Spotted: new makeup, nail polish, haircare and more (pic heavy)

I've got a TON to show and tell you about in this is post so let's not waste any time! Oh but I do want to mention before I get into the post that I realize some of you have already seen these products in your area and may not consider them brand new. Since drugstores across the US tend to put out their items at different times, I do posts like this because I know that not all of you may have access to these products yet. So I like for you to know what's out there and what's headed in your direction, if at all possible. And also, I consider something new if it's only been on the market for three months or less. Hope that makes sense!

First off, a few of you asked if I planned to post about the LE CoverGirl Clean Compacts, and I want to tell you that I actually spotted them about a month ago, but the display was already wiped out. As luck would have it, I stopped by an out-of-the-way Rite Aid today and stumbled across a FULL display, so here you go!

As you can see, your purchase of these LE compacts will help give clean water to a child in Africa, which is a excellent cause, of course! The compact itself contains the CoverGirl Clean pressed powder that is already part of the core collection; it's just the design of the package that's special. My display did not have any of the green ones, but you can see all three designs in the pic above.

I finally spotted the mini MegaLast sets, so I thought I'd show you both color options.

The new Brush-on in-Shower Hair Remover from Sally Hansen, which claims to have an odorless formula.

This comes in an extra strength formula for coarse hair, and a normal-to-sensitive formula.

Here's the new Nailene So Natural nail set. I thought it was interesting how it's just french tips with a clear, see-through nail bed. I'm VERY curious if you'll be able to see the glue on your nails since the nail bed is completely translucent.

The new Scunci Design Weaver looks interesting. Essentially these are very sheer strips of fabric that can be weaved into your hair. The fabric is pretty much netting--here's a closer look:

FINALLY, some of the new Sinful Colors shades have made their way Rite Aid:

I can tell you that Nirvana is in this display, as well as Savage and a few other new shades. I can't confirm that ALL of the shades in the Lone Star display are new--maybe one of you nail gals can confirm that?

Speaking of Sinful Colors, if you haven't seen the Polka Dots display at your Walgreens yet, Deuce Beauties has pics here. Oh, and ThatsSoFresh has swatches of the OTHER new Sinful Colors shades that you can only get at Meijer (so far).

Remember last week when I showed you pics of the new summer glosses from City Colors? Well I finally found the new bronzers (the ones in the back are the peacock bronzers, which are NOT new).

And I also found the new City Colors eyeshadow palettes, which are also part of the summer collection.

Here are the new Kiss Nail Artist kits. Some of them come with nail stencils, while others come with nail guides. Also, one of the three kits is limited edition.

I FINALLY spotted the new got2b Powder'ful Volumizing Powder that I mentioned in this post. You're supposed to sprinkle the powder on your roots and get instant volume in "10 seconds". I was surprised by how small the can was (0.35 ounces) and it retails for just under $7 at CVS.

And finally, I wanted to tell you Rite Aid shoppers that ALL Burt's Bees haircare is on clearance for 50% off right now.

And also the entire Smith & Vandiver Aromatherapaes collection is also 50% off, including the Spa Shower Tablets I reviewed for weheartthis!

Whew! That's it for this drugstore report. Thanks for reading, and I'd love to hear your thoughts about anything mentioned in this post.

Spotted: New Sally Hansen Simple Spa Wax Warmer Kit

In my humble opinion, no one does at-home waxing better than Sally Hansen (when it comes to drugstore products, that is). I'm a huge fan of this microwavable, no-strip kit, which I use every single month on my brows.

So this really caught my eye when I saw it at Rite Aid the other day:

Right: Sally Hansen Simple Spa Wax Warmer Kit

(retail: $19.99 at Rite Aid)

Left: Sally Hansen Simple Spa Wax Refill Kit

(retail: $9.99 at Rite Aid)

(notice the $3 off tear pad coupon on this display)

Here are my initial reactions to this kit: I like that it seems more professional since it comes with its own warmer, which functions like a coffee warmer or a candle warmer. Apparently you place the tin inside the warmer, plug it in and wait for the wax to warm up.

