Don't forget to check the beauty sale pages at Macy's here and
Nordstrom here for new beauty deals plus free shipping!


Saturday, February 27, 2010

My nail care story (including how I totally saved my cuticles)

Over the course of the past few months, I've received emails and comments asking me to do a post on nail care. I've even had some readers ask how to grow your nails, because mine apparently look strong and healthy in my swatch pics.

So I'd like to set the record straight on a few things, people. First, looks can be deceptive! Truth be told, my nails are neither long, nor healthy. In fact, they're pretty darn thin and weak. They peel, they chip, they break and my cuticles are a total mess. Just about the ONLY thing I do is file them on a regular basis. I've been asked to do a tutorial on how I get the squared-off shape that I have, but honestly, I wouldn't even know how to describe it. I just use a regular 99-cent file that I get from Sally Beauty, and I file the sides and the tips of my nails until I'm satisfied with the shape. Oh, and I occasionally buff my nails (to remove ridges) with a regular ol' buffer (the one I'm using right now is from Revlon and I got it at my local 99-cent Only Store. It's just one of those 4-sided buffers that you can get anywhere).

So now that that's out of the way, I can tell you my key to getting my nails to "appear" healthy. For me, the best (and only) way to avoid breakage, peeling, splitting, and generally nasty-looking nails, it to keep them polished 90% of the time. Yep, that's the magic word. POLISH. Over the years, I've discovered that if my nails are freshly manicured, they're far less suseptible to breaking, splitting and peeling. Even though my nails are not strong, they don't seem to break nearly as often when I have pretty polish on them. I try to give myself a mani every few days, and once or twice a month I let my nails "breathe" and go without polish for a few days. So there you go--THAT'S my big, mysterious nail care secret. Ha!

I've said it before but it's worth repeating: my holy grail base coat is Orly Bonder Rubberized Base Coat. You can get it at CVS, Rite Aid, and wherever else Orly is sold. It's pricey at $7.99 a bottle, but it's worth every drop. I've tried so many base coats over the years, but for me, Orly Bonder is the only base coat that truly extends the life of my mani by several days. I recently caved in and bought CND Sticky base coat, and now I'm kicking myself for wanting to "cheat" on Orly Bonder, because my mani didn't even last a full 24 hours with Sticky.
And now, I'd like to tell you about how I TOTALLY saved my dry, disgusting cuticles, but first a few words about you, my lovely readers.

I swear to you, I have the BEST readers of all time. I'm not just trying to suck up to you so that you'll love me, I promise! (Plus, none of you would be so gullible as to love me just because I showered you with praise, right? lol!) I really, truly mean it when I say you are THE BEST. I have learned so many tips and tricks from you gals (and guys) that I just can't even think of a way to repay you!

And speaking of tips, I received an amazing one a few weeks ago when my wonderful reader, Rebecca, told me about a tip that her manicurist gave her, and now I want to pass it along to you. If you have dry, icky cuticles, you might want to try rubbing a little Mentholatum on them! If the actual brand name Mentholatum is hard for you to find in your area (I couldn't locate it my CVS), you can try a substitute like Vicks VapoRub, or do as I did and buy the CVS generic version of Vicks:

CVS Medicated Chest Rub (retail: $6.79, 3.53 oz)

Mentholatum is the product that Rebecca and her manicurist use, so it's probably the best way to go, but the CVS generic version contains camphor and menthol (just like Mentholatum) plus some eucalyptus oil (those are the only three ingredients!) which doesn't seem to hurt.

Now let me warn you, the scent of this stuff is STRONG. If you're not ready for it, it can blow you away. But once you're used to it, it actually doesn't stick around for long since you're just applying it to your cuticles. Once a night, or once every other night, I've been applying just the tiniest amount to my cuticles and I really rub it in while I'm watching TV. After the first time I used it, I was amazed to see that my cuticles looked PERFECT the next morning (not dry and white and icky like they usually do).

Believe me, I've tried zillions of different cuticle creams over the years and, for me, no matter how much I used, my cuticles seemed to go right back to their ugly dry-looking state the next day. This CVS Chest Rub has been the only thing to give me long-term improvement that really seems to last. My cuticles have seriously never looked better!

As with anything you buy at the drugstore, use this at your own risk. I'm not responsible if you have an allergic reaction, etc., and definitely be sure to follow the directions on the jar. You can't use this product on wounds or open skin (so don't use it if you've got hangnails or anything like that), you can't warm or heat this product, and you DEFINITELY do not want to be touching your eyes or mouth after you've used it. Ouch!

I'm just sharing MY experience with you, and if you use it sparingly on just your cuticles, you might just see fantastic results like I've been seeing these past few weeks. I'm truly amazed!

