Heading into a new year means breaking from routine and incorporating new products into your beauty regimen. But when do you make that decision to splurge on a pricey item versus saving a buck on a less expensive alternative? For most of us, the decision comes down to a matter of personal taste. If for example, you get tired of wearing the same nail polish color after a few days (or worse, you bite the polish off after a few hours), we might suggest a less expensive polish. If you have a special occasion, a splurge might be in order. Here’s the best of both worlds.
Face
Splurge: Perricone Hydrating Nutrient Mask, $65 at Sephora stores and sephora.com. A super-hydrating mask that minimizes lines and wrinkles. Steal: Zia Fresh Papaya Enzyme Mask, $24.95 at Whole Foods and Sprouts. An organic alternative that nourishes and improves skin texture.
Body
Splurge: Sothys Delicious Scrub, $44 and high-end spas and spalook.com. A yummy, special occasion indulgence. Steal: Tone Sugar Glow Exfoliating Wash, $3.50 at mass retailers. A daily, much cheaper indulgence.
Splurge: Bliss Body Butters, $35 at Bliss spa and blissworld.com. A super thick, spa-quality moisturizing body lotion available in luscious scents. Steal: Avalon Organics Hand & Body Lotion, $10.95 at Whole Foods and avalonorganics.com. A therapeutic, organic body lotion available in scents of nature.
Makeup
Splurge: Dior Diorshow Mascara, $24 at Sephora stores and sephora.com. A top-seller because of its rich color and staying power. Steal: Beauty Benefits Beyond Nourishing Mascara, $5.99 at Wal-Mart and most mass retailers. An inexpensive, easy to find alternative.
Lips
Splurge: Kinerase Lip Treatment, $38 at Sephora stores and sephora.com. Smooths and plumps with high-end ingredients. Steal: Avalon Organics Vitamin C Soothing Lip Balm, $4.95 at Whole Foods and avalonorganics.com. Soothes and nourishes with botanical ingredients.
Splurge: Too Faced Mirror Mirror Gloss Set (4), $25 or full size glosses, $16 at Sephora and toofaced.com. Super glam, glossy shine. Steal: Alba TerraGloss, $5.95 and Clear Lip Glosses, $4.95 at Whole Foods and albabotanica.com. Clear natural shine or glossy shine with hints of mineral color.
Nails
Splurge: Lippmann Collection Nail Lacquers, $15 at select beauty boutiques and lippmanncollection.com. Long-wearing, lush hues from our favorite home girl, Deborah Lippmann. Steal: Wet ‘n’ Wild Nail Polishes, $.99 at Walgreens and other mass retailers. Hot colors for a night out. Use a good top coat and you’re hot and good to go!
Hands
Splurge: Lippmann Collection Rich Girl anti-aging hand cream, $24 at select beauty boutiques and lippmanncollection.com. Luxurious hand and cuticle cream with SPF 25. Steal: Noah’s Naturals Coconut Vanilla Hand & Foot Cream, $7.99 at Wal-Mart and other mass retailers. Natural emollients and tropical scent.
Hair
Splurge: Bumble and Bumble Defrizz, $23 at salons. Banishes frizz and leaves hair soft and protected. Steal: Zero Frizz Corrective Hair Serum, $6.50 at most mass retailers. Frizz relief for dry hair.
Splurge: Profound Beauty Working Spray, $27 at ProfoundBeauty.com and select salons. Provides a firm hold with a micro-fine spray. Steal: got2b 2 sexy hair spray, $7.99 at most mass retailers. Keeps hair full voluminous while providing firm hold.
Bonus: For dressing up tresses for a night out, check out Goody’s hair accessories, $1.99-$12.99 at Target (as compared to hair accessories at Nordstrom that run between $20 and $120).
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