But that said, if I'm just doing my eyebrows, I'd much prefer to pop the wax in the microwave and be done in a few minutes. If you're going to be doing a major waxing (face, legs, etc.) I can definitely see the benefit of having a warmer there by your side the entire time though. The microwavable version I use does cool down quickly and it's pretty much solid by the time I'm done waxing my brows.

So I can really see both sides to this new kit. If you're a major at-home waxer, this could be great for you! And the $3 coupon certainly helps (as well as the BOGO1/2OFF going on at Rite Aid this week).

What do you think? Does this seem like a kit that would work well for your particular hair removal needs? I'd love to hear your thoughts.

How I groom my eyebrows: a tutorial

I have decided to try and tackle the most popular questions I seem to get asked on this blog and give you clear, concise answers. So coming in at number two is: "How do you do your eyebrows?" (see this post for my answer to the number one most popular question, which is "How do you get that clean line at the bottom of you nails?").

So today I'm showing you my complete eyebrow regimen, from beginning to end. In other words:

The single most important beauty tip I ever received was from my dear ol' mom. In junior high she told me, "Don't ever over-tweeze your eyebrows, honey." And like a good daughter, I ignored her advice and did just that. So to those of you in your teens or early twenties: DON'T EVER OVER-TWEEZE YOUR EYEBROWS! Even if skinny brows are all the rage, DON'T DO IT. Take it from me: they never, ever grow back quite the same (if they grow back at all).

When I was 14, I wanted to look just like this:

Lady Gaga? Nope. Gwen Stefani? Nope. This is Dale Bozzio, the lead singer of the band Missing Persons. Dale Bozzio was rocking this look in the early 1980s, long before Gaga was born and about a decade or so before Gwen Stefani hit the scene with No Doubt. Though it's clear that both singers were heavily influenced by the style of Ms. Bozzio and so was I (well, at least my eyebrows were). OK, sorry, end of music history lesson for the day. The moral of this story is: if you tweeze your brows to look like a rock star, they'll never be the same again. I am living proof.

So in an effort to show you exactly how I groom my brows, I had to actually let my brows grow out to a completely unacceptable length (you can thank me later for that. No really. Please thank me. This sucked.)

Here are all the tools I require in order to get the job done:

First and most importantly, I had to find an at-home waxing kit that I actually like (this can require some trial and error). I personally like this Sally Hansen kit, and you can see a more detailed review of this exact kit here).

Second, you need baby powder (more on that later), a good pair of tweezers and clear brow gel (I use the Anastasia tweezers and clear brow gel that I reviewed for WeHeartThis because they rock, but they're not cheap, let me tell you). For a more affordable alternative, try Tweezerman tweezers and one of the various drugstore clear brow gels, or better yet, clear mascara, which tends to not cake or flake as much as some drugstore clear brow gels.

Next, I require my Holy Grail eyebrow pencil, Maybelline Define-A-Brow Eyebrow Pencil in "Dark Blonde" (I do adore the Anastasia eyebrow pencil but again, it's not in my budget). And finally, a micro hair trimmer. There are tons of micro hair trimmers on the market, but I always end up going back to the original Micro Touch trimmer, which is available at CVS in the "As Seen on TV" section. This one's pretty powerful and it tends to last longer for me than the other cheapies on the market.

So here's what I do:

(I have embarrassed myself in so many ways on this blog it's starting to be laughable! First I show you my dark under-eye circles, then I show you my puffy just-got-done-crying eyes, and now this. Have I NO shame?)

If you're going to use an at-home waxing kit, it's essential to apply baby powder to the area first. This helps make it easier for the wax to grab on to your hair. I love the scent of Johnson's Lavender and Chamomile baby powder, so that's what I use. I just pour a little bit of powder onto a Q-tip and then apply it that way.

OK, so after I apply the baby power, I apply the wax as directed. No matter what anyone tells you, at-home waxing kits are messy, so just be prepared for that. You can kind of see, on my left eye, that the wax leaves little strings everywhere, and I took the wax down a little bit too low on my lid. I'm personally used to the pain of waxing, so this doesn't freak me out. But if you're a first-time at-home waxer, just try to be more precise during application and you shouldn't have any problems.