That's it for my nail care story--please feel free to share your own tips and tricks in the comments. I'd love to hear them!
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Extra special drugstore deals starting tomorrow (Sunday)

For those of you who aren't aware, I don't mention the new weekly drugstore sales on Nouveau Cheap, because there are already tons of places where you can find this info (check out my left-hand sidebar for links!) but I do like to mention when I see extra special deals coming our way!

Beginning tomorrow (Sunday), you can find the following great deals at your drugstores:

Remember my Drugstore Sightings post I did a little while ago when I showed you all of the latest CVS generic versions of Aveeno, ROC and Neutrogena (click here if you missed it) products? Well starting tomorrow, you can get 3 Extra Bucks when you purchase $10 worth of CVS brand facial care products! So now's the time to try these generic versions and see if they live up to your beloved brand name versions!

ALL CoverGirl eyeshadows (singles and trios) are going to be $3 each! That's a pretty great deal, and I've had really good luck with some of those trios, so if you're a fan too, definitely take advantage of this one.

ALL Physicians Formula products will be BOGO1/2OFF, so if you've been waiting for a deal on the new gel liners, you might want to pick up two next week.

All Soft Soap and Irish Spring Body Washes will be $4.99 with $4 Extra Bucks (limit 1). Full size bottles of Soft Soap body wash for 99 cents? I'm there!
Maybelline nail, lip, foundation, blush, concealer and powder products will be 40% off starting tomorrow! I am definitely going back to Walgreens this week and picking up another bottle of polish from the new Limited Edition Sweet Thing collection, and if you're a nail polish fanatic, I urge you to do the same! These new cremes are just adorable!

All Pond's Skin Care products will be BOGO free (I've noticed that they've stopped the BOGO free deals on makeup lately, so it's good that they're still doing it with other products).

TREsemme shampoos, conditioners and styling products will all be $3.99 next week, which is great if you've been wanting to try the new dry shampoo I reviewed early, or anything from the new Naturals or Fresh Start collections.

Be sure to pick up the circular at the front entrance of Walgreens because there are coupons for 99 cent Nivea lip balms, and also 99 cent Carmex lip balms (click here to see my love for Carmex!).

ALL NAIL POLISHES, every brand, will be BOGO1/2OFF starting tomorrow! This couldn't have come at a better time, since Rite Aid recently started to carry Sinful Colors, which are already so cheap at $1.99 a bottle. Too bad they don't have those new greens that I talked about earlier, but they still have a good selection, so YAY! This will also be a great time to get some of the new WnW shades!

Rite Aid brand cotton balls, cotton pads, and manicure tools will be BOGO free!

Buy a Venus Disposable Razor or Refills and receive a FREE full size Olay body wash or body lotion.

Yardley Soaps (click here for my review--I LOVE the new Natural line) and Dove soaps (single bars) will be 99 cents each.

All Prestige Cosmetics will be BOGO1/2OFF (this is great since Prestige rarely goes on sale these days).

And finally, all Nivea and Carmex lip balms will be 99 cents each (kind of strange to see these go on sale for the same price as the Walgreens coupon...wonder if both brands are going to be receiving a makeover soon or something?)

That's it for now, but again, there are tons of other great deals to be had next week at CVS, Walgreens and Rite Aid...I'm just bringing you what I believe to be the extra special deals. :)
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Wet n Wild Acapulco Glow Bronzzer vs. Princess Color Icon Bronzer

The big moment has arrived, my fellow WnW fans! Today I'm going to do a compare/contrast of WnW's most beloved bronzer, Acapulco Glow, and the new WnW Color Icon Bronzer, Princess (the lighter of the two shades now available). I'm excited to read your thoughts on this so please take a moment and hear me out, OK?

First I'd like to mention that, in many people's eyes, Acapulco Glow was never really, truly a "bronzer". It's actually more of a highlighter (a very beautiful, natural-looking highlighter, to boot) so comparing it to Princess is sort of like comparing apples to oranges. But I'm still going to try!

Left: Wet n Wild Bronzzer in Acapulco Glow, Right: Wet n Wild Color Icon Bronzer in Princess


For those of you who haven't been reading my WnW 2010 makeover updates, Acapulco Glow has been discontinued, but there are still many places where you can find it (most major drugstores, drugstore.com, etc.). But if you want to stock up, you should probably act quickly because once they're gone, they are GONE.

Now, as you can see in the above pics, A.G. is much, much lighter than Princess. There is simply no comparison. BUT, since Princess is the lightest shade of the two bronzers WnW is now offering us (you can click here to see a swatch of Goddess, which is the darker shade), I'm going to try and explain how I think Princess might be workable for you if you love A.G.

First, let's talk about how just the very word "bronzer" has come to mean so many different things to so many different people. In my experience, there are really two types of bronzers. The first is the kind that you use for a sunkissed look. This type of bronzer is usually light and shimmery, and you apply it on the areas of your face where the sun would naturally hit (ie, the tops of your cheekbones, above your eyebrows, the tip of your nose, your chin, etc.). The second type of bronzer is the type that you use to contour your face. This type of bronzer is usually darker and more matte, and you would apply it in the areas that you want to make recede, like underneath your cheekbones, the sides of your nose, etc.

