BUDGET BELLE: Oil of "Oh, Heyyy!" (Bad Pun Alert)

Oil. It seems like I’ve been talking about that a lot lately. Suntan oil. Oily skin. Oily hair. Well, guess what? Not ALL oil is bad. In fact, I’ve been testing out a new (to me) hair product for a few weeks and I’ve come to a conclusion: Oil is my friend. I love it. My hair is ridiculously shiny and healthy – so much so that people have stopped me to comment on how amazing my hair looks. No, I’m not referring to the bottle of canola oil in my pantry. What am I raving about? Moroccanoil.

I know people have been using oil on their hair for years, but it’s not something I thought about as a beauty product. I’ve heard tales of people using olive oil or whatever oil they have around the house as a deep conditioning treatment, but it never made me want to grab my bottle of EVOO and start drenching my hair. Well, I am now an oil convert.

Now, I’m not suggesting you take a bottle and start dousing yourself. Just a few drops of Moroccanoil on the ends of your damp hair will suffice. I like to pour a few drops into the palms of my hands, rub my hands together to warm the oil up a bit and then run my fingers through the bottom of my hair. Take note, just use the oil on your ends – using it on your scalp is counterproductive, as your roots are the oiliest parts of your hair as it is.

Why do I love Moroccanoil so much? First of all, it smells amazing (picture tropical beach with coconuts and a daiquiri – ok, maybe the daiquiri is just for my sake). Second, the oil leaves my hair hydrated, soft and breakage free. And don’t even get me started on the shine – there is so much shine going on here that it looks like a Pantene commercial.

The downside? It’s a little on the pricey side. Though a 3.4 ounce bottle should last a few months, it runs around $35 on amazon.com. You can try the .85 ounce bottle for about $13 or see if a salon in your area carries the product and will let you try a sample.

From what my hairdresser told me, argan oil is a similar product and costs quite a bit less. I can’t really speak to its benefits or downsides since I haven’t tried it, but if you’ve tried argan oil, I’d love to hear what you think. I plan on looking for some at my local drugstore as soon as I run out of Moroccanoil and will conduct my own experiment to see if the products really are comparable. As always, I’ll update you with my findings.

BUDGET BELLE: A Hair-Raising Confession

Alright folks, it's time for another round of confessions. This one's a bit controversial. Well, controversial in the sense that people tend to be split on the issue, not controversial in any religious, political or moral sense - this is still a beauty post, people. Here it goes: I, Budget Belle, do not wash my hair every day. That is NOT to say that I don't shower every day (of course I do, that's not negotiable), but I simply don't wash my hair every day. Some of you may think this is gross. Some of you do the same, but refuse to admit it. To each her own, but I'm admitting it and I'll tell you exactly why washing my hair every day is no-go.

First, I have long hair. Long hair that takes forever to dry. Long hair that can get damaged, brittle and gross if I even look at a blow-dryer every day. Second, long hair means that your ends will likely be drier than your roots. There are a few ways to get more moisture into your ends, some of which include leave-in conditioners, special oils and masks, but I'm a fan of the simplest solution: Brushing your hair. Brushing your hair will redistribute the oils from your roots to your ends. Yes, it really is that simple. If you wash your hair every day, you're removing those natural, healthy oils and stripping the follicles, making them drier and more likely to split. Solution? Don't wash your hair every day.

I know what some of you are thinking. "Eww, that's so gross. My hair will get all oily and flat and nasty." Not so, my friends. I understand that some people have hair that tends to get a little oilier if you don't wash it every day. However, here's some food for thought: When your hair is dry and stripped, your roots try to produce more oil to remedy the problem. You see that your hair is getting oilier and you try to wash and shampoo the oil out, which causes it to get drier, more stripped and create more oil. Again with the catch-22. Quick fix? Stop washing your hair every day.

If your hair is a little oily, try using a dry shampoo or some baby powder. A dry shampoo won't have the harsh effects of regular shampoo and won't strip your hair or dry it out. Dust or spray it on the oily parts of your hair and leave it in for a few minutes, then brush it out as normal. The powder or dry shampoo absorbs some of the oil, making your hair look a little fuller. It also won't weigh your hair down and, as a bonus, some of them actually smell really good. You can try one of the more expensive dry shampoos at Sephora, Ulta or beauty salons, or just look for one at your local drugstore alongside the hairsprays. I tend to switch between the Oscar Blandi Pronto dry shampoo from Sephora and regular baby powder. Just make sure that your brush the shampoo completely through your hair, so you're not left with white streaks of powder.

