Almost Perfect

A while ago, Ms. New Beauty went to beauty blogger event at Space.NK. There, she met and chatted it up with the beautiful faces behind some of her favorite blogs. Of course, she also picked herself up some pretty little things from all the offering at the hip, Soho apothecary. Ms. New Beauty should have known that the question "what else should I buy?" would be met with so many raves about so many different products, lines, and brands. The one that stood out came from Elke, the fabulous, bi-coastal makeup artist. She picked up a makeup brush and said, "get this, it makes you perfect!" That was all MNB had to hear - she took the brush from Elke's hand and headed straight to the register. And, after following her advice on how to use it, Ms. New Beauty can positively report that she is now perfect, when it comes to her makeup that is - she still has the habit of starting laundry and taking a week to finish it. But, this post is just about that wonderfully perfecting brush, and an even cheaper version that still gets the job done.

Fiber Optic Face Brushes

Laura Mercier Finishing Brush, $42

vs.

Sephora Brand Professional Stippling Brush, $35






Fiber optic face brushes are so amazing, and I had never even heard of them until Elke insisted that I get it. The brushes are made up of two layers of bristles, as you can see. The short black bristles are tightly packed goat hairs that are design to hold onto product while the longer white bristles are synthetic, meant to come behind and smooth everything out. This is the tool to reach for when you're applying your fine shimmer powders and don't want to end up looking too Disco Fever.

I use it differently though. First, I do my entire face of makeup - primer, foundation, concealer, blush, loose powder. Then, I grab this brush and my trusty Evian Brumisateur (honestly, how many uses are there for that that can of water? I swear I could figure out a way to decorate my house with it). I spray a light mist to just dampen the bristles of the brush and then I buff it over my entire face. What this does is blend out my makeup and pick up just enough to that everything looks really sheer and natural, exactly the way makeup should look. You can say goodbye to harsh lines and that tell tale border along your jaw once you use this. And, both brushes do the same job, it's just that one costs less.


Stay perfect, or get that way if you're not already, just don't forget that Ms. New Beauty told you!

MNB All Over The World

Ms. New Beauty loves to travel. In the past few years, she's gotten quite a few new stamps in her passport and she loves it!!!! Each little stamp makes her excited and she just can't wait to get another one. She wants to live in abroad for at least two years. She wants to step foot on every continent (well, not Antarctica) and as many countries as possible. She just wants to go as many places and see as many faces as she can. But, as much as she likes to travel, Ms. New Beauty has really only been one place when it comes to the internet - right here! This little site is her home and her haven. But now she's starting to get her internet travel on and skipping herself all around the world wide web.

Now, this is no cause for worry dear New Beauties. MNB will always be here with her product reviews and beauty musings. But she's also branching out and is now a featured guest blogger on Imperious Entertainment!!!!! Her first post over at Imperious is another installment of Cheap & Chic, the Bronze Goddess Edition. Check her out and make sure you leave a comment.


Get your internet travel on and visit MNB at Imperious Ent., but just don't forget that Ms. New Beauty told you!


And, really don't forget to sign up for the giftbag giveaway. Less than one week left!!!!!

Spa La Land

So by now, we all know that Ms. New Beauty graduated last month. Well a few weeks ago, she was out to brunch celebrating someone else and she got the most fabulous graduation gift. She opened a pretty red envelope to find that eleven of her beautiful line sisters got her a $350 gift certificate to Spa Finder!!!!! Yup, that means Ms. New Beauty has a nice chunk of money to spend at any one of thousands of spas around the country. She could get a mani in Manhattan, a facial in Philly, body wrap in Boston. You get the point. After a gift like that, Ms. New Beauty was on cloud nine. Truth be told, she still is as she tries to decide exactly what to get. Anyway, MNB could not figure out the right way to truly thank these beautiful women for their gift. A handwritten note on good stationery? Of course, that's a given. But, Ms. New Beauty needed a way to make it more personal. And what did she come up with? A wallet sized picture of her in a deep cleansing face mask! Honestly, who couldn't use a pint size pic of MNB to carry around next to her driver's license? The ladies can't see me enjoying my spa gift, but at least they'll know what I look like at the spa. And now, so do all of the other New Beauties in the world.


