beautyorbustFiled under: Best of the Beauty Blogs | Tags: 15 Minute Beauty Fanatic, All About the Pretty, Beauty Addict, Ecru, jergens, Lord & Berry, Makeup Minute, nail color, Natural Glow Express, pen, Raincoat Protecting Mascara, Sally Hanson, Sunlight Holding Spray, tan, waterproof
THE BEST NEW POSTS FROM OUR FELLOW BEAUTY BLOGGERS – Monday 3/31
Manicure in a Pen! Kristen Kelly over at Beauty Addict reviews the new Nail Color Pen by Sally Hanson.
Ditch the crispity, crunchity locks! All About the Pretty introduces Ecru’s new Sunlight Holding Spray.
When you can’t stand under my umbrella-ella-ella! Shannon over at Makeup Minute reviews the new Raincoat Protecting Mascara by Lord & Berry.
Pale no more! Christine over at 15 Minute Beauty Fanatic reviews Jergens Natural Glow Express.
Filed under: Beauty Giveaway | Tags: LUSH, body, butter, buffy, beauty, giveaway, prize, free, exfoliator
Tell us why you love (or absolutely need!) LUSH’s Buffy body butter and you could win one courtesy of Beauty or Bust!
* If you haven’t heard of LUSH’s Buffy body butter, check out our Reviews section.
* The winner will be announced April 1, 2008.
Filed under: > Eyes
I have always experiemented with brash and loud colors for the eyes. I think they look edgy and fun, and anyone can wear bright hues as long as the choose the right complimentary tones.
At Beauty or Bust we have provided you with a detailed “How To” guide to take you step by step through the process of applying funky eye make up.
Look 1
Start with the base color, which in this case is a white. On top of the white I have mixed a little vaseline and applied some glitter. The pink color is then applied (top right hand pic) at the outer corner only. The final bottom images show how the look comes together when liner is applied.
Look 2
For the second look a bold green is applied as the base color. Blue is then blended in at the corners of the eye, both above and below (see top right pic). The look is then set with a bold black eyeliner to balance out the dramatic hues of the blue and green.
Filed under: > Macy's, Beauty Sales | Tags: > Face, eye, Macy's, Mega-Mushroom, Origins, Plantidote, Serum
Filed under: > Macy's, Beauty Sales | Tags: fragrance, Kathy Hilton, Macy's, My Secret
Filed under: > Macy's, Beauty Sales | Tags: Believe, Britney Spears, fragrance, Macy's
Filed under: > Macy's, Beauty Sales | Tags: Elizabeth Arden, fragrance, Macy's, Meidterranean, Prevage Night
Filed under: > Macy's, Beauty Sales | Tags: Benefit, Macy's, tinted moisturizer, You Rebel Lite
Filed under: > Macy's, Beauty Sales | Tags: beach bag, Escada, fragrance, Macy's
FREE Escada Large Beach Bag with your $70 Escada Fragrance purchase. Once you have selected qualifying Escada fragrance products, the offer will be added at checkout. While supplies last. One per customer.
FREE Zirh “On the Go” Set with any $50 Zirh purchase!
Quick essentials for healthy skin in handy travel sizes packed in a silver triangle box – easy to bring along when “on the go.” Yours with any $50 Zirh purchase. While supplies last.
Filed under: Reviews | Tags: charcoal, cleanser, coalface, facial, liquorice, LUSH
Those who’ve been there know LUSH makes irresistible soaps and bath bombs. But did you know 
that they also make facial cleansers? One such cleanser is Coalface, a slightly intimidating facial bar for girls with oilies that just won’t quit. Made of powdered charcoal and liquorice, this black bar gently exfoliates the skin, cleans deep down, and soothes it for clean, baby-soft skin. Coalface is a must-have for summer, but can be used year-round for those with oily skin. Stop by LUSH and ask for a free sample to try it out. And you thought charcoal was only for the grill.
Where to find it: LUSH! Check the website for locations near you.