So there you have it. If you're used to the daily shampoo routine, why not give this a shot? Worst case scenario? You end up rocking a ponytail for the day.

BUDGET BELLE: Shiny Happy People

So we've talked about heat, humidity and frizzy hair - you know, just a few of the reasons we all love summer. Let me add one more thing to the list: oily skin. I know, I know - it's gross. You spend the time trying to look nice and then a few hours later you catch a glimpse of yourself in the mirror and notice that not only has some of your make-up mysteriously disappeared, but your face has also become so shiny that you worry about blinding other people. I feel your pain.

There's no real way to combat "shiny face syndrome" (SFS), but you can try to minimize the damage. First, drink a lot of water - I'm talking more than the regular 6-8 glasses per day. The easiest way for me to do that is to carry an aluminum water bottle around with me. If you're thirsty, you're already dehydrated. If you're dehydrated, your skin gets angry. You don't want angry skin.

Second, do NOT - I repeat, do NOT try to cover up SFS with more make-up. It's not a great idea to cover an already oily face with more make-up; the oil will absorb your make-up, sucking it into your pores, creating more dirt, debris and all-around gross stuff and make more oil. Yet another Catch-22. Now, you're probably wondering what the point of this post is if I'm telling you not to cover up your oil patches with make-up. There's a method the madness, folks. While you should NOT cover SFS with more-make-up, you can get rid of the oil and then re-apply. Slight deviation there.

How do you get rid of the oil? Oil-absorbing sheets. These little babies are magic. Take one sheet and blot it against your face. Your forehead, nose and chin are usually the oiliest parts of your face (T-zone), so I usually blot there first. Don't be afraid to use a second sheet to go over everything again to make sure you get as much excess oil as you can. Once you're shine-free, you can re-apply your make-up as needed.

I'm partial to the Clean & Clear brand, as I see no point in paying at least twice the price for one of the fancier brands at Sephora when they do the exact same thing. Go to the face wash/moisturizer aisle in your nearest drugstore and you should be able to find these near the Clean & Clear and Neutrogena brands. They come in a pocket-sized business-card-ish holder with about 50 sheets per box and run anywhere from $3-$5, depending on where you live.

Another piece of ammunition in the fight against summer havoc. Here you go, folks. Use it wisely (and often!)

BUDGET BELLE: It's Gettin' Hot in Herre

No, that's not a typo. And no, I can't say it with a straight face either. Let's face it, the summer heat is upon us. Frizzy hair (unless you're using last week's tip), sweaty brows, rosy cheeks. (Hey, at least one out of three isn't bad.) One of the things I dislike most about the heat is the fact that my make-up practically melts off of my skin. Gross, huh? In order to minimize this problem, I tend to use one type of make-up for cooler weather and another for the unbearable days of summer. My summer pick? Mineral make-up. Bare Escentuals bareMinerals, to be exact.

Let's face it, you're going to sweat. A lot. Basically, your pores are going to be absorbing a lot of the make-up on your face. The last thing you want is to have to wear more make-up to cover up the blemishes that you're getting as a result of your make-up. Not a pretty catch-22. Not to mention the fact that in hot and humid weather, some make-up can make your face feel heavy and sticky. No bueno.

I started using mineral make-up a few years ago to combat these problems and fell in love with it. Bare minerals has what they call the "swirl, tap, buff" method, where you pour a little of the powder into the cap, swirl the brush around, tap off the excess and then buff it onto your skin with the brush. The make-up goes on so incredibly light - it's amazing.

You'd think that with something this light it wouldn't do a great job of covering up flaws and blemishes, but you'd be wrong. I was incredibly impressed with the coverage quality. One of my favorite things about mineral make-up is that you can choose how little or how much coverage you want - if you want a light, natural look, lightly buff the make-up onto your face; if you want more coverage, just use more and continue the circular buffing motion. It's really that easy. I was thrown by how natural the final result looked.