So if you agree with me about the above two categories, your first reaction after seeing these two bronzers is probably that A.G. is the highlighter-type of bronzer, while Princess is the contouring-type of bronzer. And THIS, my friends, is where you would be wrong! I WAS able to find a common trait in these two products after all, because I really believe that Princess is in the highlighter category!

Left: Acapulco Glow, right: Princess


See how both of these colors contain approximately the same amount of shimmer? While A.G.'s shimmer is much lighter, the golden, bronzy shimmer of Princess, to me, makes it much more of a highlighter, because it's not quite dark enough to be a true contour shade. I was able to build the intensity of Princess (exactly like how you can build the intensity of A.G.) and I think it leaves a beautiful, golden glow to the face, especially if used lightly.

I feel that the texture of Princess is actually smoother than A.G. (it appears to be more finely milled) and it blended effortlessly. For me, the staying power in both products was about the same (excellent) and I was very pleased with the buildable color. Princess doesn't come on strong like the contour-type bronzers that you have to apply carefully in order to avoid a fake look.

So for those of you who are sad about losing our beloved A.G., I think you might want to at least give Princess a try before ruling it out based on the color you see in the pan. For me, I found it to be very forgiving, and the color is absolutely stunning when used like a traditional highlighter. And for those of you who still think Princess is just too dark for you to wear in the same way you wear A.G., I guess you'll have to switch to a traditional highlighter to get the look you want. But again, I think Princess delivers a very pretty sunkissed glow that warms up the skin more than A.G., so you might want to give it a whirl. It might surprise you.

Oh! I almost forgot! Take a look at the brush that comes with Princess. It's SO much better than the little flimsy brush that comes with the old Bronzzers. It's actually a decent brush that delivers enough product to your face, and you can totally use it in a pinch if you don't have your usual bronzer/blush/powder brush with you.

As always, I'd love to hear your thoughts!

A sample of this product was given to Nouveau Cheap for editorial purposes, either directly from the manufacturer or from the agency that works on behalf of the manufacturer. All reviews on NouveauCheap.blogspot.com are the honest opinion of its author and editorial samples do not, in any way, affect the outcome of product reviews.
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Friday, February 26, 2010

Review: Degree Ultra Clear Red Satin

I will happily admit that I'm a long-time Degree deodorant lover. I think I wore Degree Shower Clean for about five years straight in the 90s, and you've heard me rave about the Degree Fine Fragrance Collection several times on this blog. For me, Degree products are just really reliable, they never irritate my skin, and they always seem to smell amazingly fresh and wonderful to me.

So when Degree recently released a new fragrance, Degree Red Satin, I jumped at the chance to try it for review (and keep reading for your chance to get a $1 coupon so that you can try it too!).




First let's talk about this fragrance. If you are a "Shower Clean" lover like me, I think you will adore this one. To me, it's the epitome of fresh and clean, but in the background there's a slight floral note to it that keeps it from veering too far into the unisex catagory.

Funny story: Mr. Recessionista ran out of deodorant recently and, as men are known to do, forgot to purchase a new stick and needed something ASAP before he went to work. So in an early-morning daze, I handed him Degree Red Satin and just said, "use this" and went back to bed. Later that night, we were sitting on the couch and I kept getting whiffs of such a nice, fresh scent. I finally figured out that is was Degree Red Satin, and it wasn't coming from me! LOL! This product lasted Mr. R all day (and night) and even though he said it smelled a "bit too feminine" for him, he managed to pull it off just fine and no one gave him strange looks while he was at work. :)

So yes, I LOVE the fragrance, but that's the not the best part about Degree Red Satin. As the Degree website says, this deodorant is "Little Red Dress Approved" and I have to agree.


Even though it's a white stick, it goes on clear, and I have not experienced one white mark on any of my clothing since using this product. In fact, I tried swiping it on my hand to show you that it goes on clear, but I couldn't photograph it because, well, it was clear! And the finish is powdery, yet silky, which feels very nice on my skin as well. There's definitely no tugging or dragging when you apply this to your underarm area.

If you are someone who, like me, can't wear the clear gel-type anti-perspirants because they sting and/or irritate your skin, I think that Degree Red Satin might be just the ticket for you. It's dependable, it smells fantastic, and it contains skin conditioners for a soft and silky application.

And you can snag a $1 coupon on the Degree site by clicking here.

So, are you a fellow Degree fan? What's your favorite scent from Degree? I'd love to hear your thoughts.