Filed under: Home Remedies | Tags: ACV, apple cider vinegar, balance, Bragg's, detox, pH, toner, tonic
Can you handle it? The smell that is. If you’re an “anything goes if it works” kind of girl, you’ll want to try the ACV toner. Although it’ll leave you smelling like a salad, apple cider vinegar can work wonders for your skin. ACV has long been held as a health and beauty miracle worker. It is a natural tonic that promotes blood circulation and kills bacteria. When used as a toner, apple cider vinegar kills the bacteria on your face and balances your skin’s pH level. If used regularly, it can reduce scaly or peeling skin conditions. To use, mix 1 part ACV with 3 parts water (or unsweetened green tea) and apply to your face with a cotton pad. If you skin is very sensitive, rinse off the toner after 10 minutes. Otherwise, no need to rinse. ACV works great at diminishing blackheads and drying out persistent blemishes.
Where to find it: DO NOT reach for the clear ACV found at most grocery stores. For the toner to work (and not BRUTALIZE your skin), you’ll need the organic, unfiltered ACV found at health food stores and GNC. One trusted brand is Bragg’s.
P.S. ACV has great detoxing abilities, and can be taken internally to regulate weight and clean out the digestive system.
Filed under: > PureBeauty, Beauty Sales | Tags: > PureBeauty, acne, Amplifier, beauty, Catwalk, Curls, Hair, makeup, Murad, regimen, Tigi
$4 Off Tigi Catwalk Curls Rock Amplifier (4 oz) – Now $10.95
$35 Murad Acne Complex Regimen – $52 Value
Filed under: > Face | Tags: clinique, dream, foundation, liquid, makeup, matte, maybelline, mousse, powder, superbalanced
Finding your perfect foundation and powder can be tricky, simply because there are so many products on the market and it is hard to tell what one will be right for your skin. At Beauty or Bust we are constantly trying new products, which includes new skin-enhancing formulas such as mineral make-up (see our overrated products section for inexpensive mineral make-up). I believe that liquid foundations are the best as they give good coverage and stay put! Powder foundations tend to dry out my skin.
Choosing the color can be difficult if you are just using the back of your hand as guidance. Ask to try it out on your cheeks as this will give you a better idea of what shade you need.
The best way to apply any type of foundation is with a slanted triangular make-up sponge which you can buy from your local drug store such as Duane Reed, Walgreens or Boots. Use the sponge dry for a heavy coverage or wet it with some warm water for a lighter, more natural look. Start by apppyling the foundation in the centre of your cheeks and then blend with long strokes moving from the centre of your face outwards and pay attention to those tricky areas around the neck and ears. Finish with loose powder swept over the T-Zone area with a big brush .
What to Use
I have just fallen in love with Maybelline Dream Matte Mousse Makeup as it glides on with the consistency somewhere between a foundation and powder. It gives great coverage.
For a great Liquid Foundation try Clinique Superbalanced, as this also gives great coverage and combats shine without drying your skin.
Filed under: > Beauty.com, Beauty Sales | Tags: > Beauty.com, Agent Provocateur, Alterna, Anastasia, Aquolina, Arcona, Bigatti, Blinc, Borghese, Brow Gel, Caudalie, Caviar Shampoo, Clean, Crash, DDF, Elemis, emphasEYES, Eyeliner, facial cream, Foot Petals, fragrance, Fresh, Jacqua, Kiss Me, Lash Injection, Lip Fusion, liquid liner, Lumedia, mascara, NUXE, Somme, Sonia Rykiel, Tarte, Too Faced, Urban Decay, Van Cleef & Arpels
With every $25 Jaqua purchase, receive a free travel size shower gel!
Buy a Blinc eyeliner, lash primer, or eyelash curler and ger a free mini Kiss Me Mascara in Black ($12 value!)
Buy any Anastasia kit and get a free deluxe sample of the best-selling Brow Gel ($7 value)!
Buy any two Alterna products and receive a free Alterna Caviar Moisture Shampoo ($6 value)!
Purchase $25 of Too Faced products and get a free mini Lash Injection Mascara ($5 value)!
Spend $40 on tarte and get a free full size emphasEYES pencil ($18 value)!
Spend $40 on Urban Decay and get a free Crash Liquid Liner deluxe sample ($9 value)!
With every $150 Z. Bigatti purchase, receive a .5oz Restoration Skin Treatment Facial Cream, a $40 value.
With every $25 Sonia Rykiel, Agent Provocateur, and Van Cleef & Arpels fragrance purchase, receive a collectible deluxe miniature of Belle en Rykiel fragrance as our gift to you!