If you're new to mineral make-up, I recommend the Bare Escentuals Get Started kit. You can find it at Sephora, Ulta, some department stores and Bare Minerals brick and mortar stores. The kit contains two shades of foundation (SPF 15), mineral veil (a light setting powder), a tinted mineral veil, a bronzer, three brushes (2 different sized foundation brushes and a concealer brush), a how-to DVD and a face primer - all for a total of $60. I've recommended this to both friends and family and have heard rave reviews. It's my go-to natural, summer make-up. No muss, no fuss - besides, who wants to worry about melting make-up when there are margaritas to drink?

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BUDGET BELLE: Organized Chaos

It's Memorial Day weekend, the unofficial start of summer and the official start of summer travel madness. If you're like me, you're a little OCD about packing. If you're not like me and can just throw things into a bag and leave . . . well, I admire you. Please, tell me your secret.

Regardless of whether you just throw things into a bag or pack methodically, you're definitely going to want to have one thing organized and easily portable - your make-up. The last thing you want is to be searching through your suitcase for an eye pencil, only to find it broken to bits near your favorite silk top. No one wants to see that. And no one wants to have to spend loads of money to dry-clean make-up stains out of a silk blouse.

The solution? A cosmetic bag. I prefer the ones that open up into two sections - this way you can open up the bag and see exactly what you've packed without even having to unzip the compartments. If something spills, just take a damp cloth or paper towel and wipe it clean - it couldn't be more simple.

My cosmetic bag is from the Sonia Kashuk line at target. While her bags change from season to season, the colors are always vibrant and the quality is fantastic. At $9.99, you can't ask for more than that. I've had the same cosmetic bag for about 4 years and it's still going strong.

Happy packing, have fun this weekend and don't forget your sunscreen!

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BUDGET BELLE: Summer Lovin'

Ah, the joys of June. Sun. Breeze. Humidity. (One of these things is not like the other.) I like summer. I don't love summer, but I like it. The one thing that prevents me from having a love affair with summer is humidity. Feeling drenched in sweat, like you need a shower the minute you step outside of your apartment? No thank you. Nicely groomed hair that turns into a frizzy mess? I'd rather not.

Unfortunately, I have yet to figure out how to rid my life of humidity. However, I've developed what is perhaps one of the handiest tricks for dealing with humidity-induced frizzy hair - especially if you're on the go. Hairspray. I rarely use hairspray for actual styling purposes, but it's my go-to product for fighting frizz. How? It's so simple I can't even stand it. Spray a small amount of hairspray in the palm of your hand. Then - run your hands over your hair and through your hair to smooth down frizzies.

I'm in love with this trick for a variety of reasons: First, you can throw a small travel-sized bottle of hairspray in your bag and use this trick anywhere. It's that easy. Second, by using your hands to smooth your hair, you don't have that stiff, dried hair-spray feel on your hair. (Though you'll need to wash the hairspray off of your hands. The more you know...) You can still run your hands through your hair without that weird gunky feeling. Finally, the hairspray won't weigh your hair down because it's distributed more evenly.

There you have it. It may not be enough of a breakthrough for me to love summer (or humidity), but I think it's enough for a truce.

BUDGET BELLE: Band Together!

This isn't going to be a typical beauty post about make-up or hair products or some new way to get a "I just rolled out of bed with amazing Gisele-like hair" look. I don't even know if this would be considered a conventional beauty item. However, I love it, it's made my life easier and I figured I should share it with all of you so you can love it as well.

Backstory: I'm a runner. I love lacing up my running shoes, loading my iPod with a new podcast or playlist and going for a nice long run. I enter races from time to time and it was at a race expo where I found one of my newest favorite items. Bondi Bands. Bondi bands are amazing headbands that wick away sweat and, bonus point, you don't have to keep re-adjusting the headband!! This is huge, people. Trust me, I've tried every "sport" headband on the market and I always have to re-adjust the headband mid-run - strike one. Also, I've noticed that the other brands leave me with this weird bump of hair where the headband was - not the easiest thing to try to fix when you're trying to make it to work on time. Overall, not impressed.

I figured I'd give one of the Bondi bands a try and, lo and behold, the headband stayed on AND it didn't leave behind a weird impression on my hair - i.e., no weird hair bump! I think it's the fact that the Bondi band is a little wider than conventional headbands and doesn't have any of those weird rubber "grip" things that try to adhere to your hair. No having to readjust to keep my hair out of my eyes! No sweaty mess! Win.

