Champagne Taste... On A Beer Budget

Blog's New Location!

noreply@blogger.com (Court) — Sun, 23 Nov 2008 19:08:00 PST

Change your bookmarks and subscriptions! :-)

http://www.champagnetaste.onsugar.com

Moving On...

noreply@blogger.com (Court) — Wed, 19 Nov 2008 08:46:00 PST

Oh Blogger....I'd like to say you've been so good to me but...that would be a fib.

I've found a new blogging platform that is promising to treat me better and make my life easier. So, I think it's time to break up and move on. I'm sorry. I know it's tough.

Right now I am in the process of importing "Champagne Taste" over to OnSugar. So if it seems like I've been a little MIA lately--that's why. Will be posting the new blog address soon so stay tuned! :-)

And We Have A Winner...

noreply@blogger.com (Court) — Tue, 18 Nov 2008 13:39:00 PST

Congrats to Melissa, the winner of the Karmin Titanium Iron giveaway!

And a big thanks to everyone who entered and shared their opinions and ideas reagarding what they would like to see in the blog. :-)

Book Review: Cosmo's Sexiest Beauty Secrets

noreply@blogger.com (Court) — Thu, 13 Nov 2008 12:23:00 PST

Let's be blatantly honest about beauty books for a quick second.

The majority of them, in my opinion, look cute on a coffee table or as filler on my bookshelf. They just seem to regurgitate the same information over and over again. Hemorrhoid cream to help with puffy eyes just isn't a big beauty secret anymore! I yearn for something fresh and new--in addition to the basics a good beauty book should always cover.

I was pleasantly surprised with Cosmo's Sexiest Beauty Secrets--The Ultimate Guide To Looking Gorgeous. I imagined it would just be everything I'd read before in the magazines--and it was--but with some new stuff thrown in that I hadn't heard before. Everything is broken down into simple categories and includes easy how-to steps. Looking to achieve Cosmo cover hair, the perfect smokey eye, or an easy (new) way to kissable lips? Then toss your pile of old Cosmo's and spend the $13 (current price at Amazon) on this book.

AND it will look cute on your coffee table. :-)

Coming Up...

noreply@blogger.com (Court) — Mon, 10 Nov 2008 08:12:00 PST

Only two more days to get your entry in to win the Karmin Titanium Hair Iron. Click here if you haven't put your name in yet!

Coming Up...

*"Cosmo's Sexiest Beauty Secrets" book*

*Sexy Hair Organics line*

*Yes To Cucumbers (and Tomatos!)*

*The Body Deli's Light Facial Emulsion*

*A Drugstore Bronzer NOT to Bother With!*

Where to get better prices on the fragrances you want...

noreply@blogger.com (Court) — Thu, 06 Nov 2008 06:26:00 PST

There's been a lot of reference to "recessionistas" and "budgeting beauties" everywhere lately--and obviously with good reason. One of the items I tend to scrimp on when times are tough and money is tight is perfume. It's one of those things I hint about a million times to the significant other or put on a "want" list and wait for someone to (just maybe!) buy me a bottle as a gift. It's just not typically something I go out and splurge on for myself.

But because an average bottle of perfume should only be kept for about 3 years, which meant that some of the bottles in my closet must have been growing mold, I recently had to toss about half of my (already diminutive) collection. I had the urge to buy just one replacement scent....just one! But with bills due and a car in desperate need of new tires, I cringed at the thought of dropping so much money.

So it was perfect timing that I was contacted by Perfume Center to check out their site. And they are even offering a coupon code just for my budgeting blog readers! Their prices are significantly lower than department stores, Sephora and even Ulta. They have a vast selection of products, offer free shipping on 5 or more items and even provide free gift wrapping. Click here to go to the site and just enter the code "champagnetaste" at checkout to get 10% off your order.

Glam Network Weekend Reads

noreply@blogger.com (Court) — Fri, 31 Oct 2008 05:52:00 PDT

Get more Glam in your life! Read these posts from some of the gorgeous Glam Network bloggers. The Home Spa Goddess wants to know what you think of Cover Girl Lashblast Mascara. Specktra Beauty News asks what 2008 Limited Edition MAC Cosmetics products you would like to see made permanent. Christina Loves... Kronos Phyx - amazing overnight hair treatment! Champagne Taste on a Beer Budget is giving away a free Karmin Titanium Hair Iron!

