Miracle!

I just had to make a late night run to the grocery store to pick up some milk for my British tea-obsessed mother who claims she will have a nervous breakdown if she can't have her early morning cuppa....when I discovered a miracle.

I always say that I am going to one day invent a product that stops mascara from going all over my eyelids and ruining my eye makeup, a problem that I am sure is familiar to most of you. But it looks like Revlon beat me to it! When I was sleepily browsing the Fortinos cosmetics aisle, I came across this Make Up Eraser Pen.

The Revlon Make Up Eraser Pen claims to quickly removes smudges, smears and mistakes without disturbing the rest of your make-up. The Greaseless formula easily lifts away even long-wearing and waterproof make-up, without irritation.

Crazy. Genius. Life changing.

Why have I never noticed this product before?
So of course, I bought it, ran home, did a whole smoky eye look and 3 coats of mascara and erased all my mistakes. It really works! So awesome! Definitely worth $8.99.

...ok, now I gotta go and take all of this make-up off before bed. shoot.

Recessionista Beauty Tips

After struggling through the longest most drawn-out break up in history, I have finally cut my ex out of my life.  This doesn't mean that I am not still obsessing about it every minute of the day, listing to "Better in Time" by Leona Lewis on repeat and plotting ways to make him jealous, but it does mean that have realized that he is just not that into me, and its time to get over it.  So what is the first thing I want to do with my new found freedom?

Makeover!  duh.

But I am trying to cut down on my make-up and product addiction because as much as I want to believe it, a $32 Chanel lipstick really can't save me.  Last time I went through a break up (with the same guy actually...clearly I never learn) I spent $150 on highlights (yes, blondes have more fun but less money!...speaking of which, I read somewhere that brunettes earn 20% higher salaries than blondes on average. haha. anyways, I am getting off topic).  I also bought teeth whitening strips, all new make-up and got my nails done. $300 later I still felt crappy.   No matter how much you spend on beauty products, self-esteem has to come from the inside.  

You can have it both ways though.

In true credit crunch style, here are my top tips for the beauty savvy recessionista:

1) Arm and Hammer Baking Soda...costs less than $2

Keep some baking soda in a tupperware container in your bathroom and brush with it twice a day after brushing with toothpaste. It tastes kinda yucky, but it really removes stains and teeth look whiter in just 2 weeks!  Also works really well as a skin softener...add 2 tablespoons to your bath water.

2) Highlights in a box...$24.95

Steer clear of "frost and glow"...those brassy blonde chunks are so grade 8. (remember sun in? ewww)  Instead opt for L'oreals coleur experte multi-tonal highlighting kit.  It comes in all kinds of shades for every hair colour and it gives really natural looking highlights without breaking the bank.  A bit fiddly and time consuming but definitely worth it!

3) Embrace drugstore makeup!

Nothing can ever replace Lancome mascara in my heart, but there are some great alternatives at the drugstore for those who are pinching their pennies.  I love Maybelline Collossal mascara, Cover Girl Lash Blast and Maybelline lash stylist.  I buy my eyeliner and black nailpolish from NYC for less than $3...and I really haven't noticed a difference from the expensive brands.  and ladies, I am sorry to tell you, but lipgloss is lipgloss.  There really isn't that much difference.  Rimmel and Covergirl have some great ones.

Last minute money saving beauty tip...

Make your own body scrub! Mix ground coffee with olive oil and rub it all over your body in the shower.  It smells yummy, removes dead skin cells and the caffeine even fights cellulite. 

Make-over play list:

Stay Beautiful by Taylor Swift