Let me stop right here and say this: I STRONGLY advise you to get your brows shaped by a pro before you ever attempt to wax your brows at home. Why? Because a pro will be able to shape your brows in a way that truly fits the shape of your face. You can try to do this yourself, but trust me: it's essential to have a professional do it for you, even if it's only one time. Why? Because what you think fits your face shape may not TRULY be the most flattering shape for you. In my opinion, you need someone objective, who is skilled in this very art, to tell you what works.

Finding a good brow technician isn't easy, I will admit. In fact, when I wrote the Anastasia review for WHT, I had not yet found a brow technician that really understood me and my needs. I had tried several brow technicians at hair salons, nail salons, etc., but it wasn't until I visited a fancy-shmancy "brow bar" in La Jolla (La Jolla = expen$sive if you're not from California) that I got the brow shape that I love. The day after I got my brows shaped correctly by this woman, everyone--and I do mean everyone--noticed a significant, positive change in my appearance. I got everything from, "Wow, you look so thin!" to, "You look so fresh and awake!". So believe me, even though it takes research, time, and $50 or more for a pro to shape your brows, it's worth every penny.

And then you can be cheap like me, and just follow the shape they gave you and do it yourself from there on out!

OK, back to my process. Now, as you can see in the collage above, the wax doesn't catch and remove every hair. That's to be expected. But what you CANNOT see in those pictures is the very fine, light hairs that it DID remove. Those fine, light hairs are the KEY to having a well-groomed brow, and removing them makes ALL the difference.

I know a lot of you swear by tweezing and tweezing alone. I get it. I was just like you, for decades even. But once I got my brows waxed, and saw the effect of having all of those tiny, almost imperceptible little fine hairs removed, I became a believer. The overall look is so much cleaner, and best of all, your makeup will apply 1000 times more smoothly. Your eyeshadow will look better than you ever could have imagined. I promise you that.

Now the next steps in my process:

After tweezing any stray hairs left behind after waxing, it's time to apply the Finishing Oil that comes with the kit. I apply this with a Q-tip, and I swear it feels soooo good to apply it after waxing. It immediately removes the redness and swelling from my brows, so I like to leave it on for about 15 minutes.

Then, I cleanse my face with my regular facial cleanser, apply my moisturizer and then apply my makeup, including my eyebrow pencil.

After that's done, I look for any weird, stray hairs (sadly, I have some stragglers that grow in all sorts of weird directions and even with the help of brow gel, they do not lay flat). So for any unruly hairs that I see, I use my micro trimmer, but I'm telling you, the precision of a surgeon is required if you're going to use this tool. One wrong move with a micro trimmer and you'll end up like Vanilla Ice circa 1991:

So if you're not good with a micro trimmer, you should probably just use a tiny pair of scissors. The goal is just to trim unruly hairs--not remove them completely. If you remove those hairs completely, you could be left with a bald spot, and you don't want that. After that, I apply clear brow gel to lock my brows into place for the day.

And I'm done! That's literally....

I hope this tutorial helps some of you out a bit. Like I said before, I highly advise you to get your brows shaped by a pro first (read reviews on Yelp.com before you book an appointment!). Invest it in once, and you can just follow that shape on your own for a lot less money. Of course if you can afford the luxury of having your brows done professionally every time you need it, that's awesome! I'm just showing you my method for doing it at home (and saving serious money in the process).

Do you do your own brows or do you get them waxed, threaded, tweezed, etc. by a professional? If you do it at home, what method do you use? As always, I'd love to hear from you!

Disclosure: All of the items mentioned in this post were purchased with my own funds, with the exception of the Anastasia products, which were given to me by the owners of weheartthis.com for a previous review on their website.

Review: Lindo Twist-n-Roll Tweezers (at-home hair threading tool)

A few months ago I saw an ad in the back of a beauty mag for an "At-home hair threading" tool. This immediately caught my attention because I've been wanting to visit a threading salon for ages now. I've seen the brow magic that can be accomplished by threading, so the possibility of doing this at home? Awesome!

So I immediately contacted the manufacturer of Lindo Twist-n-Roll Tweezers (retail: $12.99) and they graciously sent me a product for review.