A sample of this product was given to Nouveau Cheap for editorial purposes, either directly from the manufacturer or from the agency that works on behalf of the manufacturer. All reviews on NouveauCheap.blogspot.com are the honest opinion of its author and editorial samples do not, in any way, affect the outcome of product reviews.
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Review: Skindinavia No More Shine Makeup Finish





No More Shine Makeup Finish is paraben-free, SLS-free and oil-free, and here's what it promises:

Oily skin types can now have perfect makeup for hours with fewer touchups. Contains oil control system that both absorbs excess oil and controls surface shine. Stops makeup sliding and meltdown without excessive drying. Weightless mist cools makeup surface 20°F degrees to curtail oil from sliding through as shine on foundation, blush, and concealer. Light dispersing particles deflect shininess to deliver a matte look for up to 16 hours. Works with all types of makeup.

As many of you know, I have very oily skin and I LOVE powder foundation. The problem with most mattifiers is that somtimes they don't tend to work correctly with powder foundation, so when I heard that No More Shine "works with all types of makeup" I had to get a bottle.

I was lucky enough to receive 4-oz bottle of Skindinavia No More Shine Makeup Finish recently for review (retail: $29, but there is also a 2-oz bottle that retails for $19, which will last you a long time). And lucky for me, I was able to test this product during all types of weather. In the past few weeks, the weather here in San Diego has dropped to 40 degrees on some days, while shooting up to 85 degrees on other days. So I was really able to test this under a wide range of conditions.

The directions say to apply this product right before you apply your makeup (I used it a few minutes after applying my usual moisturizer) and then again after you've applied your makeup (and by makeup, they mean your entire face of makeup, including eyeshadow, mascara, the whole nine yards). You simply shake the bottle and mist 2-4 pumps of product on your face (holding the bottle approx. 8 inches from your face), both before and after makeup application.

This product has a nice, light, water-like texture, and after a few seconds, I really could not detect it on my skin AT ALL. The fragrance is pleasant and very light (sort of clean and floral) and it dissipates quickly. I didn't experience any dryness, tightness, irritation, redness or burning while using this product. Like I mentioned before, it really does feel like you're just applying a very light mist of water to your face.

Something else I noticed was that it didn't disrupt my makeup in the slightest, even my powder eyeshadows, powder blushes, powder foundation and washable mascara. I looked closely for signs that it might have left spots on my powder eyeshadow or foundation, or made my mascara run, but there was nothing at all.

So does Skindinavia No More Shine work? Yes. But I will say that it worked better in colder weather. When the temperature was colder, I found that I didn't have that break-through oiliness on my T-zone that I'm used to seeing a few hours after applying my makeup. I could get away with skipping my usual 11AM touch-up, no problem. On warmer days though (85 degrees and higher), I did see the break-through shine start to appear, but it appeared a few hours later than it usually does (around 1PM).

My favorite thing of all is that No More Shine has the ability to make my entire face of makeup just look more even and polished. I can't really explain it better than that, and it's something I had a hard time trying to capture in a photo, so the best thing I can tell you is that the name of this product perfectly describes it: it's a makeup finish for oily-skinned gals like myself. For me, No More Shine kept the oilies at bay for a few hours longer than if I had not used it, but more importantly it also gave a nice, natural, even, and more polished look to my face, which is hard to achieve sometimes, especially when using powder foundation.

You can purchase No More Shine on the Skindinavia website.

Have you tried any Skindinavia products? Are you curious about this one? I'd love to hear your thoughts!

A sample of this product was given to Nouveau Cheap for editorial purposes, either directly from the manufacturer or from the agency that works on behalf of the manufacturer. All reviews on NouveauCheap.blogspot.com are the honest opinion of its author and editorial samples do not, in any way, affect the outcome of product reviews.
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Review: Princessa Palette 02 from Rite Aid

Back in December of last year, I spotted the following display at my local Rite Aid and mentioned it briefly here on Nouveau Cheap:


I talked about how it was fun to see Rite Aid bring us some new, cheapie palettes and I mentioned that I actually purchased the palette on the right side of this picture to review. Well, who would have known then that this would become my most asked-about product that I've ever mentioned in a "Drugstore Sightings" post? Seriously, I am averaging 1-2 inquires a week about when I will be reviewing this little palette!

Honestly, I had every intention of reviewing it back in December, but, if you remember from that time, my giveaways were coming fast and furious, and then the holidays came, and well, little Princessa kind of got lost in the shuffle. But I haven't forgetten about it (partially in thanks to all of your emails and comments and reminders!) so I'd finally like to give it a proper review today.


Princessa Palette 02 (retail: $5.99 at Rite Aid)





As you can see in the above pics, this palette appears to consist of all shimmers and no mattes. But what's almost always the case with cheapie palettes is that the shimmer appears only on the top layer of the shadow, revealing a sort of bland, matte powder underneath. But that's the biggest surprise with this Princessa Palette: the shimmer on the surface actually extends through the entire shadow! No deception here.


