Beauty Tips on a Budget!

Everyone wants to look great without spending too much money but it’s not always easy to know how to search through the racks for the best find.  At FITNESS, I love finding seasonal trends for a steal   the number one trend is not paying a fortune to good great! And after scouring the stores, I can honestly say they are fabulous things out there!  My rule is if it’s a trend, I don’t want to spend a lot, so I seek out the staples and then accessorize with seasonal trends. Look for pops of color, big and bold accessories, and staples that can do double-duty like a skirt suit because you can pair the skirt with a tank and sandals for the weekend or the jacket with some boyfriend jeans and heels for a night out.

You want to make sure you use versatile styling products that will not only help keep your hair healthy, but will also make styling your hair easier.  I’m sure you’ve heard of Moroccan oil or argan oil and there are some pricing brands out there but GARNIER FRUCTIS just launched Sleek & Shine Moroccan Sleek Oil Treatment which is a super lightweight oil that instantly gets absorbed into hair, delivering concentrated conditioning. I really like this one because it’s not sticky and it doesn’t have any drying alcohols or residues so you get super soft, frizz-free hair.  It’s naturally rich in vitamin-E and conditioning agents that help eliminate frizz and treat dryness without an oily residue. It works on curly, wavy or straight hair, even in 97% humidity. And it’s really versatile –just mix a few drops with your daily conditioner to give your hair a boost, work a few drops into damp hair, or on dry hair to add shine, finish ends and tame frizz. It’s available at mass market retailers nationwide for around $6.  Visit http://www.garnier.com/ to learn more.

Even though it’s the number one frustration women report when it comes to their hair routines, 70 percent of women regularly blow dry and style their hair each day. I’m sure every woman would love to get a blow-out each morning but that can get expensive so instead of running to the salon, the smart people at Goody have designed two new breakthrough innovations to save valuable time. The Goody QUIKSTYLE Paddle Brush works like a towel and brush in one to remove 30% of water from wet hair. The super absorbent Microfiber Bristles interact with wet hair to absorb water with every stroke while the Ball-Tipped Bristles detangle and smooth hair while still being comfortable on the scalp. And it’s antimicrobial which is great. Then, the Goody Heat Flash Dry Blow Dryer’s patented ProSpeed fan technology accelerates airflow for 35% faster blow outs.  And the tourmaline ion rich airflow gives you the smoothest, frizz free results – super important during the summer!  They’re available at mass retailers nationwide QUIKSTYLE Paddle Brush retails for $12 and The Heat Flash Dry Blow Dryer retails for less than $40 at mass retailers.  To learn more, visit  http://www.goody.com/

Keeping your skin protected all year round is a must, but it’s especially important in the summer when you’re spending more time in the sun. I recommend using a moisturizer with SPF of 30, and using a soft cleanser that won’t strip your skin of moisture.  Try to limit your sun exposure, but if you are in the sun for an extended period of time be sure to reapply. Although that healthy summer glow is tempting, there are ways to get glowing skin without the harmful rays.  EcoTools Bamboo Bronzer Brush helps to give you a sun-kissed look without the harsh rays of the sun! The super soft plush bristles add just the right amount of color on your skin for that perfect, natural glow.  All EcoTools brushes are made with cruelty-free synthetic bristles, have sleek bamboo and recycled aluminum handles, so you will not only look beautiful, but can live beautifully.  They’re available for less than $10 at specialty, drug and mass retailers nationwide. For more information, go to http://www.ecotools.com/.

You also want to play up that bronzed look with pops of color so look for pink and coral blushes and lip colors, and have fun with gold and turquoise eyes for a look that screams summer.  As for summer fashions, look for color-blocked dressed, striped tank tops, bright colored jeans,  chunky necklaces, and wedge heels to keep you looking hot all season long.

For more information on getting more bang for your buck when it comes to fashion and beauty trends, check out the July/August issue of FITNESS on stands now, or go to http://www.fitnessmagazine.com/.