Five Great Beauty Products For Under Five Bucks

Can't bear to spend money on cosmetics, hair products, and skin care items these days? Yes, it's really tough out there, considering our budgets and the proposed $700 billion bailout package on Capitol Hill. And we're all looking for a good bargain, but a product that really delivers results.

Here are 5 great beauty products for under $5 bucks each. At least one of these beauty finds will work for you:

1. Cetaphil Gentle Cleansing Bar for Dry/Sensitive Skin
($4.49, drugstores). A superior moisturizing formula that is both
hypoallergenic and dermatologist recommended. As mild as can
be. Leaves your face and body feeling soft. Cleans without harsh
ingredients. Very gentle.

2. Citre Shine Miracle Split End Mender
($4, drugstores). Love this stuff! Especially when you don't have
time for a visit to the salon for a quick trim. This one has great
proteins and citric extracts that seal your split ends. In fact,
daily use prevents new split ends by 90%. And you just apply
and go. No need to rinse out.

3. Gena Hoof Laquer Healthy Protein Treatment
($4.99, http://www.amerimark.com/). Yes, this one has been
around for years. Originally developed to strengthen
the hooves of prized horses. Don't laugh. It works.
Say good-bye to brittle nails. Dries to a high gloss
and even features a strong UV protectant for nails.

4.

E.L.F. Conditioning Body Butter
($4, http://www.elfcosmetics.com/). Got rough elbows, knees,
feet? Don't worry. This rich cream contains cocoa butter
and jojoba , and soothes and smoothes rough, cracked skin.
A wonderful budget buy. You get 7 oz., and it smells so
delicious----vanilla coconut. Yummy!

5. Wet 'n' Wild Silk Finish Blush in Pearl Pink
($4.49). What can we say?! The brand keeps coming up
with good makeup at rock bottom prices!! Just wearing
blush alone, can wake up a tired face, and give your
complexion a soft, healthy dash of color. This one is a
long-wearing, soft, and blendable shade. Comes in a
nice choice of colors.

There you have it, if you look around a bit, you can come up with some
really beautiful beauty products that do work, and save you some
much needed cash in the long run. We shouldn't have to sacrifice
looking attractive because times are tough. Looking good is your best
revenge!

Big Fake Breasts Are So Out Says 90210's Dr. Rey

You of the average-sized breasts, rejoice! It's okay. Really.

Never thought we'd hear that!

But let's be honest. Dr. Robert Rey of the popular plastic surgery reality television E! show, Dr. 90210, does see the trends in female beauty at his booming practice.

According to the good and handsome Dr. Rey, a woman's body should look as natural as possible. Dr. Rey spoke to the newspaper Primera Hora in Puerto Rico, where he recently visited, to promote his Shapewear line.

Dr. Rey commented that big, fake breasts, such as those of Pamela Anderson, ruin a woman's appearance. Ouch! Size D and DD, are so 1990's, he explained.

The star of Dr. 90210, says that women prefer curves, but of a more natural beauty trend, such as the bodies of Jennifer Aniston and Carmen Electra. That doesn't mean a woman shouldn't have breast implants, but Dr. Rey emphasizes that the proportions should not be unbalanced. A size B or C is enough, he adds.

Meantime, Dr. Rey is proud of the sexy Shapewear under garments he has designed to whittle down a woman's body by 2 dress sizes! The attractive undies are made of stretch microfiber and aloe, and give one's body lift and firmness.

So what's the ideal body, according to the Brazilian doctor?

"I love the Puerto Rican's body. 'Boricuas' have the most beautiful hips and booty. They are woman with class, and have an elegant and chic walking style. That makes them look pretty... they look European with that style."

You can check out Dr. Rey's Shapewear line at Sears dept. stores and http://www.hsn.com/.

To learn more about Dr. Rey and his Shapewear line, visit: http://www.drreyshapewear.com/.

Dancing's Brooke Burke Helps New Moms With Baboosh Baby Website

What can we say?!

Television's new mama, Brooke Burke, is stunning after giving birth to her baby boy just 6 months ago.

If you've been watching ABC's 'Dancing With The Stars,' then you've seen beautiful Brooke elegantly gliding across the ballroom floor with her dancing partner, Derek Hough.

At 36, Brooke Burke makes it look so easy. Amazingly, she is the proud mother of 4 lovely children. Yes, four. And she has a great guy by her side, actor David Charvet, an equally proud and doting father.

In addition, she's trying to help mothers everywhere to enjoy the stages of pregnancy, and to remember, that you can regain your figure.