(click to enlarge)

As you can see in the above swatches, ALL of the colors in this palette have the same shimmer and it's 100% consistent from color to color. Absolutely no surprises, which I love. I also love how the darker colors are extremely rich and decently pigmented.

Some things I don't love: the powders are a bit crumbly. Not to the point where they're unusable, but compared to the other amazing new drugstore shadows I've been using lately (Wet n Wild, Revlon, Rimmel) the texture of these shadows definitely feels substandard. One other thing I don't love is the fragrance of these shadows which, not surprising given the low price, smells very strongly of baby powder. This clearly has to do with the fact that the main ingredient in these shadows is talc (which is the main ingredient in talcum power, aka baby powder).

Moving along, I would like to show you an eye look I did using both the light and dark silver shades in this palette (I did this look back in December so please forgive me--it was very late at night and my brows are a hot mess):



As you can see, these colors applied pretty smoothly, blended easily, and gave me a subtle, almost sheer wash of color. But the shimmer is definitely still there, and unfortunately, there was a good amount of fallout, which you can see under my eyes.

Would I consider using this as an everyday palette? No. Would I use it when I have some extra time and I want to play with some colors that I normally don't wear? Yes. I was actually impressed that the shimmer is consistent throughout this palette, and that many of the shades have much better pigmentation than you would expect to see from a palette of this caliber. The staying power, especially with the darker shades, was actually pretty decent (most colors lasted on my eyes for about four hours without a primer). For $5.99, I'd say it's a fun, once-in-a-blue-moon type of palette that you might want to play with if you're feeling creative. But as an everyday, wear-to-work palette, I'd say you'd have better luck with the L.A. Looks neutral palette (available at most Dollar Trees) if you're on a very tight budget but want wearable, work-friendly shades. But for playing around and trying bold pops of color, you can definitely use a palette like this to master your skills before you move on to a higher-quality (more expensive) palette.
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Thursday, February 25, 2010

Attention Sunsilk fans: I've got HUGE news for you!

I've mentioned my love of Sunsilk products on Nouveau Cheap many times, and today I've got some BIG news for you about new products, as well as discontinued products, so definitely keep reading if you'd like the scoop.

First let's start with the sad news. One of my favorite lines from Sunsilk, the Waves of Envy collection, is being discontinued. The good news is that we'll probably see these products start to pop up at places like Big Lots, so definitely pick up some bottles if you spot them and you'd like to stock up.

While this news does sadden me, I don't think I'll be feeling blue for long because check this out:

Sunsilk® is re-launching with new formulas and packaging co-created by Paris-born Teddy Charles, one of the fashion industry’s most notable and cutting edge hairstylists [his clients include celebrities such as Nicole Richie and Elisha Cuthbert--R.]. Sunsilk partnered with Teddy to capture his expertise in a bottle and infuse his vision and creativity in the fashion-forward brand’s new line-up. The hair expert co-created four new advanced Sunsilk formulas, including shampoos, conditioners and cremes to help women achieve his must-have runway looks at home.

In addition to Teddy Charles breathing new life into Sunsilk products, all Sunsilk products are receiving a fabulous new makeover, inside AND out. Not only has the packaging changed, but the products themselves have been reformulated and improved as well. Here are the deets:

The Hydra TLC collection (pictured above) brings relief to thirsty hair, providing moisture to combat roughness, split ends and flyaways for a picture-perfect base.

· Formula with Milk Protein and Honey helps hydrate hair, prevent split ends and chronic flyaways and strengthens hair without causing product build-up.

· Sunsilk Hydra TLC Styling Creme works with Sunsilk Hydra TLC Shampoo and Conditioner to provide extra moisture to help tame and smooth rough ends.

The Daring Volume products (pictured above) transform hair from blah to body, providing fine hair bounce and oomph that’s fit for the runway.

· Formula with Collagen Blend with amino acids strengthens and moisturizes hair, and fortifies without weighing hair down. Ideal for color-treated hair.

The Captivating Curls collection (pictured above) adds definition to curls and tames unruly frizz, giving curly-haired women the chance to steal the spotlight.

· Formula with Rosemary and Chamomile smoothes and calms hair to fight frizz.
· Captivating Curls Styling Creme keeps frizz at bay with the right amount of conditioning that won’t weigh curls down.

The ThermaShine collection brings sleekness to runway-worthy looks and provides shine to heat damaged hair, leaving it soft and healthy looking.

· Formula with Elastyn-E boosts shine and protects hair.

Average price per unit for shampoo, conditioner and cremes is $5.00. All products are available at Walmart and Drugstore.com. For more information about Sunsilk, please visit www.sunsilk.us.

I don't know about you, but I am pretty darn excited to try these new and improved products from Sunsilk! Please check back soon because I'll be reviewing both the Captivating Curls collection and the Hydra TLC collection in the very near future.

In the meantime, how do you feel about this new makeover?
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The new Spring 2010 Urban Decay 24/7 Glide-On Eye Pencils!


