Fab 5 Under $4

Feeling thrifty? These five fabulous products will leave you feeling beautiful AND practical.

e.l.f. Flat Top Powder Brush

$3, Target

I am amazed that I found a flat top brush that I absolutely love for just $3. It has become my absolute favorite powder brush. The bristles feel smooth and soft, but are dense enough to stand firm and buff powders into the desired level of coverage. Helps me achieve the matte coverage I prefer when applying mineral foundation, but also works wonders with blush and finishing powder. So far, no shedding (which is a major plus). I don't think it will last forever (I predict that the metal brush head will detach at some point). But for the price, I could just stock up on these and be as rough on them as I want!

N.Y.C. Matte Me Crazy! Mattifying Top Coat

$1.99, drugstores

I absolutely love the look of matte nails and I was looking into purchasing some Zoya or O.P.I. matte colors. While shopping around, I discovered that you can buy matte top coats and just paint over the colors you already have to give them that matte effect. The top coats I found weren't cheap, but I figured they would be worth it since they would keep me from purchasing all new matte colors. Before I decided to pull the trigger and just buy one, I saw this N.Y.C. matte top coat at Target. For a $1.99, I figured it was worth a shot. Works like a charm! Completely dulls away the glossy shine of any polish. It's fun playing around and seeing how different polishes look with the matte coat on top. Turns out there is no need to shell out the extra cash on a high end brand to achieve perfectly matte nails after all.

e.l.f. Essential Mechanical Eyelash Curler

$1, e.l.f.

This is a great little eyelash curler! It works well, comes with a replacement rubber pad, and is easy and comfortable to grip. What more could you want from an eyelash curler? At just one dollar, this little guy is a total steal!

EOS Lemon Drop Lip Balm with SPF 15

$2.99, Target

EOS lip balms smell great and actually make my lips feel softer, smoother, and healthier. I just had one quibble with these little spheres of goodness: where's the SPF!? The other flavors don't provide any protection. But for some reason, this deliciously scented flavor contains SPF, making it a total must-have.

Maybelline Baby Lips in Cherry Me

$2.99, Target

This pretty much universally flattering light punch of color has enough moisturizing power and enough sun protection (SPF 20!) to bring a smile to even the pickiest of pouts. And it's only $2.99!

See? Beauty pick-me-ups for any budget!

Enjoy!

<3 Bee

Overhyped and Overrated

These products aren't necessarily bad enough to make it to The Sh*t List, but they are still pretty disappointing.

This living, breathing list is reserved for products that fail to live up to the hype. These products received glowing reviews, came highly recommended, or touted themselves as some sort of miracle in a way that was at least semi-believable. Whatever the reason, I had hoped that these products would be less of a bust than they turned out to be. I will continually be adding to list as I encounter (or remember past encounters with) such disappointing products.

So, if you're considering buying into the hype surrounding any of the following products, read what I have to say before you try them out.

• Maybelline Great Lash

Let's start with one of the most overhyped and overrated products out there. I'm sure that, like me, you have been hearing for years that this stuff is just soooo great for the price and blablabla. I have tried various version of Maybelline's Great Lash and they all have been underwhelming. I have known this since high school, but I guess that from time to time I just keep deciding to revisit Great Lash due to all the undeserved accolades and hype surrounding these mascaras.

Learn from my mistake: Maybelline Great Lash mascaras are NOT and NEVER HAVE BEEN worthy of the hype. I'm sorry. I have tried truckloads of great mascaras and this just doesn't even come close to being one of them.

With that said, it's not horrible. I've tried worse. But why would you want to settle for a product knowing that it's just "not the worst out there..."??

It doesn't lengthen lashes. It doesn't thicken lashes. It doesn't hold a curl. It doesn't last very long. It fades. It's a bit wet and can be messy. Even the "BIG blackest black" version is just way too thin and doesn't do much to amplify lashes. I suppose it's possible to achieve a decent amount of coverage--after like 10 coats.

• Suave Professionals Humectant Conditioner 

Beauty Homework!

I bought this book on a whim about a year ago and I am so glad that I did. It really is an essential "owner's manual" when it comes to all things beauty and health.

In You Being Beautiful, authors Dr. Michael F. Roizen and Dr. Mehmet C. Oz (that's right--Dr. Oz) lay out a straightforward, informative, entertaining, and down-to-earth guide to understanding skin, hair, and other factors that determine both inner and outer-beauty.

The authors' colloquial and sometimes comical style of writing, along with their informative and funny illustrations and diagrams, make this encyclopaedia of crucial beauty knowledge a quick and easy read. You will probably want to read it cover to cover, but it is also a perfect reference to keep around whenever you have concerns or questions regarding your skin, hair, nails, or body.

I have recommended this book to friends, family, hair stylists, aestheticians, and even nurses. All of them have loved it just as much as I do!

So get your summer reading on! :)

<3

Bee