Ms. New Beauty bought that green mask in the picture just on a whim at the beauty supply store. But to her surprise, she found that she really liked it. Instead of just being used for pictorial purposes, this mask has earned a prime spot in MNB's medicine cabinet, right next to a very similar mask that costs 4 times more. And, thus we have the latest installation of Ms. New Beauty's Cheap & Chic.

Green Face Mask


The Body Shop Tea Tree Oil Face Mask, $14

vs.

Queen Helene Mint Julep Masque, about $3 at drugstores





I've been using The Body Shop's Tea Tree Oil face mask since I was a teenager. I read in a magazine that tea tree oil helps to fight acne, so I ran out and went to the first place I could think of that might carry it. Back then, the only place in the suburbs to get cosmetics with natural ingredients was The Body Shop. So this mask has a special place in my heart.

But, I'm really falling for the Queen Helene Mint Julep Masque (dontcha just love how they spell it "masque" like it's a luxury French product even though they sell it in drugstores?). I've been walking past this product in the store for years and years. And, never until a few days ago did I have any desire to try it. I was in Sally Beauty Supply looking for something totally hair related and decided to throw this in the basket on a whim. I am so glad I did. As soon as I opened the jar, my first thought was about how much it looked like the Tea Tree Oil mask from The Body Shop. It has the same texture and thick, claylike consistency (which is a godsend for oily skin like mine). The color's almost the same. The main difference is that the Mint Julep feels cool and tingly on your skin. It's designed to help fight blemishes also and can be used as an overnight spot treatment for problem pimples.

The one thing that initially worried me about comparing the Queen Helene to The Body Shop was the lack of tea tree oil. I like to make sure that my Cheap & Chic comparisons as on par as possible. I mean who wants to read a post claiming that vaseline works just as well as Nars Body Glow for shiny legs??? I am not trying to be the Sandra Lee of the beauty blogging community. So, I did my research on the Mint Julep - I went right to the ingredients list. Holding the two jars of mask side by side, I saw that of the main four ingredients, three were exactly the same. Reading The Beauty Brains has taught me that the main ingredients listed first on the label are the ones most responsible for how a product works. So, I can say confidently that the Queen Helene worked just as well for me as The Body Shop.


Go green on your face while you save some money, give extra special thanks to the people who love you, and this time tell a friend that Ms. New Beauty told you!

P.S. If you want to get a spa gift for yourself or someone else, look to your left! As of this week, Spa Finder is an official Ms. New Beauty sponsor. Show them some love.

E Bay Bay!!

Ms. New Beauty loves all of her readers. She really does. She started this blog only to have an outlet for all the makeup talk that clutters her head and that her boyfriend can really only listen to for five minutes at a time. MNB never had any idea that so many women (and men!) would find what she writes interesting, entertaining and valuable. She is constantly impressed by her sitemeter statistics. But, Ms. New Beauty loves when she gets to hear her readers' feedback one on one. She takes the love and the criticism all in and tries to make Ms. New Beauty better. But she's gotten one comment more often than the others. It typically goes like this - "Ms. New Beauty, I love your blog but I just can't afford some of that stuff. Can you recommend something cheaper?" MNB has expensive taste in skin care and cosmetics but she also understands what it means to be a New Beauty on a Budget. Trust her, she does! So this post will let all those New Beauties with financial constraints in on one of her favorite beauty resources.

Ebay

I know what you're thinking. Ebay? For makeup? Yes! I know a lot of people don't trust eBay. I didn't myself for a long time after I sent a money order for a Prada purse and the seller disappeared the day the postman delivered it. (Serves me right though, $89 for a Prada purse just does not happen in real life). But, I've learned that eBay can be a great resource if you use it right.

I have just a few simple rules to buying beauty on eBay.

1. Only buy products that you have used/tried in person. Most sellers don't do returns so eBay is not the place to try new things.
2. Read the descriptions CAREFULLY and make sure you check the size that the person is selling. You may find yourself tricked into paying for a trial sized bottle of your favorite cleanser.
3. Only buy products advertised as brand new and still sealed.
   

And, now I'll let you in on the one product I buy exclusively from eBay. Proactiv Solution. Yup, the acne system that Diddy uses to moisturize his situation and Jessica Simpson, L.Lo, and Alicia Keys have all hocked on infomercials. It's cheesy but it works. But, before we forget, it's expensive. $40 for cleanser and moisturizer that runs out within a few weeks is a little steep. But Proactiv products are all over eBay. I've gotten two bottles of the cleanser for less than $10. I won't ever buy it in the mall again. I'm all about my eBay. Since my beloved Biotherm has ceased all US operations and the products are only available online, I've taken to buying my dear Aquasource Gel moisturizer on eBay as well.