Urban Decay 24/7 Glide-On Eye Pencils are one of those rare products that I honestly think are worth plunking down a few extra bucks to own. If you're interested in seeing my take on this covet-worthy pencil (including all of the new Spring 2010 shades!) come check out my featured review on WeHeartThis.com! Click the logo above to go directly to my review, and I'd love it if you said hi and left a comment while you're there (especially if you share my love of these liners!).
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Wednesday, February 24, 2010

Jane Cosmetics Be Pure Mineral 19-piece Giveaway!


NOTE: THIS GIVEAWAY IS NOW CLOSED. PLEASE DO NOT ATTEMPT TO ENTER. THANKS!

Hold the phone! Did I just say 19 pieces? Yep, I sure did!

I am tickled pink to bring you, my lovely Nouveau Cheap readers, this amazing giveaway sponsored by Jane Cosmetics!

One lucky winner will receive a total of nineteen Jane Be Pure Mineral products, including ALL of the exact products I love and reviewed early this week (click here to read my review).


One VERY lucky winner will receive one (1) each of the following products:

Be Pure Mineral Natural Foundation in Ivory
Be Pure Mineral Powder w/ Brush in Light
Be Pure Mineral Correcting Concealer in Light
Be Pure Mineral Pressed Powder (Colorless)
Be Pure Mineral Loose Powder in Light
Be Pure Mineral Bronzer in Twilight Sands
Be Pure Mineral Loose Blush in Plum
Be Pure Mineral Quilted Blush in Soft Mink
Be Pure Mineral Eyelighters in Rose Quartz
Be Pure Mineral Eyelighters in Tigers Eye
Be Pure Mineral Lip Balm w/ SPF15 in Toffee
Be Pure Mineral Lip Balm in Peppermint (clear)
Be Pure Mineral One Liner in Onyx
Be Pure Mineral Gliding Liner in Colbalt
Be Pure Mineral Gliding Liner in Brown
Be Pure Mineral Gel Eyeliner in Black
Be Pure Mineral Powder Brush
Jane Shadow Brush
Jane Kabuki Brush

(Please visit the Jane website for further details on the products listed above.)

The approximate retail value of this prize package is $100.

Please note: NO substitutions for shades will be made. If the foundation and/or powder products are not a good match for your skintone, there are still PLENTY of other great products for you to enjoy in this collection!

PLEASE READ ALL OF THE FOLLOWING RULES BEFORE ENTERING:

1) To enter, leave a comment on this post that includes both your email address AND your answer to the following question: What's your favorite Jane Cosmetics product?

2) You must, I repeat, you MUST leave your email address in your comment. If you do not leave your email address in your comment, you will be disqualified.

3) You may enter ONCE DAILY for the entire length of this giveaway. If you enter more than one time per day, you will be disqualified.

4) This contest is open to residents of the US, ages 18 and over. Void where prohibited.

5) This giveaway begins today, February 24th, and will end Wednesday, March 3rd, 2010 at 11:59PM Pacific. I will select the winner via random.org's random number generator and notify the winner on Thursday, March 4th. The winner will then have 24 hours to respond. If the winner does not reply within 24 hours, he/she will forfeit the prizes and an alternate winner will be selected via random.org. If you are going to be unable to access your email on Thursday March 4th, 2010, please do not enter this giveaway.


Best of luck to all of you!

A sample of this product was given to Nouveau Cheap for editorial purposes, either directly from the manufacturer or from the agency that works on behalf of the manufacturer. All reviews on NouveauCheap.blogspot.com are the honest opinion of its author and editorial samples do not, in any way, affect the outcome of product reviews.
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Important Rite Aid and CVS sale info!

First I'd like to remind you that, beginning tomorrow (Thursday) and ending Saturday, all Rite Aid brand products are going to be BOGO 50% off. And I checked with Rite Aid and it turns out you CAN use coupons during this sale! You may be asking yourself, "How would I have coupons for Rite Aid brand products?" Well, if you've been playing Rite Aid's The Game of Life game, you know that you get coupons for different products inside every game piece! So I've got a few 50-cent off coupons for things like Rite Aid brand hand sanitizers and batteries that will definitely come in handy during this sale. Hopefully you've been saving those coupons too, because tomorrow's the time to use 'em!

Next, I noticed the other day at my local Rite Aid that all of the Sally Hansen Carmindy Natural Shine Lip Glosses (note: not the brand new Forever Stay Moisture Glosses that I mentioned in this post) are currently on clearance and 75% off! If you are a Carmindy fan, definitely stop by Rite Aid asap and see what colors are available, because that is quite a deal (I believe the normal retail price on these is $7.99 so you'll be able to snag them for just TWO BUCKS!)
Moving on to CVS, I wanted to mention that if your local CVS carries Boots, you might seriously want to consider taking advantage of the current 75-90% off sale going on (and if you don't have a CVS in your area that carries Boots, I've heard from several readers that Target currently has a lot of Boots products on clearance as well, so you can get your Boots fix that way as well!).