I promptly went online and bought multiple headbands in a variety of colors and patterns. They run about $8 each (unless you buy more than 1, in which case you can get them cheaper with a promo code.) They have some with really cute symbols and amusing slogans - a few of my personal faves: "Git-Er-Done" and "Cheaper Than Therapy." Amen to that.

You can purchase Bondi bands online at http://www.bondiband.com/

BUDGET BELLE: Lash Lament

Dear Budget Belle,

I've been curling my eyelashes in the morning, but the curl never seems to stay. They look curled and pristine when I'm putting on my make-up, but as soon as I do a last minute check before I run out the door it looks like I didn't do anything at all. What am I doing wrong?

----Long-Lashed in Louisville

Dear Long-Lashed,

Curling your eyelashes is a quick and easy fix to making your eyes look more open (think wide-eyed ingenue) and giving you a younger, fresher appearance. Having said that, it's not the most intuitive make-up technique. If you're not sure how to do it, you can end up with a quick curl that will fall flat in a matter of minutes. No worries - once you master the technique, you can have Audrey Hepburn lashes in mere seconds. The trick? Time. Just a few extra seconds of applying pressure with an eyelash curler will make all the difference.

First, you need the proper tools. An eyelash curler (I recommend Shu Uemura - it's pretty much the best eyelash curler ever invented and it runs around $20-$25 at Sephora) and mascara. I know the eyelash curler looks like a medieval torture device, but I promise it doesn't hurt. If you feel any pinch at all, you're doing it wrong. (Insert "that's what she said" joke here. See? And who says we think all of our readers are female? Hello, boys!)

Back to basics - make sure that you have no make-up on your eyes. You don't want to curl your eyelashes if you already have on mascara, because you run the risk of the mascara sticking to the pad inside the eyelash curler and pulling out some eyelashes. Ouch! Also, I don't like to curl my eyelashes if I already have on eyeshadow or liner, because it may smudge everything.

Hold the curler like you would a pair of scissors, with the curling part facing up. Some people like to heat the curler for a few seconds with a blowdryer. I use this method with my hairdryer on LOW and it does hold the curl for much longer. However, if you're a newbie at curling your lashes, I'd skip that step for now. Wait until you get the hang of the process before you add hot metal to the mix. (Wise words for many situations. Wow, I'm punchy today.)

Position the curler so that the upper lashes are between the inside edges of the curler. Some people like to close their eyes, put the curler in position, then open them; some people like to keep their eyes open the entire time to get the curler into position - it's really just your personal preference. I tend to put the curler close to my eyelid, look down a bit so my lashes get lower, then look up to get them into position.

Once your lashes are in position, squeeze the handles of the curler together and hold for about 10 seconds. Then, release the hold and move the curler down your lashes just a little bit (do NOT pull the curler down the length of your lashes). Squeeze the handles and hold for about 5 seconds. You're going to repeat this process as you go down the lash. I find that this gives you a little extra curl and holds it for a while longer.

After you've repeated this process down the length of your lashes, apply mascara as usual. Repeat the process with your other eye.

There you have it - perfectly curled eyelashes. It sounds like a long and difficult process, but I promise it's really easy! If you're still not getting the hang of it, leave a comment or send me an email.

Yours Truly,

Budget Belle

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BUDGET BELLE: Get a Polished Look

It's time for our regularly scheduled confession time, people. You know, the time where I admit to you certain beauty rituals/staples that I absolutely hate and then in turn disqualify myself as a beauty expert. Yayyy. Well, this one's a bit of a doozy. I, Budget Belle, dislike the vast majority of spa treatments. In fact, I'd venture to say that I dislike going to spas entirely. *Gasp* I know, I know. Here's the rundown of my neuroses. I don't like random people touching me, let alone MASSAGING me. Yeah, not gonna happen. Facials? Nope. I can make my face look red and splotchy all by my lonesome. Mud/seaweed/saran wraps of sorts? I don't think so. Oddly enough, my mother feels the same way - problematic when it comes to Mother's Day/birthday/Christmas presents, but that's a horse of a different color.

The few "spa" like treatments that I enjoy? Two (sort of) words: Mani Pedi. Just the sound of it makes me relax a little. I cannot walk around with unpainted toes . . . I'm trying to remember the last time they weren't painted and am drawing a blank. Pedicures are a must for me. I know, you'd think I'm rolling in money with a statement like that, right? Incorrect, my friends. I am also the master of the at-home pedicure. Yes, I enjoy the occasional professionally done mani/pedi - in fact, I get one about once every season. However, I tend to do them myself for the most part. And, lucky for you, I'm going to tell you all about my go-to products for at-home pedicures.

