EBAY: BRAND NEW & CHEAP !

Check out this cute Liz Claiborne New York clutch! They're starting their bid at $4! The original price is $34, so you're saving yourself $30 bucks! I guess the best way to buy it is last minute so the price doesn't go up!

Check that out here: Items for Sale along with more cheap & brand new items!

JAMBA JUICE COUPON

Buy one smoothie, get a 16 oz. for $1.00 ! Just print the image below & bring it to your neighborhood Jamba Juice store. Offer ends Sunday, September 27, 2009. ENJOY it with a buddy or all to yourself !

Back from Hiatus !

Hello fellow B&S readers. We've been on a HUGE hiatus, but we're back now & has some news:

1. We have TONS of new ideas for the blog, so please keep a lookout!

2. The more readers, participants & followers we have, the more FREE stuff we'll be able to post up for grabs!

3. We're moving all our blogging & we'll let you know when!

OILY FACE

Have you ever stepped into a public restroom and see how reflective the light shines on your face? Gross, right? If you have no oil blotting sheets handy, consider stepping into the stall & grabbing a sheet of...

...toilet seat cover! You might be thinking 'gross' because the bathroom does not have a toilet seat lid, which can have bacteria fly 6 ft. away after a flush! Grab a sheet way in the back. It works just as well. Yes, I do it -- & it's FREE !

JULES' FAVORITE...

LIP BALM: Cococare Cocoa Butter Lip Balm. If you know me, it's difficult to actually find something that works. My lips get really dry and it peels -- sometimes even bleeds from peeling (no exaggeration). I've tried what seemed to be everything: Chapstick, Softlips, Vaseline, Carmex (this works, but has a bad taste), Blistex, Burt's Bee -- no lie! I constantly had to reapply. I've actually switched from Chapstick brand to this because it works for me! 

The texture isn't too hard like the Burt's Bee, but isn't too soft like Softlips or Vaseline. The color is transparent and the taste isn't good nor bad. I will be sticking to this for the rest of my life.

Average Price: $2.

THE RIGHT MOISTURIZER

There are so many facial moisturizers out there that we all have probably experimented with. Some people think the more money you spend, the more the cream works. I think you're really just paying for the name.

What you want to shop for is the ingredients: Hyaluronic Acid and Petrolatum. Hyaluronic Acid help cells retain moisture to stay plump while Petrolatum keeps water from escaping.

I've learned that the true test in finding the right moisturizer is to see how your face feels throughout the day.

Back in high school, my skin used to be really dry & the moisturizers I've used before made my skin too tight. That meant I'm not using enough moisturizer or I had to change my moisturizer into a cream (thicker than lotion).

Now my skin type is oily, so if it got really oily later in the day, I've chosen the wrong moisturizer. I now use Eucerin Facial Lotion ($8-9) & will stick to it. What better way to double up your moisturizer by having SPF!

And remember, we only need to use a pea size, one for the face & one for the neck!

FREE WITH ANY PURCHASE AT SEPHORA.COM

Try any of these products for FREE with any purchase at Sephora.com. Just remember to enter the promotional code at the end of checkout. Enjoy!

Try Duwop Prime Venom for free with any purchase. Just enter in code DUWOP at the checkout.

Try AmorePacific's Treatment Enzyme Peel for free with any purchase. Just enter in code AMORE at the checkout.

Try a sample bag of Men's Grooming Essencials for free with any purchase. Just enter in code HANDSOME at the checkout.

Try Bare Escentuals Matte Foundation for free with any purchase. Just enter in code BEMATTE at the checkout.

COMMERCIAL vs GENERIC

My cousin and I went to Target the other day because I needed to buy some hygiene products. They ran out of the St. Ives Apricot Blemish & Blackhead Control face scrub & just had the generic one by Target. I thought to myself that if I tried it once & didn't like it, I can return it. My cousin also told me that she's tried generic makeup remover & it works just the same. So I decided I'd try it.

Before I used it in the shower, I read the contents in the back of both tubes -- they are pretty much the exact same. Same exact ingredients in the same order.

The difference?

St. Ives has a sweet smell to it, brown in color, & thick in texture. Target's brand smells like Vick's, is less dense, and is more beige in color. Yes, odd for two products with the same exact ingredients.

My conclusion?

They work just the same. As long as it contains the same ingredients, I'd buy the product. Plus, it's a buck or two cheaper. The downside: you're afraid that it will mess up your face!

Tip: Just because someone's face is PERFECT & FLAWLESS because of the product they use, doesn't mean it will work for you. Everyone's face falls into certain categories (i.e. oily, dry, combination, sensitive, oily t-zone, acne, etc.) so that's the first thing you should start with when you're trying to figure out what products to use. You may already know this, but the temptations of that pretty face may redirect your best decision making into something that isn't best for you.

CANDLE WARMER ALTERNATIVE

Bought a candle warmer & now it's collecting dust? Here are a few alternatives in putting your candle warmer to good use!

BEVERAGES. From your Sake, coffee, hot chocolate, baby formula, herbal tea -- what ever it may be, keep your favorite hot drinks from getting cold. If your sitting outside cuddling with a good book, bring out the candle warmer & place your drink on it.

SMALL GARMENTS. Place small garments on the candle warmer while your in the shower on a cold day or a few minutes before leaving the house. Your socks, panties, bras, face towel or gloves will be warm waiting for you.