Specifically, I want to say that one of the Boots Moisture Drench lipsticks I picked up (regularly $9.99, now on clearance for 99 cents!) in the shade Sugar Plum, is by far the standout of the four lippies I purchased and showed you in this post. Is is the most perfect shade of berryish-plum I have ever owned, and I don't say that lightly. I am always on the hunt for a plum that doesn't have too much pink or magenta in it, and this one is a bullseye. If you have yellow-toned skin and normally can't do plums, I think you will be VERY pleased with this one. It's warm enough for yellow-toned girls, but it doesn't veer into the brick-red side of the spectrum. Also, the texture is AMAZING (so smooth, light and sheer) but yet the color payoff is incredible. I can't say enough about this lippie! Oh, and it wears down to a beautiful berryish stain, which is just the icing on the cake. If you are a plum/berry/sheer lipstick/stain fan, RUN, don't walk, and grab yourself a tube--especially if you can find it for 99 cents! Here's a quick swatch of me wearing it:


I swear it's 100x prettier in person. I seriously love it so much that Mr. R is getting sick of seeing me in it! I've even been putting it on at night while we watch TV because I'm so addicted to the texture of it.

And lastly, I normally don't review a haircare product unless I've tested it for 5-7 days straight, but I've GOT to give you a mini-review of the new Bioluxe (CVS house brand that's a dupe for Matrix Biolage) shampoos and conditioners because this line is BOGO free this week (retail: $9.99, 15.5 oz) and I don't want you to miss this sale if you're looking to try a new shampoo or conditioner. Also, look for the green tag around select bottles of Bioluxe conditioner, which contains a $9.99 rebate in the form of a Visa Gift Card! If you find that tag, you'll be able to snag both the shampoo and conditioner FOR FREE after rebate!

I picked up the Bioluxe Polishing Shampoo and Polishing Conditioner because I'm a sucker for any hair care product that contains olive oil:


Both the shampoo and conditioner smell fine (sort of like your usual generic salon products) but that doesn't matter to me because I just cannot get over the results! My hair was SO shiny after using these products, and it was managable, bouncy and full of life. But the true winner in the Polishing line is the conditioner. Let me back up and remind you that I've got thin hair but lots of it. It's oily at the roots and very dry at the ends. Also, my hair is pretty long, so because of the dryness of my ends and the thin texture of hair, I am prone to tangles. MAJOR tangles. So I need a conditioner that's not only going to give me some added moisture, but I also need a conditioner that's going to serve as a detangler (without adding extra heaviness or greasiness to my hair). It's a tall order, but all I can say is that when I first put this conditioner in my hair the other day in the shower, I LAUGHED OUT LOUD! I seriously said, "Whose hair IS this? Because it's certainly not MINE!" I have never felt a conditioner so instantly detangle my hair before. I'm used to conditioners (even conditioners that I LOVE) taking their sweet time to detangle. I ususally have to work the product through my hair, and really get it in there to start to see the detangling magic happen. But with Bioluxe Polishing Conditioner, it happened almost instantaneously. It's truly one of those jaw-dropping conditioners for me that I can't believe works so well. Now, mind you, I've only been using this stuff for three days so far, but what a WONDERFUL three days it's been! My hair is just so soft, shiny, bouncy, and, just as the name promised, POLISHED! If you've got hair that is prone to tangling, I really think you might want to take advantage of this BOGO free deal, and if you can find the green tag around the conditioner, you won't really be spending anything at all to try these. It's a total no-brainer, as far as I'm concerned.

But hurry, because this BOGO free deal ends Saturday!

That's it for now, but I'll be back in a bit with a HUGE giveaway, so please stay tuned!
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The Wednesday Question


I'm getting off to a bit of a late start with my usual Wednesday Question, but I hope you'll take the time to leave your answer in the comments because I'd really like to see your responses!

What's your go-to foundation?

Let me make if very clear that I am not asking you for your FAVORITE foundation. I'm asking you to tell me what foundation you reach for you when you know you're in a hurry, you've got to get out the door and you want to put something on your face that is dependable and can easily be applied with good results. You may have a foundation that you adore, but requires a bit of extra work (a foundation brush, serious blending, etc.) to get it looking just right. So let me hear about the foundation you grab when you just need something that's going to make you feel confident to walk out the door, and that you can depend on. For me, that's currently my Physicians Formula SPF 50 powder foundation. And you?
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Privacy Policy

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Tuesday, February 23, 2010

I've got the new Prestige 2010 products, and I'd like you tell me what to review first!

Look what hit my mailbox today!