First, exfoliate. Yep, you can't get away from this one, folks. You can use the St. Ives scrub I recommended before (I like to pair it with a washcloth to get some extra scrubbing action) or just use regular soap and a pedicure scrub brush, whichever is your preference. I tend to think the pedicure brush isn't really worth the money, but to each her own. Second, moisturize. I know - repeating pattern. If you read my last post about Nivea body lotion, you know why this step is important. You don't want dry, cracked feet do you? Gross.

Next, take a Q-tip, dip it in nail polish remover and make sure to go over your toenails, taking off that body lotion (use a cotton pad if you already have nail polish on your toes, so you can take that off as well). While the lotion is great for your skin, it's a barrier between your nail and the nail polish - if you don't remove the excess oil, the nail polish won't stay on properly and you're pretty much just wasting your time. After that's done, I like to use a product by OPI called "Chip Skip." Just a single application over each toenail - it dries very quickly, almost instantly, and gives you a little extra protection from chipped color on your nails.

Now, onto the fun stuff. First, you need a base coat. I like to use OPI's Start-To-Finish Formaldehyde Free Base & Top Coat. It doesn't contain the chemicals that dry out your nails and provides a really solid base. One of the dangers of not using a good base coat is that your nails could get brittle or turn yellow from the nail polish (this usually only happens if you're using a darker nail polish without a base coat). I highly recommend a base coat for this very reason. Second, pick your color. Any color. There are so many different color options out there, I don't really think you can go wrong. I love really vibrant colors on my toes, so I tend to use reds and pinks - my absolute favorite red is OPI's "I'm Not Really A Waitress." (Also, I LOVE the names on OPI polishes - hilarious). You're sensing a pattern of the OPI brand, right? It's my go-to brand when it comes to nail care products and colorful nail polishes. For paler colors (the kind I like to use on my hands), I tend to go with Essie. Right not, I'm loving Essie's "Starter Wife" - a pale, natural looking pink.

Once you've picked out your color, begin applying your first coat to your toes. After the first coat, I wait a few minutes and then apply a second coat. I find that this helps the color stay on even longer. A few minutes after you've finished the second coat, do another application of the Base & Top Coat. After the top coat, I like to use a few drops of OPI's "Drip Dry" Lacquer Drying Drops. Use about one to two drops on each toe and it speeds up the drying process - I've found that after using the drying drops, my nails are dry in about 3 minutes. MUCH faster than air-drying alone.

My manicure tips are pretty much the same, aside from the difference in color. I'm not a big fan of the french manicure but, as I said before, I really love pale pink colors on my hands. I find that it's not distracting to myself or anyone else in a professional environment, and it just feels a little more put together for my taste. But, having said that, it's your own personal taste here, use whatever you like!

Also, please feel free to leave a comment about your favorite nail polish or ask for a recommendation. I love checking out new options.

Stay polished!

BUDGET BELLE: Scrub A Dub Dub - Part II

Last week we talked about exfoliating and my favorite, St. Ives Apricot Scrub. Well, now that you've buffed your skin silky smooth you'll want to keep it that way, right? Of course you do - allow me to introduce you to the next staple of your beauty routine: Moisturizing.

Once you've sloughed all of that dead skin off, you want to keep that fresh, healthy skin soft and smooth by moisturizing it with body lotion. I think this step is most effective straight out of the shower - as soon as you towel dry, start applying body lotion to seal in all of that moisture before the cold, dry air hits your skin. I like to use Nivea body lotion. I love the scent (I'm not a fan of smelling like food or flowers) and the lotion is loaded with vitamins and shea butter, making my skin incredibly soft. A large bottle of body lotion is usually under $10 and can last you at least two months with everyday use.

Goodbye dry, dull winter skin - hello sundresses!

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BUDGET BELLE: Scrub A Dub Dub

Let's take a little trip, folks. Wayyy back. February. Seems like a while ago we were all sno-pocalypsed, right? Bundled up inside, watching the winds howl and the snow whip past the windows. Cranking up those heaters and curling up with comfy blankets. Ah - winter.