Before I used this product, I did some research on the internet. Little did I know that there is already quite a buzz about this product (and similar products) among beauty bloggers and, more specifically, Asian beauty bloggers. A lot of women all over the globe love love love this product but the key is knowing exactly how to use it. Here's an image of the back of the box for directions:

(click to enlarge)

What struck me first about the Lindo Twist-n-Roll Tweezers is that the device is a lot larger than I thought it would be. The other thing that I think I didn't realize before is that this product is not intended to be used on brows. And honestly, I can understand why, because there's just no way, due to the size of the coil, that you could be as precise as you'd need to be to remove hair from the eyebrow region.

Here it is, compared to a tube of Prestige My Biggest Lashes Mascara

That said, I still wanted to try it on the area of my face that seems to really annoy me lately: The sides of my face, right next to my ears, where I get what they call "peach fuzz". The hair there isn't too long, but I just don't like way it looks after I apply foundation so I knew this would be a great thing to use to remove it.

Luckily, it seems that this product was made for exactly this type of hair: very fine facial hair that doesn't require a lot of precision when removing. I should note that I did try using this on my leg to see how it would remove thicker, more coarse hair, but I just couldn't get it to work for that type of hair. (But according to some bloggers, it does work for coarse hair, so maybe I just don't have the technique down yet.)

I have to say that using this does take a bit of coordination. This device is basically a long coil that you literally twist and roll across your face. While you're twisting and rolling, your hairs will get caught in the coil and get pulled out. You have to hold it up to your face and twist both ends in an outward motion while moving the entire tool along your face to remove the hair. The object is to get as many hairs into the coils as possible, and the quicker you twist and move, the less painful it's going to be.

The directions say that you can use this product over your makeup, but I've found that you want your face to be the least oily it can possibly be before you use this. If your skin is oily, the coil is just going to glide right over your skin and not pick up the hairs. So my recommendation is to have a clean, dry face when you use this for maximum hair removal.

On a pain level, I'd say it compares to any of your standard epilators. Pulling hair from your body is never painless, but I've used enough epilators in my life to be used to that type of pain. I definitely wouldn't call it excruciating, but if you have a very low tolerance for pain, I might skip this tool.

For me personally, the Lindo Twist-n-Roll Tweezers removed a decent amount of peach fuzz from my face on the first try, but I wasn't able to remove all of it. But like any tool, you get better with practice and over time. I can see how you could get better and better at this method with lots of practice, and it's actually kind of fun to look at the coil afterwards and see how many little hairs are stuck inside.

Cleaning the Twist-n-Roll is super easy. You just wipe it with a cloth, and you can add a bit of alcohol to the cloth to disinfect it. Also, I want to add that I didn't experience any redness or irritation after I used this tool, which made me very happy. And since you're removing the hair at the root, you won't get stubble.

You can view Lindo's instructional video on their website by clicking here. Also, if you go on Youtube and search for "Lindo Twist-n-Roll" you'll see lots of reviews and demonstrations.

Have you tried the Lindo Twist-n-Roll Tweezers? Or are you planning to purchase one? I'd love to know 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 gratis samples do not, in any way, affect the outcome of product reviews.

Review: Sally Hansen Extra Strength Wax Hair Remover for Face - Brazilian Formula

It's a cold hard fact in this economy that we're all making large and small sacrifices. I know that personally, I've chosen to skip my usual salon waxing when my brows are looking shabby, in favor of busting out the ol' tweezers to make things look presentable. But no one can debate the look and feel of a freshly waxed brow. When all of those tiny, fine hairs are removed from the bottom side of your brow, it's heavenly. Your primer applies better, and most definitely your eyeshadow looks better. Everything's just so nice and clean.

Which brings me to the topic of at-home waxing. Ever done it? I have nightmares about it, actually. I've never had anything bad happen, but I've sure as heck spent plenty of money on at-home waxing kits that yielded less-than-stellar results. Have you ever pulled the strip off in slight pain, only to look at the strip and see NO hairs on it? That's happened to me more times than I can count. So mostly when I think of at-home waxing, I think of nothing but a big mess and no payoff.