Buy $30 of Foot Petals and receive free Peek-A-Shoe pouch ($10 value)!
Buy a BlingFusion lip gloss and get a free mini LipPlump in Bloom ($16 value)!
With every $ 40 Arcona purchase, receive a 2 ounce, travel sized Pumpkin Body Lotion, a $18 value.
With every $ 40 Caudalie purchase, receive a 1 oz, travel-sized Nourishing Body Lotion.
With every $35 Aquolina purchase, receive this travel sized Pink Sugar Body Scrub as our gift to you!
With every $35 Borghese purchase, receive this amazing black organza drawstring bag full of deluxe sized top selling Borghese products. The set includes a mini lip gloss in Charme Naturale, a black mascara, hand cream, and a face brightening make-up, valued at $40, as our gift to you!
With every $ 35 Clean Fragrance purchase, receive a 2 ounce, travel sized Clean Provence Soft Body lotion, as our gift to you!
With every $35 DDF purchase, receive a 2 oz. travel size Cellular Cleansing Complex facial cleanser as our gift to you!
With every $35 FRESH purchase, receive a mini Sugar Lipgloss, an $8 value, as our gift to you!
With every $40 NUXE purchase, receive this amazing 5-piece deluxe beauty kit, a $35 value, as our gift to you!
With every $99 Strivectin, Lumedia, Sovage, and Amatokin purchase, receive a 1.3oz travel size of the Lumedia Face Brightener, valued at $35, as our gift to you!
With every Elemis Body Sculpting Duo purchase, receive a spa quality Cactus bristle body brush, a $45 value, as our gift to you!
With every purchase of Somme Institute Serum and A-Bomb, receive a full size Transport Pads, a $58 value, as our gift to you!
Filed under: NYC Beauty Guide | Tags: beauty, cheap, facial, Hair, haircut, inexpensive, Japanese, makeup, manicure, New York, NY Magazine, pedicure, services, straightening, wax
Living in New York City can burn a hole in your wallet faster than you can say “$20 for a manicure?!!” Luckily, the good folks at New York Magazine have compiled a list of the best beauty services on the cheap. Enjoy!
HAIR
Head Quarterz Salon
The justly famous Japanese hair-straightening process works on almost every kind of unruly hair—but it can run over $500 and, worse, leave roots brittle and broken. Enter Steve Kong, whose clean and airy Chinatown salon has been straightening hair shafts for more than a decade, for $150 less than the going rate (treatments start at $350). Kong is one of a handful of New York stylists with an advance certificate for the treatment. He tests hair and scalp, then custom mixes the chemicals and protective lotions so that your hair gets straightened without getting destroyed.
• 80 Lafayette St., 212-406-3381
Carsten Institute of Hair & Beauty
Call ahead to schedule an appointment with graduating students from the institute. Tue-Fri, morning to 3:30 pm, haircuts are free, color is $30, partial highlights are $40, and full highlights are $45.
• 41 Union Sq. West, 2nd fl, 212-675-7735
New York International Beauty School
Want a new look? Strapped for cash? Feeling bold? Try a makeover from a student in training. Services range from hair coloring and cutting to facials, and the prices — $5 to $18 —are unbeatable. No appointment necessary.
• 500 Eighth Ave., 8th Floor, between 35th and 36th Sts.; 212-868-7171; nyibs.com
NAILS
Grand Spa
If the stink of acrylic hasn’t given you reason to boycott $10 manicures, recent labor accusations against nail-salon owners might. But at this salon, run by husband and wife Eitan and Carmela Ben-Yosef, there’s a sense of conviviality among the staff that’s rare in the chop-shop manicure world. The Ben-Yosefs send their workers out to lunch, hand their tips over directly, and, if business is slow, have them put their feet up and relax. The couple—benevolent grandparent types—have imposed a no-acrylic, no-airbrush policy since opening nearly five years ago, so the space smells airy and fresh: better for workers, customers, and nails. A regular manicure is $8, a pedicure $19.
• 389 Grand St., nr. Suffolk St.; 212-253-9978
Jade Beauty and Wellness Spa
You can get it all done —waxing, facials, massages, tinting, manicures, pedicures, and acupuncture — at this Upper West Side spa that stays open until 9 p.m. on weekdays. (Late manicures are unheard of on the UWS.) Prices are competitive for individual services: $10 for a manicure or eyebrow wax. But, the packages are the best deals. For $98, you can get a 20-minute massage, facial, manicure, and pedicure.