Now that the weather's getting warmer, we're starting to put away those comfy sweaters and pull out the sundresses, skirts and tank tops. Sounds perfect, right? Not exactly. One little problem - along with snow, hot cocoa and marathons of your favorite guilty pleasure TV shows, winter brings along one more little thing: dry skin. That's right, those heaters and heavy blankets aren't too friendly on your skin and, come springtime, it shows. Yowza.

Fear not - this problem is easily solved. I have one word for you: Exfoliate.

That's right - at least once a week (or if you're a little OCD like me, every other day), you should exfoliate your skin. Scrubs, washcloths, fancy schmancy exfoliating machines (I'm looking at you Clarisonic - I love you!) - they'll all do the job. My favorite affordable and easy solution? St. Ives Apricot body scrub. That's right - good old St. Ives. One fairly large tub of this stuff is less than $10, smells divine and has enough tiny grains to buff your skin baby soft. A must before you start showing off that alabaster complexion.

Oh wait, that's just me.

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BUDGET BELLE: In The Prime Of Your Life

There are quite a few mysteries in life. Why are Mondays dreadfully long? Why do weekends and vacations seem to fly by? Why doesn't your hair ever look as good as it does immediately after you leave the salon? And finally - where does the make-up go? You know what I mean. After you spend those few extra minutes in the morning trying to give yourself a little glow on your cheeks, brighten your eyes with a little highlighter, cover up those dark circles under your eyes - you walk out of your house looking and feeling amazing. And then time passes. You stop by the ladies room sometime mid-afternoon and suddenly it looks like all of your extra effort has vanished. Where does the make-up go?

Well, I can't answer that question for you - if I could, I'd be making much more money than I am right now. However, I can offer a little tip to make sure your extra efforts are not wasted. My secret to keeping my make-up fresh all day? Make-up primer. I know, I used to think it was a waste of money too. But when I tried a free sample of Smashbox's Photo Finish Foundation Primer, I was hooked. Just a dab on your forehead, cheeks, chin and nose and your skin feels soft - almost velvety. Your make-up goes on smoother and stays on much longer. Trust me, I've noticed a difference on days when I forget to use the primer. As an added benefit, Smashbox offers an oil-free version, as well as different color balance versions to adjust and blend with your skin tones. One bottle lasts about 3 to 4 months with everyday use. Not a bad deal for $36.

As always, if you're a little hesitant to shell out $36 for a make-up product, stop by your local Sephora, Ulta or department store that carries Smashbox cosmetics - you can try it out before you buy. Now, onto another mystery - where are my keys?

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BUDGET BELLE: Splitsville

With the amazing warm weather NYC and DC have been experiencing lately (with the exception of today - hey, you can't have it all), you can't help but think that summer is just around the corner. And what comes along with long, lazy summer weekends? Dry, sun-bleached hair full of split ends.

No? Ok, maybe I'm reaching a smidge, but it's a sad fact that your hair tends to get drier and ridden with split ends as soon as those high temperatures start rolling in.

Don't start barricading yourselves into your air-conditioned apartments just yet. You can have your bikini and luscious locks, too!

Behold: Terax Life Drops Leave-In Protein Conditioner. A good friend let me in on this little secret a few years ago and I haven't looked back since. Just put a few drops into the palms of your hands and run your hands through your damp hair. The protein makes your hair stronger and has the added bonus of making it feel smoother, silkier, and dare I say a little thicker too.

I've been working on the same bottle ever since my friend recommended the product, so I'd say the $20 pricetag is a steal.

Soft, shiny hair AND a great tan? Yes please!

You can find Terax products on drugstore.com.

FASHION FAQ: Attack Of The Zit

Dear Budget Belle,

I have a gigantic zit on my face. Not only is it above the surface, but it's radiating red, making it look like an atom bomb was dropped on my chin. Sorry to be so graphic, but it's horrible! What is the correct process to cover this up so that I can be seen in public?

- Pocked and Panicking

Dear Pocked And Panicking,

Don't panic - zits happen, and in this day and age with the increasing toxins in our environment and the large amount of processed food that we're eating, they're happening more and more. Here are a few tricks that can help minimize the appearance of zits:

First of all, skin care. If your breakouts are on the serious side (or are just too frequent for your comfort), you should see a dermatologist. They can provide prescription medication to clear up problems and, in more serious circumstances, give you a cortisone shot to clear up the zit immediately. If you just get the occasional zit, try using an over-the-counter product with benzoyl peroxide or salicylic acid. I like Clean and Clear's Persa-Gel-10.

