Beauty Shop

Cripes! Urban Outfitters has found yet another way to take my money, this time in the form of the ever tempting lotions and potions. That's right, they've gone and opened up a beauty shop and I'm in trouble. The stock Paul and Joe cosmetics. Yes, Paul and Joe cosmetics. Right now they only have a few products (hopefully more will trickle in) including my favorite lipstick and the adorable kitten head emery board. This is so major because they're pretty hard to come by...aside from a few online retailers the only place you can find their stuff seems to be Bergdorf's and that's just inconvenient.

I think I'm going to need to stock up on these just in case they ever discontinue them. At $5 a pop I think I can splurge on an endless supply of happy kitten head manicures. Plus for a limited time Urban is offering free shipping on all orders with full priced beauty products, yes yes yes!

Pretty Talk: The Budget Edition

Now that most of us are penny-pinching a bit more than usual I thought I'd share a list of my favorite inexpensive beauty products. Everything that follows is under $10 and most are available at drugstores, leaving you with more cash to blow on important things like shoes and stuff.



Cetaphil Moisturizing Lotion

This has probably been recommended to everyone at some point in their lives, if you haven't already tried it pick some up asap - it really is the best.



Psssssst! Instant Spray Shampoo

Aside from being cute and charming, anything with a label that hasn't changed in 30+ years is bound to be awesome. Most hair doesn't like to be washed everyday so this stuff is great for those days of unwash (plus it gives your hair amazing volume and body). I made the mistake of buying the Bumble and Bumble dry shampoo for red hair once, I don't know why they think chicks want to look like Ronald McDonald. Psssssst can also give you unfortunate Marie Antoinette powdered wig head, just use sparingly and brush through. If you're really cheap you can use plain old cornstarch but it's just not as fun, plus it can be a little messy.


Queen Helene Mint Julep Masque

This is the old standby, the minty green face masque that your mom used when she was a teenager and has been featured in every 80s movie that includes a sleepover. This stuff works wonders, tightens pores and leaves skin glowing and soft. Probably not the best for those with sensitive skin as it can be quite tingly and might sting - proceed with caution.


Trader Joe's Sea Salt Scrub

Summer is fast approaching and I'm sure most of us could use a good scrub. Exfoliation in moderation is one of the best things you can do for your skin. I recently found this scrub at Traders Joe's (I like the lavender one) and it's only $6 for a giant tub! I think that actually might be cheaper than making a scrub yourself. Plus it has a flip top lid instead of a screw top lid...oh TJ's you think of everything. Just be careful when getting out of the tub, this can make it really slippery and I don't want to be responsible for any beauty related injuries.


Manetti Roberts Acqua Distillate Alle Rose a.k.a. Rose Water

Rose water has been used by attractive ladies for like 294684568456 billion years as a skin tonic and refresher, shouldn't you be using it too? I love to use it as a toner before moisturizing and keep some in a spray bottle for mid-day freshening up. It smells amazing and looks lovely on the vanity.

Pretty Talk #2: Under Eye Conclealer

My parents blessed me with pesky hereditary dark circles under my eyes and no amount of sleep or hydration will keep me from looking like a perpetual insomniac. If you suffer from the same unfortunate affliction I will give you some advice I learned the hard way that will save you hundreds of dollars: eye creams claiming that they will reduce the appearance of under eye circles simply do not work. Maybe if you only have them occasionally but certainly not if they are hereditary, the cold hard truth is you and I are just stuck with them. Sure, some have light reflecting properties that can help but those purple-blue half circles will never disappear. I've rounded up my favorites but please let me know if you have any to suggest!


If I won the lottery I would use YSL Touche Eclat exclusively. Unfortunately the price tag ($40) is quite hefty for something I blow through so quickly but it really is the best and the gold pen looks pretty fly on my vanity. It's super light and sheer yet somehow manages to cover everything I have to hide. Every makeup artist swears by it, enough said.



Laura Mercier makes amazing cosmetics, especially the concealers and loose powder. The Secret Concealer is what I'm currently using and always seem to go back to. It's somewhat affordable, $22 for a tiny little pot but a little goes a long way. The Secret Concealer is super creamy and is great for ladies with dry skin, eliminating unsightly creases. Tip: don't let any sales girl pressure you into buying the special brush, all you need is your ring finger.



I had to throw a drugstore option in here and the Neutrogena Skin Soothing Under Eye Corrector is the best I've found. Comparable to Touche Eclat but much more palatable to those on a budget at $9.59! The only drawback being you have to apply more to get the right coverage so I end up going through it pretty quickly, plus the click wand is not as fancy as the YSL version so most of the product ends up at the base of the brush. However, it's still a bargain and contains soothing properties that eliminate puffiness. Just ignore the brush and apply with your finger instead!

Pretty Talk #1: Blush

Aside from spending all my money on clothes, I also like to blow my hard earned cash on pretty pots of lotions and potions for my face. Cosmetics could be considered much more of a gamble than clothing because who is really going to take the time to return a $15 tube of mascara (assuming that you can return it once opened)? Since I've already wasted all my money on the many misses cluttering my drawers I thought I'd clue my beloved Cat Party readers in on some of the best beauty products I've tested. This week I'll focus on the one item in my make-up kit that can transform a sickly, sallow and sometimes hungover complexion into a radiant breath of spring, all with a simple sweep of magical pink powder!

Benefit's Dandelion Blush is probably the easiest to apply if you're a make-up novice, the color is very sheer so one needn't worry about overdoing it.



Tarte Cheek Stain is one of my favorites, especially in the Spring and Summer when foundation and powder are not an option. It glides on the skin and creates a light dewy flush; an added bonus being it's also pretty hard to screw up. My favorite color is Tipsy but I also like Doll Face...plus the scent is reminiscent of My Little Ponies!



Nars Creme Blush is not the best choice for beginners, especially in my favorite color Cactus Flower. It's a very intense coral with subtle gold flecks that is best applied with the slightest dab of the ring finger. Go overboard and you'll end up with clown-face. Apply it in just the right fashion and it is perfect!



Let me know what your favorite blushes/blushers/rouges are, I'd love to give them a try!