Beauty on a budget

As a fashion-conscious gal who regularly attends special events, I often need to find outfits that make me look amazing, the latest "it" shoe, a bunch of beauty products and beautiful handbags. On top of this, I really should get my hair and nails done too. Don't forget some kind of tan--whether its a fake spray or from a bottle. Goodness, this stuff adds up!

I do think I'm a bargain-savvy individual, and I regularly buy sale items. I even purchase drug store makeup. (Hey, don't knock it...Great Lash mascara rocks, and has been an expert favorite for decades!) But there's a point where I just simply feel I do not have the $$$ to keep up with the trends and the designers and the spa appointments.

While I've become pretty dejected lately, I'm never one to completely give up. The thrill of the hunt is always a good motivator. And when I find an amazing bargain, I'm happy to tell all my friends about it. So I'm telling you about a few superb bargains that have come my way lately. First? Everyday Lip Gloss. Convenience is a major factor here--it's shiny, comes in several colors and is NOT sticky. Hooray! The bargain? $5 bucks! Plus, the company donates a portion of every sale to breast cancer research. Did I mention...it contains all natural ingredients? Can be shipped anywhere in the US? If you order four the fifth lip gloss is free? WOW!

My next bargain is my newest find. So new that the salon hasn't even opened yet, but you can be sure I will be there to test it out....it's almost too good to be true, so a girl's gotta see for herself. Blo Dri is a walk-in (yes, walk-in) salon specializing in blowouts and updos! You're in and out in under an hour. You can get a shampoo/style (and even the option for champagne, you lush!) for $50 bucks or less. What a phenomenal idea. What a good deal! It's in Chicago starting Sept. 22. Don't know if it's in any other cities yet, but I'm happy it's here.

Then there's my tried-and-true favorite bargain--moissanite. Bling without the huge bucks. But still the best quality around and more fire than a diamond too. Totally worth it (and you don't have to worry about contributing your money to dangerous mining practices).

You need a dress to go with that beautiful jewelry. I'm excited to try out Le Dress in Chicago. Apparently the prices are great too. Then again, there's always BlueFly--if you can buy your dress online, you get a good deal. For sure. But I've always been a fan of the Bloomingdale's sales racks.

Finally, I have to give a shout out to Hudson jeans. They were expensive when I bought them, but they quickly became my favorite pair. I was quite upset though when I found a hole in them in under two years of wear! Fortunately for me, I emailed Hudson directly and got a prompt reply that I can mail them my jeans, and they'll either repair or replace them free of charge. Good move on the company's part! I would not have bought a $100+ pair of jeans if I knew they'd get a hole in them, but now that the company will stand by their product, they will have a return customer in me. The jeans are seriously awesome.

Now I'm curious: what are your bargain beauty secrets?