Giveaway Time! Win a Karmin Titanium Hair Iron!

noreply@blogger.com (Court) — Wed, 29 Oct 2008 11:18:00 PDT

"Champagne Taste..." has combined forces with My Hair Styling Tools.com, who have oh-so-generously offered to giveaway a free Karmin Titanium Hair Iron to one lovely blog reader! Just enter below (and tell a friend!).

Additionally, if you head over to the My Hair Styling Tools site and enter the coupon code "BUDGET25", you'll get $25 off any Karmin Titanium Hair Iron. Or if something else on their awesome site catches your eye, use "BUDGET10" to receive $10 off any one item.

Still my favorite store in the mall...

noreply@blogger.com (Court) — Thu, 23 Oct 2008 10:14:00 PDT

Wintertime in Detroit means frigid temperatures, awful driving conditions and (the fate worse than death) waking up even earlier to scrape my car windows every morning. So yeah, winter? Not my favorite time of year.

What I DO like about the colder temperatures is that it means breaking out the cozy sweaters, cute winter coats, boots, mittens and hats. And of course, stocking up on new stuff. :-) Express is still one of my favorite places to shop and their fall/winter wardrobe right now rocks. Some of it is even on sale already. For instance, this sweater coat (perfect for layering) was originally $75. Right now it's on sale for $34.

Also, right now all women's pants/skirts/jeans are "buy one get one 50% off". So get your butt over to the mall! Or just log onto the Express website.

Rapidlash

noreply@blogger.com (Court) — Thu, 23 Oct 2008 04:00:00 PDT

Nothing is worse then when you accidentally get a little too tweezer happy on your brows, causing you to wonder if you will ever be able to leave the house without filling them in with a pencil. Or when you've worn heavy coats of mascara or fake lashes for so many days in a row that they feel dry, thin and fragile.

Situations like these are when Rapidlash (a product I've been testing for the past month) comes to the rescue. It's a serum available at most drugstores which promotes the growth of healthy lashes and brows. Made with a mix of essential proteins,vitamins and rejuvenating ingredients, it helps bond nutrient to the lashes and brows to allow for maximum growth. RapidLash will run you $49.95, but it really does deliver on it's promises. (And proceeds from sales are given to the Susan B. Komen foundation for breast cancer.) After a few weeks of using the product every night before going to bed, my lashes were noticeably fuller and healthier. And the sparse areas I had been trying unsuccessfully to let grow in on my brows? It had all grown back.

For more info on Rapidlash, click here.

New (and cheap!) Beauty Closet Must-Have

noreply@blogger.com (Court) — Wed, 22 Oct 2008 04:00:00 PDT

Why I love the VEET Ready To Use Wax Strips:

1. They are really easy to use. All you have to do is cut them to the size you need (if necessary), warm them up in your hands for a few seconds, then apply and remove just like you would a normal wax strip.

2. The clean up is pretty easy--each pack comes with 4 "perfect finish" wipes. And if you run out of the wipes before you run out of the 20 strips, a little baby oil works just as well.

3. They come in different formulas for normal or sensitive skin. They are also available in smaller strips for the face and bikini areas.

4. Perfect for the weeks when you just don't have time to schedule a waxing appointment.

5. They're cheap! About $7 a box.

NARS 2008 Holiday Collection

noreply@blogger.com (Court) — Tue, 21 Oct 2008 04:00:00 PDT

The NARS Holiday collection is upon us once again! This year, we don't just have our (must-have in your makeup artillery) Orgasm blush--we have the Super Orgasm blush, which is more concentrated and enhanced with more intense flecks of gold. The Jolie Poupee Duo Eyeshadow might sound funny, but is a gorgeous violet and pearlescent purple--perfect for creating a more intense smoky eye. And the Orgasm Nail Polish is a beautiful shimmery peach-pink, a shade which I tend to think looks good just about any time of year. :-)

On a side note, in addition to the NARS Orgasm/Laguna duo being an everyday staple, I recently stumbled upon a new favorite, the "Boogie Nights" lip gloss, a metallic magenta that has amazing staying power for a gloss. They might cost $24 a piece, but I think the NARS glosses are worth every penny.