Start bidding, and get your goodies on eBay, just don't forget that Ms. New Beauty told you!

P.S. I will readily admit that "Ay Bay Bay" is by no means a good song, but for some reason I just love it! I couldn't resist sneaking it in here in the name of the post.

P.S.S. I hope you noticed that changed the layout, not too much, I just added another column. But for the life of me I can't figure out how to get rid of those dark blue bars so if anyone is an html whiz, let me know.

Tools of the Trade

Ms. New Beauty is a professional student. She has always been in school, working on some kind of degree or diploma. There has never been a time when she hasn't been a student. There's also never been a time when MNB wasn't working with a student's budget. Every month of her life involves figuring which bills get paid from which account, every purchase requires the forethought of which credit will get pulled from her wallet, her personal card or the one Mr. New Beauty (aka Daddy) pays the bill for. Ms. New Beauty has gotten quite adept at fitting life necessaries- weekly hair appointments, new mascaras, and the occasional facial - into her balance sheet. But, these things get purchased often at the expense of other items. Particularly, MNB saves money when it comes to the tools she uses to apply the cosmetics she devotes valuable room in the budget to. And thus we have the latest installation of Cheap & Chic - The Beauty Tools Edition.

Eyelash Curler














Talika Heated Eyelash Curler, $34
vs.
Shu Uemura, $18

For the ultimate curl in your lashes, heated lash curlers give the best results. However, the Shu Uemura eye lash curler is considered the granddaddy of lash curlers and is almost half the cost. Plus, if you really need the heat to give your lashes a bump, blast the metal curler with your blow dryer for a few seconds.

Powder Brush
















Kevyn Aucoin Large Blush & Powder Brush, $65
vs.
Sonia Kashuk Tools Contoured Powder Brush, $20

I've written about the wonders of the Kevyn Aucoin Blush Brush before. A large fluffy brush is the key to blending bright blush and not looking like a clown. But, you don't have to pay a lot for one. Sonia Kashuk's brushes are high quality without the high price.

Foundation Brush













Lancome Foundation Brush #2, $32
vs.
E.L.F. Foundation Brush, $1

Flat foundation brushes are great for applying and blending liquid and stick foundations. Better than sponges because the bristles don't absorb all your expensive foundation. Both brushes will keep your skin looking flawless, but the E.L.F. will leave you with enough cash to buy some foundation to use it with.

Ceramic Flat Iron













T3 Tourmaline Professional Ionic Wet or Dry Iron, $200
vs.
Farouk CHI Ceramic Flat Iron, $81.99

Ceramic flat irons exploded onto the hair scene a few years ago and are now part of the regular arsenal of many New Beauties. The ceramic plates on the iron distribute heat more easily and allow you to straighten and smooth your hair with one tool with less heat damage. The tourmaline on the T3 iron allows it to dry and straighten your hair at the same time, but the CHI is the original ceramic iron and I have yet to meet a woman who has used it without falling completely in love it.

Spend your money on great products, but save on the tools you'll use to put them on, just don't forget that Ms. New Beauty told you!

Pretty Pink Powder

There are some things in this world that just bring a smile to Ms. New Beauty. Well-mannered children. Elderly couples that have been married for 50+ years and still giggle like teenagers in love. Cosmetics that are pretty just for the sake of being pretty. Sure that M.A.C. lipstick is the same color and looks just as good on your lips even if it does come in that simple charcoal tube. Maybelline Great Lash works just the same regardless of the kind of tube it's sold in. But doesn't a pretty package, like that pink and green mascara, make using it more fun? It does for MNB. For her, the packaging is half the fun. But what's even better is when the makeup itself is pretty. It's like a pleasant pretty surprise once she opens the plastic case that it comes in. A makeup jack-in-the-box popping out just to make her giggle. Pretty on the inside, just the way thing should be. The edition of Ms. New Beauty Cheap & Chic is devoted to those pretty powders that look just as good in the package as they do on the face.

Pretty Blush

Clinique Fresh Bloom Allover Colour, $29.50

vs.