Now that we've covered how to treat the zit, let's cover it up. If you don't normally use foundation, I recommend you keep one for use in these types of circumstances. Why? Because foundation can double as a concealer - two products in one! First, you want to match your foundation color to the shade on the inside of your wrist (not the outside of your wrist, as that tends to be a little darker than the skin tone on your face.) Since foundation color can be tricky, I recommend purchasing foundation in a department store or beauty boutique where you can try out the different shades.

If you normally use foundation, apply the foundation with a brush as usual, then use a concealer brush (not your fingers) to spot-treat your zit. Put a tiny bit of foundation on the brush and apply it to the zit, just as you would a concealer. Don't forget to blend it in - the last thing you want is your zit to stand out even more because it's darker/lighter than the rest of your face.

If you don't normally wear foundation, you have two options. You can apply the foundation all over your face and follow the steps above, or you can try to simply spot-treat the zit. I recommend applying foundation, since it creates more of a clean finish, but I know that some people are rather finicky when it comes to wearing foundation.

As a final step, I like to use a finishing powder to set everything - I like Make Up For Ever's High Definition Powder. It's pricey, but I've been using the same one for quite some time now and it still does the job perfectly. Also, it's a High Definition powder, made for people working in movies or television - which means it looks great in pictures. Use a powder brush to dip a little bit of the powder onto the inside lid of the jar, then swirl the brush around the lid, tap the excess powder off and blend it onto your face. For zits, I also like to spot- treat them with a little bit of the powder to make sure that the cover-up stays put.

There you have it - simple steps to make your complexion look clear and radiant.

OSCARS LIVE BLOG!

Hello fashionistas. This Sunday is the Oscars! The Oscars are sort of like the Superbowl of Fashion. To give this high profile the event the respect it is due, I will be doing a live blog of the red carpet!

Yours truly, The Fashion Deal Diva, and the Budget Belle will be live blogging the Oscars, pointing out which dresses are winners, which dresses are losers, and which stars fell asleep in the tanning bed.

Our good friends at awardspicks.com will be hosting our live blog. In case you don't know what awardspicks.com is, it's a site that lets you set up Oscar pools for you and your friends, or allows you to compete in an existing public pool. Just log on to www.awardspicks.com, register, and then you can join a public oscar pool group, OR, create your own among your friends!

Please join us this Sunday, March 7th at 6:00 p.m. EST for the Red Carpet Live Blog on awardspicks.com! I can only hope someone shows up wearing a dress that rivals the Bjork dove mess!

Read My Lips!

Now that we've covered how to appropriately draw attention to your eyes, it's time to focus on another feature - perfectly pouty lips.

I've talked about my favorite "everyday" lipstick, but if you really want to draw attention to your lips and make them the focal point of your look, you need something with a little more punch. My favorite? Red. That's right - red lipstick. Don't shy away from it. I hear so many women claim that they can't wear red, or it's too drastic or this excuse or that excuse.

Hogwash!

Red is for everyone. However, the exact shade of red depends on your coloring. Are you fair skinned? Yellow undertones or pink? Olive? Darker? There are so many different shades of red, and it's for this very reason - so that you can find at least ONE shade that will work with your complexion.

Don't be intimidated by all of the options. Instead, head to your nearest department store or beauty boutique (i.e. Ulta, Sephora, etc.). Spend some time trying out different shades and see what works best on you. Once you've found your perfect shade, it's also a good idea to purchase a matching lipliner, as red lipsticks tend to bleed a bit more if you don't line your lips.

My shade happens to be Nars' Cruella - I prefer it in the lip pencil form. It has a slight orange base, which balances out my undertones and, for some reason, the color seems to stay on my lips longer than normal red lipsticks. The result? My perfect red lipstick - perfect for a night out.

There you have it - an easy way to make your lips stand out and look delightfully nibble-worthy. Pucker up!

BUDGET BELLE: Bright Eyes

If you're like me, you don't get enough sleep - or at least you don't look like you're getting enough sleep. Dark circles and dull eyes are nobody's friend. However, this problem can be easily fixed with a 30-second make-up trick.

You read that correctly - I'm talking about a serious time-saver, people. And the absolute best part? All you need is one simple tool.