But that was then and this is now, ladies (and gentlemen if you're reading this). Let me introduce the Sally Hansen Extra Strength Wax Hair Remover for Face.

Let me break this down for you and make it as simple as possible. How is this different from other at-home waxing kits?

1) There are no strips. The formula, which you heat in the microwave before applying, dries in a minute or two and actually becomes the strip that you pull off your skin. Genius, and it works (just be sure to make the side that you're planning to grab hold of a little bit thicker so that you have more to hold on to).

2) IT WORKS! This magical Brazilian formula is specially designed for thick, coarse facial hair (hello, eyebrows) so it really grabs those hairs and makes them easy to remove.

3) The wax is loaded with tons of good-for-your-skin ingredients like coconut oil, aloe leaf extract, orange flower extract, black walnut extract, chamomile extract and wild cherry bark extract. It smells divine.

4) The price! I picked up this kit for under $10 at CVS. Oh and someone at my local CVS tucked $2 off coupons in each box, so I actually ended up spending about $7 when all was said and done. Waxing in a salon can run you anywhere between $10 and $50 per appointment, versus $9 for multiple do-it-yourself waxings? That's my kind of bargain.

Here's what you get in the kit:

As you can see, you get detailed instructions, eyebrow guides in three shapes (I skipped these but I'm sure they work for some people), a pot of wax (this pot will last a long time if you're just using it on your brows), a spatula and the best part: Azulene Finishing Oil with Vitamin E, sesame and menthol. Seriously, this oil ROCKS and it is sooo soothing to apply it immediately after waxing. It calmed my skin immediately and took away the redness. Oh and it didn't break me out either. Good stuff.

I recommend giving this kit a shot if you've tried other at-home waxing kits that have left you frustrated and disappointed. Just remember to follow the instructions to a "T" and don't overheat the wax. Oh! I almost forgot! The spatula is super cool. It has the word "ready" printed on the side, but the only way you can see this word is when the wax is cool enough to use. So when you're stirring the hot wax and you DON'T see the word "ready" on the side of spatula, you know it's too hot to apply to your skin. Love that!

Have you tried at-home waxing? I'd love to know your thoughts.

I need your help with this shaving issue...

OK ladies, I need your help before I start to panic. If you're a fan of shaving your legs (as opposed to other forms of hair removal), what razor blade do you use? I have been a fan of the extremely old-school Gillette Trac II Plus for...well..forever. I like these because the hair on my legs is coarse (so weird since the hair on my head is fine) and even though this is a men's razor, and it's got two measly blades, it consistently gives me the closest shave I've even gotten (and I've tried many of the 3-blade and 4-blade razors).

But I've noticed that it's getting harder to find Gillette Trac II Plus blades lately and I'm so afraid they'll be phased out completely in the years to come. So tell me, what do you use, and why do you like it?

Big HUGE thanks in advance!

Bargain of the Day (BOTD)

Everyone's familiar with Kiss My Face and their wonderful products, but how many of you have tried their Moisture Shave? I've been using it for over a decade and I can tell you that after the first time I used it, I never went back to shaving creams, foams, or gels again.

The reason why I'm putting this in the BOTD is because, even though it's about $8 for an 11 oz bottle, it will last you FOREVER (you don't need a lot) and it will provide you with the closest shave possible while simultaneously preventing annoying bumps, cuts, and ingrown hairs.

Ladies, we've all been there when it comes to shaving disasters. Some products make you feel like the razor is literally dragging along your leg (ouch!) while others are so thick that it's hard to get a nice close shave. With Moisture Shave, you've got the perfect balance of "slip" and closeness. Use it just once and you will know what I'm talking about.

You can purchase Moisture Shave in a fragrance free formula as well as in the following scents:

Key Lime
Lavender & Shea
Cool Mint
Peaceful Patchouli
Peaches and Creme
Vanilla Earth

I've tried them all and I have to say I like Peaches and Creme best (with Key Lime coming in a close second).

You can find these at most CVS and Long's Drugs (don't look in the shaving cream aisle though--Moisture Shave is located next to the lotions and soaps in the natural beauty care section). Sometimes, if you're lucky, you may also find a bottle or two at Trader Joe's.