Shoe Leather: Behind the seams of Shoestring Magazine

Bargain Beauty: The Cost of Hair Removal

 

With summer upon us (technically), it's time to bust out that bikini and show off your miscellaneous sundries. As any lady knows, unsightly razor burn or the dreaded ingrown hair can cause crazy insecurities at the beach.

I've tried almost all of the at-home remedies to remove body hair. I'm really pasty, and I have dark hair, so those mo-fos stick out like a Sri-Lankian girl and a white girl driving through Arkansas with Los Angeles plates who have to pee, but they can only find a McDonalds and they're so scared that they run in holding hands, which makes them look like a bi-racial lesbian couple in the deep South... But I digress.

I tried Nair once, but not only was left with the same amount of hair, I managed somehow to get chemical burns all over my legs (yes, I did an allergy test), and I still have one scar from it.

I've done the waxing route, but it can be real spendy, plus it opens you up to a whole slew of embarrassing possibilities. Back when I was a poor college student in Los Angeles, I was getting waxed at a small Vietnamese nail salon. I had a dreaded ingrown hair, but I figured hey, it couldn't have been the first time the woman would have seen one. Oh, I was very, very wrong. I'm laying on a polyester chair reminiscent of the OB-GYN office at a public health clinic; it was a pale lime green. I was buck naked from the waist down, and my pants (with my undies in the pocket) were folded up on a folding chair next to the door. My waxing lady insisted that my ingrown hair was crabs. I insisted that it was not. Call it a language barrier, or call her a bitch, but she ran out of the room, taking with her her supplies and, for some reason, my pants. So there I am, in fancy pants LA without any pants, and a crazy bitch is running through the salon screaming that I have crabs. If you've ever been to a nail salon where all the staff speaks another language, you know the drill. You're positive that they're talking about you in their native tongue, except that this time, the foreign chatter was accompanied with finger pointing and hysterical laughing, and that was just by the staff. The other clients looked horrified, and whispered slightly more politely behind their freshly manicured fingers. Oh, and did I mention? The crazy bitch was only half done, and I still had wax all over my hoochie coo.

I've tried home waxing, but the results were really sad. I was left with patches of hair and super aggravated skin. Any hair removal product is supposed to make me want to show off my legs, not cover them with aloe and hide in the house for days.

I tried the Braun 5270 Lady Epilator. That was painful, but the pain I was willing to deal with. It was only after a few months, when I noticed that it had left me with the world's most stealth ingrown hairs. I exfoliated, I used lotions, but those suckers hid under the skin. The worst part is that I could see them growing longer, but never coming to the surface. They were ingrown versions of sleeper cells. I spent countless dollars on stupid products that promised to rid me of ingrown hairs. They were all lies.

Why don't I try shaving, you say? Personally, I hate shaving. It's a lame chore that is only compounded by my commitment to cut costs in an extreme way by going sans hot water. I'm not going to lie, shaving with cold water sucks. Plus, you have to do it continuously. Any number of factors could contribute to razor burn, plus any hope of a decent shave requires costly razors, and quite possibly costly shaving gels.

My current goal is to buy the Tria Laser Hair Removal. I'm positive it's the answer to all my hair removal issues, but then again, I cling to pipe dreams. Because Red and I have agreed that we're cutting back on all frivolous costs (read: I can't drop $800 to fulfill my dreams of smooth hairless legs), I've been setting aside $20 every two weeks into a "hair removal fund." Hopefully by my birthday, I'll be able to splurge guilt-free.

In the mean time, I've found my flavor of the month, and its aptly named Magic Blue Shaving Powder. The cons are that it smells terrible, and the instructions are somewhat convoluted. They keep talking about using a spatula to apply and remove the mixture. I can't tell if they're talking about a kitchen spatula, and if so, that's just wrong. I don't want to be using the same spatula to flip pancakes that I use to scrape hair off my legs. I've been using a washcloth instead. I stay hairless for 4 to 5 days, with no nasty ingrowns or razor burn. Plus, it's gentle enough to use on your lady parts, and costing between $2 and $5 a bottle, it's a total steal.

~Meghan

Bargain Beauty: Generics vs. Name Brands

Every woman knows that if you look good, you tend to feel good. Be it hair products or makeup, looking good has its price. In my quest to save money, I've started looking at generic store brands instead of their pricier name brand counterparts. The thing is, not all beauty products are created equal.