Meet your new best friend - a nude-colored eye or concealer pencil! You can find this at your local drugstore or your nearest beauty supply store.

I like Make Up For Ever's concealer pencil ($18 at Sephora). Just line the inside lower lid of your eyes with the nude-colored pencil - it's as simple as that. This makes your eyes look brighter and more alert - giving you the effect of having a full night's sleep. But really, when's the last time that happened?

Bright eyed, but maybe not bushy-tailed - hey, we can't have it all!

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FASHION FAQ: It's Electric!

Dear Budget Belle,

How do I get my hair to not be full of static cling in the winter?

- Shocking Beauty

Dear Shocking Beauty,

Great question! Static electricity tends to be more of a problem during the winter months because the air is very dry. Couple that with the fact that most of us wear hats to keep us warm, and you've got a big static-y/frizzy problem. Fear not! There are a few ways you can avoid this winter hair Don't.

First, invest in a good ionic hair dryer. A quality hair dryer can be used all year-round and will last you for many years to come, so I recommend spending a decent amount of money on one. The ionic hair dryers, in particular, work to close the cuticle layer so that your hair dries flat - translation: silky, smooth hair. I have the T3 dryer, which is definitely pricey but WELL worth the investment. (More info about that in a future post.)

Second, don't be afraid to use product to smooth our your hair and protect it from frizz. I personally like the "Living Proof" line of "no-frizz" products. Just comb a dollop of the straightening cream through your hair while it's still damp, then blow-dry as usual. The result is smooth, frizz-free hair. The Living Proof products are sold at Sephora, but you can probably find a product at your local drugstore that will work as well. Look for something that includes "silicone" on the ingredient list.

Last, keep some pomade on hand for touch-ups and fly-aways. A little dab is all you need to smooth any frizz that Old Man Winter has created. Take a small amount, rub it between your hands to warm it up a bit, then apply as needed.

There you go - basic steps to keep your hair smooth, shiny and frizz-free! Now bundle up, it's cold out there!

XO, The Budget Belle

BUDGET BELLE: The Eyes Have It

Make-up should be about enhancing your natural beauty, not lacquering up your face so much that you end up looking like Lady Gaga. (Sorry Gaga, love the album!) The best way to enhance your natural beauty? Pick one feature and emphasize it. That's right, folks - only one feature.

Since writing about how to best emphasize each one of your features is far too much for one simple post, I'm going to make this the first in a series. Part 1 - Eyes.

My eyes are my favorite feature to emphasize. I've already told you about my favorite mascara (and it's less than $10 - such a steal!). Now, onto the must-have item, should you decide to use any kind of eyeshadow - Urban Decay's Eyeshadow Primer Potion!

This is a cult classic for a reason. I love using different eyeshadows to bring out my eyes, but I hate the creasing and eventual fading that used to come along with it. Since I've started using the Eyeshadow Primer Potion, I've only seen vivid, long-lasting color without any of those ugly creases.

The potion has the texture of a liquid concealor with a similar felt applicator. Just place a small dab of the cream over each eyelid and smooth it until it blends in. Next, apply your eye make-up as you normally would. The cream acts as a primer, keeping your make-up on your lids, not creased up and looking like you've been on a beer pong bender.

I personally like Urban Decay's Primer Potion in "Sin," a champagne-colored version that gives a little shimmer tint of color. However, the original color-less version works just as well. Both sell for $18 - I know it may seem like a bit much to spend, but this is the kind of product you'll want to carry in your everyday make-up bag. When you think about how much use you can get out of it, it's a pretty good deal.

Now, you can make your peepers pop - and stay that way. Start batting those lashes - let the games begin!

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P.S. Wondering what eyeshadow to wear with that dress? Whether that foundation is really worth the pricetag? Feel free to email me your beauty questions at budgetbelle@gmail.com.

FASHION AND BEAUTY Q&A!!!!!

Hello my fashionistas. I am going to be starting a new segment called "FASHION FAQ" where I will answer your questions about fashion!

It can be anything you want. Send me photos of a dress that needs shoes! Have a question about the best way to wear textured tights? Send it on over! It's a blank slate ladies and gentlemen, and I am more than happy to answer your questions!

Also, if you have a beauty/makeup question, Budget Belle Stef will be happy to answer those questions as well!

Please send your questions to fashiondealdiva@gmail.com. I look forward to seeing your questions!

XO!

Fashion Deal Diva