Frugal Beauty

I'm kind of fascinated with the gradual lifestyle change these leaner times have propagated within my circle of friends, immediate family and my own little household. It's something I almost feel like I should document (if I had more time and ambition, and if it wasn't the eve of summer outside right now).

You know, first you start using in-store coupons or buying house brands at Cub Foods. Then you start going out a little less (because even when you're not paying for drinks, you're still tipping like you're paying for drinks). Then you have curb your Corona intake at home because, well, Budweiser is like $9 cheaper per case.

Then you're flipping through a Glamour (not W) one day and spot an ad for a new line of L'Oreal shampoos and conditioners that boasts color protection properties, like the Pureology you've been using for the last couple of years. It's even sulfate-free, 100% vegan and made mostly of natural botanical ingredients, like Pureology. Except the L'Oreal stuff is about $7 a bottle, compared to the $25 you've been paying for Pureology (and that's with the gracious 50% pro discount you're lucky enough to receive).

Well, s**t, move over Pureology. The L'Oreal EverPure Smooth shampoo and conditioner have managed to achieve something no haircare system, not even Pureology, has been able to do since I was a kid: make my hair shiny. My hair's beaded texture is noticeably softer and my hair straightens much more easily now, too. I'm still doing the Pureology Moisture Hair Masque once a week, but the L'Oreal EverPure Smooth conditioner can totally hold its own in between those deep-conditioning treatments. It's also fairly lightweight; I can use it every time I get my hair wet in the shower, even when I don't shampoo.

The scents aren't as good as Pureology, but they're pretty mellow. And they're bright and herby, as opposed to dousing your head in creamy, cheap perfume every day. Recommended.

I've never been one to pay for nail service-- in fact, I've only done it once. It was just a few months ago and I managed to ruin my manicure within 30 seconds of leaving the place. I prefer to do my own at home, especially my toes; not because it's a money-saver, but because I actually enjoy the leisurely activity of it. I can watch an entire movie, sitting on the floor, just taking my time with my pedicure. It's almost always just one solid color, usually red or pink, but I've been getting bored with that lately. Especially now that it's sandal season.

Cute, no? Aside from my lovely flip flip tan line? I picked up a pack of these rhinestone nail stickers at Cub Foods not too long ago. I figured since they were in the beauty aisle and not the cereal aisle, they're meant for big girls, so I bought them. Under the stickers are three coats of Sally Hansen's Xtreme Wear in White On, and on top of them is my trusty Savina Fast Drying Top Coat, the most chip-resistant stuff I've ever used.

I have a really nice purple-pink nail polish and some white flower stickers from the pack, so I'm thinking about doing the opposite on my fingernails.

As a bonus, here is me doing what I like to call "The Fonz."

It's how I used to pick up guys at the bar -- "eeeyyyyy!" -- and how I got The Mexican to move in with me.

Comments

[Crystal (Cafe Cyan)]

Oooh, a Pureology substitute? You got me!

Love your post - after being laid off in Feb, I'm going down the route of using more coupons, buying generic, and sadly going out less. Boo! Time to watch a movie and do my own pedicure.

[Tara (twoleggedtara)]

I hate to be a Debbie Downer, but per Peta L'Oreal still tests on animals. (You can look up a do/don't test list at www.caringconsumer.com. NAVS lists L'Oreal as questionable.

I also have made the switch to cheaper (and paraben-free) hair care recently. Try Giovanni or Shikai products. They can be found at Whole Foods or the co-ops and go on sale often. I believe www.drugstore.com also carries these brands, and they always seem to be way cheaper than anyplace else and often have free-shipping for orders over $25.

[Alexis]

Thanks Crystal - on the upside, I'm cooking at home even more lately, which I'm sure you are as well.

It's OK, Tara, Girl Friday Operatives are allowed to Debbie Downer posts. I had read something a while ago (from L'Oreal? I don't remember) in which a statement was made regarding their brand not being PETA-approved. It was because they still use animal ingredients (collagen, etc.) in several of them, especially the makeup. My shampoo and conditioner say "100% vegan - not tested on animals, no animal byproducts." I've tried both Shakai and Giovanni products; total nightmares for my crazy hair.

[marina]

Wow. You have really nice feet.

[Tara (twoleggedtara)]

Good to know about the shampoo and conditioner. I get bored with using the same stuff, so maybe I'll give it a whirl next time. Thanks for the info!

[Alexis]

Hey, know what's really hard to remove? These little nail stickers. Geez. I'm picking away at them with my fingernails because polish remover isn't doing anything.

[Tara (I thought about putting threeleggedtara here, but that's just childish, isn't it?)]

That stick for pushing back cuticles would probably scrape those stickers off without hurting anything (after dousing them with polish remover).

You want them to be tough to remove, though. Otherwise sandal straps would have them off before anybody even got to see you with them.

[Tara]

Oh, and that thing you do with your toes? Freaky. Glad to hear that your honey likes it, but I'm kinda weirded out.

[taulpaul]

I just tried that move with my toes, now I have to go to the emergency room. Thanks. :(

[Allie]

One of my blog readers sent me this way since I am a Pureology fanatic. Thanks so much for the review, once my purple Pureology bottles run out I will be trying EverPure! Thank you!

[billy]

you have beautiful toes. could you but more pictures of your feet out?