It's a shame, really, that my beauty brand of choice is Laura Mercier. I have really sensitive skin, and being a pasty whitey, I also suffer from rosacea. Not that they're not worth it, but Laura Mericer products run a pretty penny. I just don't have the extra cash right now to splurge on premium beauty products.

While I won't substitute my top pick -- Laura Mercier Tinted Moisturizer -- I've been testing out some other generic products.

Here's my side by side list of successes and failures:

FAIL

Cetaphil ($11) vs. Target brand ($8)
This generic Target shit burns. Any devoted Cetaphil user knows that this it's the most gentle product on the market. Not so with the Target brand.

Laura Mercier Secret Camouflage ($28) vs. Neutrogena Healthy Skin Smoothing Stick ($9)
Concealer works by depositing hyper-pigments of color over that nasty red dot. The Neutrogena version I tried didn't cover as well, didn't last nearly as long, and most importantly, didn't blend as well. If I have a blemish, I want to cover it and forget all about it.

Laura Mercier Eye Mosaic ($35) vs. Cover Girl Eye Enhancers ($3.99)
Eight hours into a day, my Laura Mercier eye shadow is going strong, but by the time I get off the subway, Cover Girl is more on my hands than on my eyes. Laura Mercier costs more than $30 more, but it's money I'm willing to spend.

OPI Classics red nail polish ($8) vs. Sally Hansen's Resilient Red ($4)
I could barely tell the difference when I did my nails. I week later, I definitely could. The Sally Hansen had way less staying power than the OPI, but I'm really rough on my hands. Rock climbing chalk ruins manicures like nobody's business.

WIN

Zantac vs. Target brand
A price difference of $23 between these antacids and no noticeable results lost. Score!

Neutrogena Make-up Remover Cleansing Towelettes vs. CVS brand
The only noticeable difference that I can see is I need to do an extra rinse with water, once I've wiped my face.

Dove Beauty Bar vs. CVS brand
I noticed a slight difference, but not enough to persuade me from the $5 price savings

Olay Complete All Day Moisture Lotion vs. Oil of Pink
Total Score! Oil of Pink is way cheaper and I can't tell any difference.

Sally Beauty Supply's GVP (generic version product) vs. Name brand alternatives
I think all of these products are great values. While I'm not a hair care aficionado, I know what works for me, and savings of sometimes $20 or more is a definite bonus.

Any generic store drug should do the trick. Aspirin, antihistamines, you name it. Same goes for things that have only one ingredient. While not technically a beauty product, things like bleach, hydrogen peroxide, and rubbing alcohol, you're totally safe to buy generic.

What are your favorite budget beauty buys?

What generics have you tried once, and will never try again?

~Meghan

Bargain Beauty: Spa Week 2009 Kicks Off Today

Sometimes in the work hard, play hard life of an editor, one totally gets lucky.

Last Thursday I was a real lottery winner as Kara Butterfield, our stylist and market editor extraordinaire, and I were invited to The Movement Center of Boston for a press open house they co-hosted with Bella Sante spa, kicking off Spa Week 2009 here in Boston (which starts today and runs through April 19th).

We were treated to free 10-minute chair massages (that's me, to the left, blissing out) and 15-minute mini-facials, a fantastic treat especially these days, as stress is at an all-time high—not just for us, but for everyone dealing with the uncertainty of the economy. I'm a huge proponent of bargain beauty treatments and pampering, and wholeheartedly believe that you have to take care of yourself first in order to be the best you possible—for your S.O., your family, your colleagues, your pets, what have you.

Now, as with most editors, I'm great at giving this advice and horrible at following it. I skip the gym more often than I go, racked with the guilt of taking personal time when my to-do list is never-ending, and I rarely treat myself to the doctor-recommended massages I desperately need (to combat old skating injuries and the lovely carpal tunnel acquired since my laptop and iPhone each became appendages). Especially these days, I even have a hard time rationalizing my monthly $26 mani/pedi at the Vietnamese shop down the street (I should be putting that cash in savings!) As with most women, I wait around for someone to give me a gift—and the waiting seems to never end.

Ladies, get your hands up with us and say it into the mic: I will take time for me, and I will start today. Spa Week currently has partners in dozens of cities around the country, and the deals are insane. If you can't bring yourself to buy one of these bargain beauty treatments, at least enter to win a $1,000 Spa Week gift card or one of their many other sweeps. You won't be sorry. In fact, you may just get the boost you need to get back on track. They're not free like mine were, but full-service spa treatments for just $50 at 600 spas nationwide is pretty damn close to "too good to be true." Go to SpaWeek.com for more info, a complete Spa Guide, and to find participating Spa Week spas near you.