• 2573 Broadway, between 96th and 97th Sts.; 212-362-5763
Artisan Spa
At this spot near Union Square, cushy reclining chairs, a large-screen TV showing movies, some hot tea, and $12-for-10-minute shoulder massages all make the sometimes-boring mani/pedi experience pass a little faster. The basic manicures and pedicures are amazingly quick—the combo takes 45 minutes and costs only $35 ($10 for the manicure and $25 for the pedicure). Your hands may not last an entire week, but for $2 extra you can seal your newly buff nails with Nailtique, and in any case, at those prices you can afford to come twice. More luxury is available at twice the tariff—for $50, your pedicure will include the option of a honey-and-milk soak, hot-stone foot massage, marine mask, or sea-salt scrub.
• 143 Fourth Ave., between E. 13th and E. 14th Sts.; 212-260-1338
Bloomie Nails
The faithful flock to Bloomie Nails for relaxing pedicures in heated, pulsating massage chairs and mini-screens at the drying stations playing VH1. Considering that the manicure-pedicure is $40.50 ($5 extra for razor-scraping of your soles), it’s no wonder the places are often packed.
• 132 Seventh Ave. at 18th St., 212-366-4545; 170 W. 23rd St at Seventh Ave.., 212-741-0105; 294 Eighth Ave. at 25th St., 646-638-2727; 120 Second Ave. between 7th and 8th Sts., 212-260-6749; 219 Eighth Ave. at 21st St., 212-366-6199
Cleo Nails
Brighten up an otherwise drab stroll down Third avenue for a $9.50 manicure, $21 pedicure, or a $30.50 mani-pedi special ($3 extra for razor-scraping). Working late? No worries. Cleo Nails is open until 11 p.m. for night-owls too manicured obsessed to sleep.
• 270 Third Ave., between 21st and 22nd Sts., 212-677-4900
Jeniette
It might be worth the $21.00 cost of a pedicure at Jeniette just to hang out in one of their extremely comfy chairs for a half-hour. Considered the best pedicure bargain in town by many of the city’s snazzier toes, Jeniette has a famously friendly staff, a good, relaxing foot massage, and a comprehensive polish selection.
• 58 E. 13th St., between University Pl. and Broadway; 212-529-1616; jeniette.com
SoHo Nail
A favorite of fashionistas, SoHo Nail boasts possibly the least expensive ($23) quality manicure-pedicure in town. But you’ll pay in other ways, namely the time spent air-drying afterward, as this joint owns no drying machines. Ask for Lucy or the owner, Susan Kang. They’re favorites of SoHo Nail regulars.
• 458 W. Broadway, 3rd Floor, between Houston and Prince Sts.; 212-475-6368
MASSAGE
Graceful Services
No doubt about itóas much as we could all use frequent massaging, paying over $100 for each rubdown can be anxiety-producing in itself. At Graceful Services, there may be no impressive lounge, but the strong Qi Gong massage goes straight to the muscle spasm. Flowing white curtains separate you from the next client, and the rooms are spanking clean. For $60, youíll enjoy your hour and feel stress-free for at least a day or two.
• 1097 Second Ave., between 57th and 58th Sts.; 212-593-9904; gracefulservices.com
Sal Anthony’s Movement Salon
Sal Anthony’s empire near Union Square includes, somewhat inexplicably, this fitness studio (two studios, actually) in a landmarked building. Here you can get a $65 one-hour rubdown ($100 for 90 minutes) from therapists versed in Swedish, Shiatsu, and Thai massage.
• 190 Third Ave., at 17th St.; 212-420-7242; movementsalon.com
Tui-Na
If you can’t get naked in front of other people, don’t bother with Tui-Na. If, however, you can deal with lying nude in a darkened basement room with an equally nude stranger (of either gender) on the table next to you, you’ll get a true massage bargain here ó once the energetic Tui-Na masseuses start working on your muscles, you’ll lose any anxiety about where you are, anyway. And at $40 an hour, it’s pretty easy to let go.