Y-Y Products

noreply@blogger.com (Court) — Mon, 20 Oct 2008 04:00:00 PDT

For all my earthy, Aveda-esque product lovers out there, I recently had an opportunity to try out an array from the line Y-Y, which is based off the Five Elements. It is a relatively new, naturally derived line of beauty products that can be found at just a few premium salons and spas around the country. The products are also availible online here at their temporary e-store.

It consists of about 30 hair care products, 6 skin care products, 6 body care products and 5 soy wax candles. Everything is free of sulfates, paraben, mineral oil and lanolin. No artificial fragrances, colors or pretrochemicals are used either.

I passed around the products to some of my girlfriends to try out and after a month, the general consensus was that the skin care and spa products were our faves. The Prairie Wetland Cleanser, a foaming gel designed for oily/acne prone/combination skin had a very mild scent and cleansed without making our skin feel too dry and tight. The Savannah Facial Toner received rave reviews and is especially nice because it comes in a huge bottle. The Ocean Exfoliating Scrub was the product that probably disappeared the fastest. Made with silica and jojoba beads, the scrub got the job done without being too abrasive or having an overwhelming fragrance.

Right now they are also having a 1/2 off sale on some of their original formulas, so check out the main site here.

How-To Videos From NARS

noreply@blogger.com (Court) — Tue, 14 Oct 2008 14:25:00 PDT

Suave's Exhale Products

noreply@blogger.com (Court) — Mon, 13 Oct 2008 03:35:00 PDT

When I'm really trying to budget, Suave has never let me down when it comes to lotions and body washes. You can't beat the prices. The scents are fantastic. And the quality is still there.

So I was really excited to get my hands on some of Suave's "Exhale" products. The Lavender Vanilla body lotion became an instant favorite. It contains vitamin E and white tea extracts and is the best when you apply it right after a bath before you crawl into bed. The Sandalwood and Cinnamon body wash has a spicy kick to it and works great as replacement for shaving cream if you run out. I love Suave. And I love how much you get for less than $4 a piece. :-)

The Body Deli - - Blueberry Fusion Scrub

noreply@blogger.com (Court) — Sun, 12 Oct 2008 19:11:00 PDT

The Body Deli, the brainchild of David Parker and Margaret Skarin began as just a popular little retail store in Palm Desert, California. Six years later, the brand includes more than 175 delectable beauty products, all made with natural, fresh ingredients. It has garnered a loyal customer base, including celebs like Kate Hudson. What makes the line really stand out is that each product is handmade to order. And, if you for some reason are unhappy with a product, The Body Deli offers a 30-day money back guarantee.

I have yet to try a Body Deli product I haven't been happy with though. My favorite so far is the Blueberry Fusion Scrub, an exfoliating fruit acid face polish. It's packed full of anti-oxidents and natural fruit acids and leaves your skin feeling so smooth and refreshed. You only need to use a quarter sized amount 2-3 times per week and you start seeing and feeling results immediately. And did I mention it smells good enough to eat? (I wouldn't suggest it though.) :-)

Yes To Carrots

noreply@blogger.com (Court) — Sun, 21 Sep 2008 08:02:00 PDT

I had a chance to try out some hair products and an eye cream from a line called "Yes to Carrots". The Pampering Carrot Juice Shampoo cleanses, nourishes and moisturizes the hair and scalp with more than 26 minerals and trace elements. The main ingredients are organic carrots (of course), sweet potato and pumpkin. You then follow up with the Pampering Hair Mud Conditioner, which combines Dead Sea mud, organic carrots, pumpkin, sweet potato, melon and orange. I found that the conditioner worked so well that I don't even need to use it every time I wash my hair.