Have you participated in Spa Week before? What were your experiences like? Did you get great deals? We want to hear from you! Share your thoughts with us by posting a comment below:

Bargain Beauty: e.l.f and Nordstrom makeup hoax

My friend Kimmie just forwarded an email to me, supposedly from Nordstrom, announcing that they were buying the budget-friendly makeup line Eyes Lips Face (or e.l.f, as it's more commonly known) and are having a 50% off sale. It's simply not true, according to Nordstrom's fraud alert department.

Here's the text of the bogus email so you don't get swindled:

"Nordstrom is changing the logo on their makeup, so they're selling everything for $1. The make-up line e.l.f. ( eyes-lips-face) has been bought out by Nordstrom and will be re-packaged with the Nordstrom name on it. They are getting rid of all the make-up in ELF packaging. They are selling almost everything for $1. You do have to pay shipping for orders under $75. They have everything - powder, mascara, lipstick, a mineral line (100% natural), brushes & cases, nail polish, lotions, you name it - it's there.  A few things are out of stock already. The website is X. When you check out there is a space for a coupon code. Use CAROLINA and  save an additional $7.50 if your order is over $15.00. Shipping is free on orders over $75."

True, they are currently having a free shipping over $75 promotion, and you will save 50% on orders over $15 through November 2008 using the CAROLINA coupon code, but the relationship with Nordstrom is patently untrue. Plus, most of their makeup is just $1 normally, not just during the sale. As an ardent Bargainista, I have long been a huge fan of e.l.f products, and Meghan and I jumped at the chance to join their partnership program when we created Shoestring, Bargainista, and our blogs. (Note: The advertisements and text links you see in this email are not paid for by e.l.f, they were chosen by us and endorsed by us—we only make money if you decide to purchase their products of your own accord.)

If you do decide to shop, my personal favorites are the Nail Polish Remover Pads, always $1 each, which I carry around with me everywhere in case of unfortunately-timed chipping, and the "Fur Free" tweezers for $10, for which 50% of all sales go to support People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) efforts and advocacy to end animal cruelty. I also love their brushes, currently 50% off or $6.00 for the complete 12-brush set—especially compared to my true loves, from Laura Mercier, at $29 a piece. I would also suggest signing up for their newsletter and mailing list, through which they regularly send out "the look for less" emails comparing high-end cosmetics products to their $1 to $5 versions. LOVE, LOVE, LOVE.

Get great deals AND support the budget-friendly scoop you love by clicking on any e.l.f link or ad in this post. A portion of every sale goes to support Shoestring and Bargainista Media so we can keep telling it like it is, cheap and chic.

Shoestring Beauty: The seductive power of the PedEgg

The last few weeks, as Meghan and I wrap up all the loose ends and pull college-style all-nighters pushing towards the Shoestring launch, have wreaked havoc on mind and body. Especially my feet and shoulders.

Call it succumbing to either overwhelmingly effective viral marketing or a sad and sudden realization (thanks to opening a Mint.com account for article research and seeing all my shopping sins laid out in pie charts) that a shocking slice of my weekly budget goes to nail care. Whatever it was, I walked into the CVS in my hometown for cat food and toilet paper last weekend, and walked out with none other than the "As Seen on TV," $9.99 PedEgg.

My friend Jeff, who has made chronicling infomercials somewhat of a passionate hobby, is especially going to love ragging on me for this impulse buy. But try as I might to be skeptical and find it a total waste of money, the truth is: I'm hooked on the damn thing.

Not since my middle school adolescence and the awkward mix of hormones and anxiety that led my entire generation to the Biore Strip have I found something so grotesquely satisfying. Without oversharing, let's just say that unlike the Biore strip, this sucker actually works, stripping away dead skin and callouses, making it that much easier to stretch my $32 mani-pedi from the lovely Vietnamese ladies around the corner, and hopefully helping to shrink that shameful Personal Care slice on my Mint.com pie chart.

I've been told that having a razor used during your regular pedicure does the same thing (if not better), but never have my nail shops asked to use or produced one during a visit, and on my last trip to Manhattan, it seemed they were actually illegal there according to the board of health...anyone care to add their thoughts or share their experience?

Until then, I'll be on the couch watching HIMYM with dog, Ginger, and my new BFF the PedEgg, dreaming of the day they unveil a magical home remedy for cuticles.