex™ container (the spherical kind with the twist-on lid). If you don't have an empty Carmex™ container, you can order your own makeup containers from http://www.makingcosmetics.com for about $1.20 a piece. And, if you think that's expensive, a comparable MAC ™ product runs $16.50 for a similar shaped pot. And you can make your own for about $5.25. And it lasts forever. The only catch (and there's always one) is that you need to matte your lids with something like a foundation before you apply. I like eyelid primer from E.L.F. Otherwise it can mash all in your crease. But it looks beautiful and really wakes up your eyes.

E.L.F.

Eyes Lips Face cosmetics is a great place to stock up on some of the objects you use everyday. They sell [most] of their cosmetics for $1.00 and, while not the greatest quality, they can be useful if you enjoy mass collecting. I have tried many of their products and find that they are the same quality as most of those that you can purchase from any grocery store. They even provide a mineral line that is high quality and quite affordable. And, you can use the coupon code BEAUTYATALLAGES to get 50% off their next cosmetic purchase up to $15. They have nail polish, brushes, cases, and all kinds of makeup for the (you guessed it) eyes, lips, and face. You can shop for their products at www.eyeslipsface.com and also at select stores, such as the Target store in Orem.

Samples from Manufacturers

Many manufacturers will give out samples of their products as an attempt to hook you and draw you in. It's a great way to try out expensive products before you decide if they're worth investing in. You can find them online by entering the name of the company with manufacturers coupons into your favorite search engines. And, you can get a lot of them at the makeup counters at department stores, which segues nicely into my next section.

Makeup Counters at Department Stores

Many department stores employ makeup artists at their makeup counters, to sell the upscale makeup they stock. And, you can generally get an appointment to get your makeup done there for free or for a very small fee. Usually, you will need an appointment, however, they do this in order to make you fall in love with the products they try out. In fact, there are events happening all the time. For instance, here is an ad for the Nordstrom's in Orem, UT:

Saturday, December 12, 10:00 AM - 6:00 PM
Come learn the latest trends in winter makeup by booking an appointment with our featured artists.
Cosmetics

Coupons—the New Currency of the Times

There was a time when it was considered gauche to clip coupons. Only the lower class clipped coupons—they were trashy and poor. But now, being a Frugal Fannie like me is a good thing, and the currency of the era is coupons. They're everywhere! Like some, you can subscribe to the Sunday paper to do your coupon clipping, but I prefer to do my clipping online for free. One of my favorites is www.coupons.com as well as www.retailmenot.com. They have coupons you can print and codes that you can enter when you're shopping online. And many of them are good for cosmetics.

And Last, But Not Least . . .

Outlet stores. Usually, in every state there are outlet stores within hours drive. In Utah, there is a MAC store in Park City and you can get great deals there! However, there is a trade-off. If you're not going to a city where there are outlet stores, it can not be worth the gas money. So you decide. You can get some really good deals, but is it worth the drive?