The Hair and Scalp Moisturizing Mask is a great product for damaged or very dry hair. The instructions say to use 1-2 times a week but I've just because it's so intensely hydrating, I've been using it once every 2 weeks. It contains all the main ingredients found in the daily conditioner as well as Beta-Carotene, Alpha-Carotene, Vitamin E and other good-for-your-hair enzymes.

And because carrots are good fro your eyes, the line has an Eye Contour Cream that contains organic carrot and cucumber juice and 26 Dead Sea Minerals. The cream has anti-inflammatory properties and nourishes the delicate eye area skin.

I had no idea how much these products cost but assumed because of how well they worked, and the cute packaging, that they were going to be on the pricey side. So I was surprised when I found out the line is available at Walgreens, Target and Ulta. The shampoo and conditioner are only $8 a piece, the hair mask $13 and the eye cream $15. This past week Yes To Cucumbers and Yes To Tomatoes came out. You can check out more products at their website.

Dermelect VS. Dr. Brandt -- Microdermabrasion Products

noreply@blogger.com (Court) — Sat, 20 Sep 2008 08:02:00 PDT

VS

Dr. Brandt's Microdermabrasion will run you a hefty $75 for 1.7 oz. The magnesium oxide crystals claim to exfoliate without scratching or irritating the skin to smooth fine lines and wrinkles while improving the overall texture of your skin. The Dermelect Microdermabrasion 2-3 Facial Reveal costs $42 for 2.5 oz. This product uses corundum crystals and claims to remove uneven patches and surface skin damage while age-erasing naturally and gently.

After using both products for about three weeks each, I found that both deliver on their claims. But you get so much less with Dr. Brandt. And it has this lemony lime scent that I didn't particularly like. Dermelect might not have the fancy brand name or be found on the shelves of Sephora, but it works just as well and costs about half the price.

You can find Dermelect products here.

L'Oreal Vichy Review

noreply@blogger.com (Court) — Fri, 19 Sep 2008 05:02:00 PDT

A big thanks to the Glam Network for hooking me up with the opportunity to review some new L'Oreal Vichy products. Ever since testing out the Vichy LiftActivPro, I've been loving this line you can find at your local drugstore. I tried out the following four Vichy products:

Normaderm Deep Cleansing Gel
Normaderm Anti-Imperfection Hydrating Care
Aqualia Thermal Hydrating Lotion
Aqualia Thermal Yeux

The Normaderm Deep Cleansing Gel ($16) is designed for oily/acne prone skin and contains witch hazel, salicylcic and glycolic acids. I love using this cleanser when I have a breakout--it's like you can feel your pores being unclogged and the cleanser leaves your skin feeling squeaky clean and oil-free. After cleansing you can follow up with the Normaderm Anti-Imperfection Hydrating Care ($19). This is a light-weight moisturizer with Zincadone A, which tightens pores, reduces oiliness and improves skin clarity. Oh, and it smells delicious. Like apples.

When my skin starts feeling a little too dried out from the Normaderm products, I use the Aqualia Thermal Hydrating Lotion ($26) as my daily moisturizer. This is a 24 hour fortifying moisturizer that combines 15 minerals and an SPF of 30. And after a late night, the Aqualia Thermal Eyes Yeux ($26) de-puffs under eye bags, increases micro-circulation and soothes fragile eye tissues. The nice thing about this product is that you can see immediate results and after 4 weeks of continuous use, even better results.

Braun's Silk Epil Xpressive Review

noreply@blogger.com (Court) — Thu, 18 Sep 2008 08:02:00 PDT

There's nothing better then a sick day to try and catch up on these blog posts I've been procrastinating in writing. ;-)

So waaaaay back in July I wrote that I would be trying out Braun's Silk Epil Xpressive. Since then I have mustered up the courage to try it out on a few different occasions. Unfortunately, because I'm such a baby when it comes to self-inflicted pain, the most I've been able to get through is a patch on my lower and upper leg. But I will say that those areas I was able to get through stayed hair free for about two weeks. (And I have dark, coarse hair and am an everyday shaver.) I like that the Xpressive has a spotlight so you can easily target missed hairs. And that it comes with pre-epilating wipes to prep your skin.