• 222 Lafayette St., between Spring and Kenmare Sts.; 212-941-6038
Wu Lin Services
One of the many basement-level Chinese massage parlors that downtown worker bees can walk into for stress-relieving rubdowns, staying fully clothed (just don’t wear linen). There are several beds in the room; massages are sold in odd-minute increments: $7 for 10 minutes; $11 for 16 minutes; $21 for 31 minutes; $32 for 46 minutes; $42 for 61 minutes.
• 145 Grand St., between Lafayette and Crosby Sts.; 212-925-1276
WAXING
Elite Day Spa
The prices are cheap, but the highly skilled and efficient technicians at this fashion district salon will make you feel like you’ve paid a lot more. Lip, $6; eyebrow, $15; bikini, $13-$19; brazilian, $25; full leg, $33; arm, $26.
• 24 W. 39th St., between Fifth and Sixth Aves.; 212-730-2100
European Nails by Lucy
This small east side spot is known among the Birkenstock-wearing and the Birkin-bag-carrying alike for fabulous, thorough waxes. Eyebrow, $7; half-leg, $17; full leg with bikini, $39; bikini, $15 to $26; brazilian, $45; underarm, $10; arm, $20.
• 214 E. 82nd St., between 2nd and 3rd Aves.; 212-772-0720
The Perfect Shape
While most places have upped their threading prices, The Perfect Shape keeps this old-age technique low in cost. Threading starts at $5, waxing ranges from $10 to $45.
• 295 Park Ave. South, between 22nd and 23rd Sts., 212-473-7400
Randee Elaine
The menu of services here lists twenty body areas that Randee Elaine will wax (other areas are negotiable), with prices ranging from $7 for chin or eyebrow to $35 for full leg with bikini. No body-hair issue is too embarrassing to be discussed and dealt with, which makes this place exceedingly popular with men.
• 180 Seventh Ave. South, between Perry and W. 11th Sts.; 212-229-0399; randeeelainesalon.com
MAKEUP APPLICATION
M.A.C.
Faced with over 140 lipsticks, 120 eye shadows, and addictive odds and ends like Studio Fix powder, you may drown in this sea of colorful, stageworthy makeup. Fortunately, the professionally trained M.A.C. artists can rescue you. In addition to free makeover assistance, the store offers makeup lessons ($90 for a 90-minute session; includes complimentary color chart and mascara, or pay $40 for a 45-minute application service) in which the pros do half your face and you do the other half. Watch for their big in-store events.
• Multiple locations; maccosmetics.com
Shu Uemura Beauty Boutique
Free, free, and free! Shu Uemura offers 30, 60 or 90-minute complimentary makeup lessons with a staff makeup artist. The latter two come with a Japanese mini-facial, also known as the beauty house’s signature “Skin Care Technique.”
• 121 Greene St., between Houston and Prince.; 212-979-5500
FACIALS
Joean Beauty The $35 Chinatown facial is one of the perpetual joys of Canal Street: It’s thorough, less than a third the price of its day-spa counterpart, and inflation-proof (prices haven’t risen in a decade), and if you buy ten, you’ll typically get two free. On the downside: salons that smell like dumplings, play saccharine music, stick you in close quarters with nine women on cell phones, and use products from the dollar store. Not so at the Lafayette branch of Joean Beauty Center. At the back of an airy nail-and-hair salon, Joean’s four rooms may be overwhelmingly pink, but they are clean and peaceful, with seldom more than two clients per room, and Guinot products are used. The centerpiece of the 90-minute basic facial ($35; buy five, get one free) is a 25-minute facial massage, performed (on request) by manager-aesthetician Michelle Luo with astounding vigor and precision. • 80 Lafayette St., nr. White St.; 212-227-5120
Molton Brown Emporium
Molton Brown knows the underappreciated power of a good hand massage and the sweet sound of “complimentary.” Even its free 30-minute mini-facials, which include cleansing, toning, exfoliating, and a mask, end with a good old fashioned digits rubdown. The emporium also offers free make-up appointments, and for the freebie-hunters on the go, free hand massages, too. Call to schedule an appointment.
• 515 Madison Ave.; 212-755-7194; moltonbrown.com
Christine Valmy International School
$27 for an hour and a half facial? Don’t keep this deal a secret from your friends. Call a week in advance for an appointment with one of Valmy’s students, supervised by an instructor.
• 437 Fifth Ave., 212-779-7800