SCENTS. Besides using candles, I prefer using a cotton pad with a few drops of scented oils. It will fill your room quickly with the scent (unlike candles, in my opinion)! It last for a few days, but is worth it. Play around with scents for each room (i.e. kitchen with lemon or a food scent).

FOOD. As long as it's the right size & texture! Just place a napkin on your candle warmer and place your burger, brownies, or slice of cake right on top.

If your wondering if I really do any of these, the answer is yes. I use my candle warmer to keep my hot drinks warm. Currently, my candle warmer is in use to fill my room with the scent of coffee! But, what a tease it is. I have yet to try the Food & small garments.

Anyone out there have tried any of these alternatives or have any new ideas, leave a comment!

LCNY

I mentioned before that Liz Claiborne is now Liz Claiborne New York. Everything is now designed by Isaac Mizrahi (he also designs an affordable line for Target). I will admit that I prefer his designs over the the previous designer. His line is called POP and this seasons designed is called color Multiply. Color Multiply means that anything you buy this season, will match next season, so if you're paying for two outfits, you're really buying 4. Check out some of his accessories I took:

Jewelry:

Purses:

Shoes:

 

 

 

I'm a sandals kind of gal, so I absolutely love the last 3!

ATTN DOG LOVERS: "FOOD RAISER" CAMPAIGN

Are you familiar with PostSecrets? If you are, they have something just like that, but for dogs!

Rachael Ray pledges to donate One Pound (1 lb.) of dog food for every card sent in. The goal is to donate three TONS of food to both Best Friends Animal Sanctuary and Sabbath Memorial Dog Rescue, that's 6,000 cards! Currently 1,000 cards & counting!

Ready to send in your card(s)? Please visit the sites i listed below:

1.) http://www.dogfessions.com

2.) http://www.dogvice.com

3.) http://www.pugfessions.com

4.) http://www.bullyvice.com

Remember: Be creative, fun & original to qualify for the campaign!

PRODUCT REVIEW: SMOOTH AWAY

PRODUCT: Smooth Away - As Seen on TV. This package includes a travel case, 1 large applicator -- the pink handle is the applicator, 1 small applicator, 5 large flex-crystal replacement pads, and 5 small flex-crystal replacement pads.

CLAIM: "Discovered in Europe", claims to Remove hair instantly and painlessly. It "Gently exfoliate while removing hair!"

COST: $9.99 @ Bed Bath & Beyond

EASE OF USE: Putting it together was easy. Peel the back of Flex-crystal pad & stick it on the applicator. Buff skin in a circular motion

REVIEW: My skin-type is sensitive, so I was very hesitant to try this out. When I bought this, I asked the lady if she had ever tried it. She responded no & told me that she had mixed reviews. I told her to tell me honestly what people have been saying. She just told me that a lot said it didn't work & also said if I didn't like it, to just return it.

I began with my right arm, rubbing in a light circular motion. Nothing happened. I had to put a little more pressure on it in order to work. The feeling of the hair being removed is like a light prick -- nothing painful. At first it looked like it just dried up my arm making it look ashy, really ashy. I managed to do my whole arm & took a break.

Afterwards, it began to burn a little. It's been 20 minutes & my arm still burns. I continue to use the same pad to see how long it would last -- approximately an arm & a half. I'm actually a little tired from it, lol.

CONCLUSION: Yes, this works. This is a clean way to remove hair. After the hair removes, it looks like dirt. Just brush it off.

Would I use this again? NO! Why? My skin is so dry that it began to itch. I just put Eucerin lotion on it and now it's burning. Smooth? Yes. But, I am not going to sacrifice my skin for this.

I know everyone is different. If any of you have tried this, please share your experience. Are they similar to mine, or have you had a better experience?

TEETH: TRICKS TO A BRIGHTER SMILE

We all want a bright smile. But, some of us can't afford to get it professionally done or buy teeth whitening kits. Besides brushing your teeth 2-3 times a day, flossing & visiting the dentistry, here are some (VERY) low-cost & easy tips to make your teeth look brighter. You may even find the things you need already in your home!

RED LIPSTICK (As long as you don't get any on your teeth). Red lipstick is always a great trick if you like to wear lip color. Avoid shades of Orange & Yellow. Choose your colors wisely. There are different shades of red out there that will suit your skin tone. Check out the difference from these 2 photos of Jessica Alba. *May had also informed me that wearing shades of pink / blushes will also make your smile appear brighter.

STRAWBERRIES. Brooke Shields has said her trick to getting her teeth brighter was to rub strawberries on her teeth. Strawberries contain Malic Acid which can remove surface discoloration. So when you're out somewhere eating Strawberries, rub them on your teeth to brighten them -- nobody will know!

WEAR DARK CLOTHING. When I say dark clothing, I don't want you to opt for the goth look (if that's you're thing, then that's fine). Just avoid wearing bright white clothing that can make your teeth appear more pale than bright. Compare both photos of Lucy Liu below. Fixate your eyes on her color of clothing & her teeth. Yes, there's a difference -- & It's not because of the lip color because they're the same.

SNACK RIGHT. Watch what you're eating. Certain foods & drinks will stain your teeth. Snack on fruits & vegetables such as celery, apples & carrots. Not only will this benefit your health, it will also prevent plaque to grow on your teeth.

BAKING SODA. Not only is it great for cooking, getting rid of odors -- it can removes stains. Just don't use it right out of the box daily, just occasionally. If you're afraid to use this right out of the box, try Arm & Hammer baking soda toothpaste.

Are there any other tricks that you might have? Leave a comment & let us know!