"Your pregnant body is changing," Brooke explained at her website, http://www.babooshbaby.com/. "It doesn't have to be forever."

So how does Brooke do it? How did she shed those post-pregnancy pounds??!!

With a sound diet, good exercise plan, and also, a genius belly wrap. Look at the photo, above right. We''ll discuss that secret belly fighter in a moment.

We did a little reasearch on Brooke Burke, and came across the website, http://www.celebritydietdoctor.com/. According to Marc Lawrence, MD, this is how Brooke shed those post-pregnancy pounds.

Brooke eats “five times a day to speed up my metabolism.” For breakfast she has oatmeal with fruit, a midmorning snack and a big salad with some protein for lunch. For dinner she likes to have fish and veggies, sometimes with a glass of wine. She says “the main point is not to starve your body.”

Brooke sounds like she has fun with her workouts. She loves jumping on a trampoline and also enjoys walking and Pilates. With her newborn it’s understandable that Brooke does not get a lot of sleep, but she says she works with her fiance, David Charvet, to “motivate each other to go for walks and hikes. We make it fun.”

Brooke Burke has also designed a genius beauty item to wear, to help new moms shed those extra pounds. You can learn all about Tauts Belly Wrap at her website, http://www.babooshbaby.com/. Brooke's belly wrap ranges in price from $56 to $62. And many women swear this belly wrap melts away the fat.

Brooke explains how her Tauts Belly Wrap works:

"For centuries, women from around the world have been wrapping their post-pregnancy bellies to get back into shape quickly and naturally. It is believed that a belly wrap reduces the size of the swollen uterus, reduces water retention in the belly, and helps you lose inches fast, all while supporting that unwanted baggy baby skin! Tauts should be worn after delivery for forty days."

Best of luck on Dancing With The Stars, Brooke!

Lindsay Lohan And Cargo Lipstick Help St. Jude's

Lindsay Lohan has often been slammed in the press for her wild-child ways and party girl behavior. These days, the young actress has certainly been trying to stay on the right track, and for that, we applaud her.

And we found out some other great news about Lindsay Lohan, and thought we'd share an item about her kind heart.

For all the makeup and packaging that go together, have you ever really wondered if any of it is going 'green?' Are the huge cosmetics companies concerned about keeping our earth clean and lean? And what about charities that could benefit from a little money going their way?

Lindsay Lohan and Cargo Cosmetics are trying to make a difference.

Lindsay, along with other celebrities like Courtney Cox, Sarah Chalke, Evangeline Lily, Mariska Hargitay, and Maria Menounos, have teamed up with Cargo and designed 6 of the 12 lipstick shades called, Cargo PlantLove Botanical Lipstick ($20 a tube, www.drugstore.com).

The beauty of this entire project is two-fold:

First, it's an earth-friendly venture. Get this.....The lipstick case is made out of corn. Yes, corn! And it is biodegradable. And the box is also made out of corn and is biodegradable. This box is embedded with wildflower seeds; just moisten and plant.

How cute is that? You can plant the seeds next spring, and watch nature unfold in all its glory.

Secondly, $2 from the sale of each lipstick, goes to St. Jude's Children's Research Hospital. We love that concept---of giving back!

The Cargo PlantLove lipsticks are formulated with a truly wonderful moisturizing base:

"Innovative botanical formula infused with Orchid Complex™ and Meadowfoam Seed Oil as well as Jojoba and Shea Butter ~ the incredibly smooth formula is environmentally friendly, containing no mineral oils or petroleums."

We have pictured above, Lindsay Lohan's Cargo PlantLove Botanical Lipstick in Sheer Pink Cream. A soft, universally-pretty-on-anyone pink.

As the good people at Cargo PlantLove stated:

"PlantLove™: The seeds we sow today affect future generations so we are investing in the earth and our children for the future of the planet!"

How False Eyelashes Can Be A Lovely Thing Of Fringe

Did you know that talk show titan Oprah Winfrey won't leave home without them? And Hollywood's reality tv star Kim Kardashian had supposedly cancelled a celebrity appearance because her makeup artist had forgotten to bring them?

We're talking about false eyelashes. Most women on television and in the movies, and at red carpet events, all wear long, thick eyelashes. And probably 95% of these beautiful fringes enhancing the eyes, are really false eyelashes.

Sure, if you have your own celebrity makeup artist, then lucky you. But for the rest of us mere mortals or eyelash-challenged beauties, well, we have to learn how to apply false eyelashes. And to many, the process looks rather intimidating. But one thing is true, the longer and thicker your lashes are, the more beautiful and larger your eyes look. It's a no-brainer.