Revlon Golden Affair Sculpting Blush, $12

Both blushes come in four colors to warm up your face and give you a glow to stand out from the masses of pale winter skin. And they both are sculpted into beautiful designs to give you something pretty to look at while giving you something pretty to wear. If you're easily enamored like me, you may want to invest in two - one for wearing and one for staring.

Stay pretty, and have something pretty to look at, but never forget that Ms. New Beauty told you!

P.S. I have to send a special Founder's Day Skee Wee to all of my beautiful sorors of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc. 99 years of Service to ALL Mankind.

Cheap & Chic - Everything's Coming Up Roses

Ms. New Beauty loves roses. She loves to be showered with them on birthdays, Valentine's, and on random days for no reason at all. Red roses, white roses, yellow roses, and especially pink roses. But the color doesn't really matter at all, so long as they're roses. MNB also loves to splash rose water on her face in the morning to create the best possible beginning for her day and to slather rose scented oil on her skin after a hot bath at night. And, since last year, she's been a secret admirer of a particulary decadent rose perfume. Oh, how she's stopped by fragrance counters and spritzed a little on her wrist to hold her over until the day she can afford a bottle of her very own. That day hasn't come yet, but MNB is having a torrid affair with a cheaper, yet just as sweet smelling version of that perfume. And thus, we have the newest installation of Ms. New Beauty Cheap & Chic.

Rose Perfume

Creed Fleurs de Bulgarie, around $150

vs.

Fresh Bulgarian Rose, $70

I love both of these scents. They both smell like the most beautiful field of fresh, just bloomed roses. One scent and I see myself transported to some European hillside covered in roses of the most perfect shade of pink dancing and singing a song of happiness and joy. Think Sound of Music, except with a fabulous black girl like myself frolicking in tall platform boots instead of a milk maid's apron. You get the picture.

While I love Creed and acknowledge that their colognes are made with only the best ingredients, I do not have a perfumers nose. So the Fresh Bulgarian Rose smells just like the Fleurs de Bulgarie to me, except it costs half the price. And that works out fabulously for my grad student budget.

Treat yourself to some roses, save some money, and don't forget that Ms. New Beauty told you!

Ms. New Beauty Cheap & Chic

Ms. New Beauty fancies herself a versatile modern girl. She is equally at home in Neiman's and Target. When it comes to her beauty products, she does tend to favor the more expensive products. But, she doesn't want any of you dear readers to think that she doesn't appreciate a good CVS buy, as Ms. New Beauty really is a drugstore girl at heart. So, she's introducing a new feature here at MNB, solutions for your pressing beauty concerns at both price points - the Cheap and the Chic. Enjoy.

Foaming Facial Cleanser

DDF - Doctor's Dermatologic Formula Foaming Facial Cleanser, $28

or

AVEENO Clear Complexion Foaming Cleanser, $8

Both are soap free, foaming cleansers with 2% salicylic acid to help exfoliate and clear up breakouts.


Eyebrow Pencils

Anastasia Perfect Brow Pencil, $21

or

Milani Easy Brow Pencil, approx. $6

Both pencils are perfect for filling in brows and have a brow brush attached. The one disadvantage of the Milani is that it is not a traditional pencil. It's a soft push up pencil, so it's hard to sharpen, while the Anastasia can be used in any pencil sharpener. A sharp tip helps filled in brows look natural. However, if your eyebrows are naturally dark, Milani's black is the only way to go, as Anastasia's darkest shade is a dark brown.


Eye Makeup Remover

Lancome BI-FACIL Double Action Eye Makeup Remover, $23

or

E.L.F. Eyes Lips Face Eye Makeup Remover Pads, $1

Lancome Bi-facil is a fabulous eye makeup remover, but the ELF pads make eye makeup removal so, so simple. These you can use on the go and are so versatile for travel.

Loose Powder Eye Shadow

Bourjois Multi Shimmer Loose Eye Shadow, $16

or

Milani Loose Eye Shadow Powder, approx. $5

You all know that I feel that bright shadows are where you save your money. And for big color impact, loose powder shadows provide the best coverage, especially for darker skin tones. There is essentially no difference between these two products, only that Bourjois offers more shades.


Well, you can see that there are so many options for my ladies with champagne taste on a beer budget. I fully advocate spending the real money on foundation and skin color products, but for other things, you can totally save, especially when the product are almost identical

Try it, stay chic but be cheap, and don't forget that Ms. New Beauty told you!