I received one each of the new Prestige products today, and I would LOVE to hear from you as to which product you'd like me to review first. I am a huge fan of Prestige already, so I don't know where to start (can you tell I'm excited?), and that's why I'm leaving it up to you! In case you need to brush up on these new products from Prestige, please see below, and don't forget to leave your request in the comments! The product that receives the most requests is what I'll start testing right away! Thanks in advance! :)





A sample of this product was given to Nouveau Cheap for editorial purposes, either directly from the manufacturer or from the agency that works on behalf of the manufacturer. All reviews on NouveauCheap.blogspot.com are the honest opinion of its author and editorial samples do not, in any way, affect the outcome of product reviews.
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My Favorite Jane Be Pure Mineral Products

You can't call yourself a recessionista and not be a fan of Jane Cosmetics. For years now, Jane has brought us some of the best drugstore cosmetics that I've ever had the pleasure of using, and I know that many of you reading this already adore many Jane products (Eye Zings eyeshadows and Blushing powder blushes just to name a few).

So how in the heck did I miss the boat on the Jane Be Pure Mineral collection?? I really don't know how it happened, but I was recently sent several products to try from this collection and I've got say: better late than never!

Today I'd like to share with you my favorites from the group of products I was sent, and I'd love to hear what your favorites are as well. So let's get started:

I've mentioned a few times on the blog how much I love Jane Be Pure Mineral Lip Balms, because they're just so creamy, smooth, and the colors are absolutely gorgeous (plus, they taste and smell like vanilla!). But for some reason I had never tried the shade "Toffee" until it was sent to me. OMG, I think I finally, after decades of searching, found my ultimate holy grail "Your Lips But Better" shade. Check it out:

Jane Be Pure Mineral Lip Balm in Toffee (retail: approx. $3.50)

My (dry and chapped) lips before:

After:

Can you see how this shade is almost the exact shade of my natural pigmentation? It truly is my lips...but better! Yippee!!!

Moving on, can someone please explain why no one ever bothered to tell me how AWESOME Jane Be Pure Mineral Gel Eyeliner is??

Jane Be Pure Mineral Gel Eyeliner in Black (retail: approx. $5.99)

Take a close look at this picture above. Do you see how on the surface of the liner, it looks just lightly smudged? Well as many of you gel/cream eyeliner fans know, this is not how a gel liner looks after you've used it a dozen times. But this is how Jane liner looks after a dozen times! I don't understand it, but when you swipe your brush against this product, your brush doesn't dig into it like usual gel liners--it just grazes the surface and, magically, that's all you need to pick up the perfect amount of liner for application. The best analogy I can give is that it's like swiping your finger across a pot of lip balm. Normally, your finger will not dig into the product--you'll just swipe the surface. And that's exactly what happens with Jane Be Pure Mineral Gel Eyeliner. Which means that one pot will last you forever! Also, you never have to worry about your brush picking up too much product.

Here are some swatches of what it looks like when I lightly run my brush across this liner and apply it to my skin:

In real life, these lines are even more of an intense, true black. I am just so impressed at how smooth and wonderful the texture of this liner is to work with, and how fantastic the pigmentation is, even thought it feels like you might not have enough on your brush. Believe me, you do!

And here's the smudge test (I took my index finger and rubbed back and forth across the lines for about 10 seconds):
They barely budged! And I rubbed and rubbed and applied a lot of pressure, too. Boy oh boy, I am just incredibly impressed by this eyeliner, and it's quickly becoming my favorite drugstore gel liner that I find myself reaching for every day.

And finally, I want to share with you my other newly discovered Jane Be Pure Mineral product that I am loving these days:

Jane Be Pure Mineral Correcting Concealer in Medium (retail: approx. $4.50)

If you love the full coverage of long-wear concealers like Revlon ColorStay but you've got skin that's on the dry side and might not react well to long-wear concealers, this might just be your dream product.

As you all know, I love my long-wear concealers for their full coverage and ability to stay put, but sometimes even I have issues with them during the winter months. And that is why I am LOVING this concealer, ladies.

It comes in a click-pen delivery system and I think that's just genius for an under-eye concealer. You can blend, blend, blend with the brush and really get into the tight spaces on your face like the area between your inner eye and the bridge of your nose. Also, I love the creamy texture of this concealer--but don't worry because the creaminess goes away after it's blended and it dries down into a nice, natural finish after that.

And the coverage? Awesome! It covered my undereye darkness and didn't settle into my fine lines. Also, I was super pleased with the staying power of this concealer, especially since most concealers (if they're not long-wear) seem to disappear on my oily skin within two or three hours. Jane Be Pure Minerals Correcting Concealer lasted the full day on my face. I love it!

So there you have it--my current favorites from the Jane Be Pure Mineral collection. I'd love to know what your favorites from Jane are, so please leave a comment and tell me all about them!

Also, please stay tuned because there might a fabulous new giveaway coming up VERY soon....and it might feature some of the products I just mentioned!
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