Most women reserve the false fringe for a special night out or on weekends. But there are some women who wear naturally-looking false eyelashes every day.

You really just need 2 beauty products to achieve this attractive, eye-framing look:

False eyelashes and Lash adhesive.

You wouldn't want your lashes to fall off, or hang carelessly in the breeze. And believe us, there are false eyelash mishaps occassionally.

Try MAC Lash Adhesive ($8). The benefit to this glue is its color. It goes on white, so you can see exactly how close to the lashline you are getting. And then dries clear. And really keeps fake lashes put.

Try Andrea ModLash Strip Lash ($3.29). This brand has been around a long time, and has legions of fans. Easy false lashes to put on. They look natural. And you can dispose of them after a night out, or keep them for about 3 more applications. By the way, Allure magazine has given Andrea lashes the big thumbs up.

Don't be afraid to try making bigger, more amazing eyes with false eyelashes. Practice makes perfect. It's just like liquid eyeliner---not an easy beauty item to use at first, but once you get the hang of it, the results are really pretty.

A How To For Ladies Who Hate Wearing Undies

Okay, we're certainly not going to lecture here. If you love 'Going commando,' then by all means, continue your wild and free journey.

In case you're wondering......Going commando, simply means not wearing underwear.

Maybe your husband or boyfriend does it all the time. For some of you, that's just ew!!! And yeah, there are plenty of gals who hate wearing panties, too. Maybe you are one of those brave souls.

I remember my mom and aunt telling me and then re-telling me often, about a friend of theirs who hated wearing panties, and never did. She was proudly going underwear-free in the 1930's, 1940's and beyond that. Such a dangerous woman, ha ha.

Hey, that's fine by me. The only problem many of us have about Going commando, is the non-hygenic aspect of it all.

And here's a clever solution that tackles the health aspect and delivers 'no panty lines.'
Commandos-The Patch ($16, 8-count, at http://www.bebeautiful.com/).

These Commandos come in Pink or Blue, and are disposable. What a cool idea.

"Attach this revolutionary patch to the cross seam of your pants, jeans or shorts for a discreet, hygienic barrier that protects garments and your skin. Whether you go without panties after wax treatments, beneath form fitting attire or even every day, Commandos offer a soft, secure design guaranteed to go completely unnoticed. Self-adhesive and disposable. 8-ct. Please note: Not for use with skirts or dresses."

How To Use A Lip Brush For The Perfect Smile

We know.....you received a lip brush as a gift or as one of the accessories in a free cosmetics grab bag. And it's sitting in the bottom of a drawer somewhere, untouched. Or maybe you carelessly tossed it out because you didn't know exactly how to use a lip brush.

We're here to tell you, you must use a lip brush for the perfect smile.

What you gain by using this clever, little beauty accessory, is precision and control in the application of lip color.

You also use less lipstick when you use a lip brush.

And you are creating a more defined lip line. Let's say your lips are a bit uneven. You can achieve a more balanced lip line, by using a lip brush to subtley paint on a tiny bit beyond your imperfection.

Maybelline New York shares great and simple tips on how to use beauty essentials like the lip brush, in their website section called, Brushes 101 (http://www.maybelline.com/).

How to Use a Lip Brush For The Perfect Smile:

Prepare brush. Apply lipstick or lip gloss to the brush.

Apply to lower lip. Dab color on the center of your lower lip. Brush color toward outer corners until your entire lower lip is covered. Stroke from side to side for smooth, even color.

Apply to upper lip. Repeat step 2 for your upper lip.

There are hundreds of lip brushes at your local drugstore, high-end department shops, and on-line beauty stores like http://www.sephora.com/ and http://www.ulta.com/.

We absolutely adore the retractable lip brush. It's a super beauty gadget because it stays neatly hidden to protect its bristles. And when you want to use it, it 'pops' up for quick and precise application. And it's mess-free. You can throw it in the bottom of your pocketbook without worrying about lipstick stains ruining your bag.

Lip brushes also come with a pointed tip or flat square tip, depending on your preference. The hairs also are available in synthetic or animal hairs. And some lip brushes cost under $10. Others can run you $100 or more.

Here are 3 Lip Brushes we like:

1. Sephora Brand Professional Platinum Square Retractable Lip Brush #60 ($12).

2. Smashbox Retractable Lip Brush 18 ($20).

3. Bobbi Brown Lip Brush ($22).