The Silk Epil Xpressive comes with about a million different attachments, which I found to be a little confusing at first. Fortunately, one of those attachments is a trimmer/shaver, which I use quite often and am really happy with. So even though that I can't do the epilating, the product still manages to come in handy. If you are better with pain then I am, I would recommend giving this little thing a try. Because if you can get through it, the Xpressive does really seem like it delivers on it's promise to remove hair for up to 4 weeks.

Labor Day Weekend Hiatus

noreply@blogger.com (Court) — Thu, 28 Aug 2008 18:16:00 PDT

My hiatus will be continuing through Labor Day weekend while I wait (impatiently!) to regain internet access. Hope everyone has a fantastic Labor Day weekend. :-)

Bikini Zone Review

noreply@blogger.com (Court) — Mon, 18 Aug 2008 15:34:00 PDT

And almost one month later....I'm finally back with a new post! What can I say? It's been a crazy, hectic summer with a lot of distractions. Of course, I waited until the tail end of summer to try out Bikini Zone Crème, a medicated topical treatment that claims to give guaranteed results when it comes to getting rid of bikini bumps.

To be quite honest, I’d always seen this product on the drugstore shelves but had never thought I had much of an issue with bumps, ingrown hairs or redness in that general region. Until that was, this summer. Maybe my skin is starting to get sensitive now that I’m in my pre-mid-twenties? I’ve dealt with more body breakouts, ingrown hair and hair removal irritation this summer then I’ve ever remembered having to deal with. So I decided it was time to give this stuff a try.

The box tells me to apply immediately after hair removal. Which I do. And it stings something fierce. So after that first initial application, I wait a while before putting it on. The box also tells me I can apply up to 4 times a day, which I don’t find necessary (and which I wouldn’t remember to do that many times anyhow). After 24 hours you are supposed to see a noticeable difference, however I didn’t begin to see one until after a few days of use. The point being though—I could tell a difference with continued use. Although there still might be the occasional pesky ingrown or a bump, there was far less irritation then there had been before.

$6 will buy you a 1 oz tube. That doesn’t sound like much, but if you’re using it everyday it should last you at least a few weeks. And that’s the perfect amount to get you through the rest of summer. ;-)

It's VO5 Game Time!

noreply@blogger.com (Court) — Tue, 22 Jul 2008 10:48:00 PDT

So I finally got some air conditioning over the weekend! Now I can sit here, pretending to job search (but really playing the VO5 Ultimate Flirting Championship) in a refreshingly freezing cold house. :-)

It's Love....the Hana Elite Flat Iron

noreply@blogger.com (Court) — Mon, 21 Jul 2008 13:33:00 PDT

So I've been trying (unsuccessfully) to grow out the "Pob". It's been ridiculously tough though, because my hair is at the length where it's starting to hit my neck at just the right spot for the ends to keep flipping out instead of under. (Just on one side mind you.)

My flat iron has become a new everyday necessity. And the Hana Elite has quickly become my new best friend. When I took it out of it's special edition tin case, it had that "new car" smell. I was instantly stoked.

What sets the Hana Elite apart from the majority of other irons is that it's really a 100% ceramic flat iron. The metal plates aren't just coated in ceramic. It has a swivel cord, which means it's impossible for even me to get it tangled up. The temperature ranges from 140 to 450 degrees and heats up in mere seconds. And especially nice is the heat proof storage pouch and heat proof silicone mat that come along with the iron, making it hassle-proof when it comes to traveling.

Oh, and I've already dropped it a few times and it's turned out to be pretty resilient. Which is of course, very important. :-)

You can purchase the Hana Elite over at Misikko or at the Hana Salon website.

No A/C Makes Court a Very Unhappy Girl....

noreply@blogger.com (Court) — Thu, 17 Jul 2008 07:35:00 PDT

I've got so many products to review but no air conditioning in this house! The upstairs has been sweltering for the past couple of weeks, so I have been avoiding it at all costs. I've also been avoiding putting on any makeup at all costs--it's THAT hot! :-/

Fortunately though, we finally will be getting air on Saturday, so stay tuned!