Dollar Store Beauty Finds!!

We all know beauty can get expensive, but have you been to your local dollar store lately? There are some "hidden" treasures to be found! I just want to share some of the great things I found at my Dollar Tree that I have been using and loving. Best part? Each thing I am going to tell you about was $1!

Turbo Twist Towel (imitation)

I LOVE this towel! I always thought this was a silly invention, it does what a normal towel does, right?
NO! This towel is small and cone shaped so it isn't heavy or bulky on your head. Not to mention, the button on the back holds the end of the towel and keeps it from falling off your head or whacking you in the eye. If you have really long hair, not sure how this would work, I have below shoulder length hair and it works great, but for $1 it is worth a shot! I also love that it is made of microfiber! This helps absorb most of the moisture from the hair, cutting down on styling time. I like to put mine on right out of the shower, apply my makeup, and then take it out. By this time my hair is damp, not dripping wet. Great deal for $1!!

Nail Polish- LA Colors

This brand can be found at most Dollar Trees. I can never wear nail polish very long, busy mom and hairstylist who always has hands in water, but this nail polish actually held up very well. I love all the fun and unique color options they have. There are also small bottles with fine brushes for doing nail art. Overall, great deal!


Strap Perfect (imitation)

Even though this is not the original Strap Perfect (like one pictured), it is amazing! The pack comes with 8 total bra strap clips, 2 black, 2 white, 2 clear, and 2 cream!! This really does help hold your bra straps in place to be hidden. It also does "lift" the cleavage!! My only problem was that, even with the strap loosened all the way down, on some of my bras it makes them feel a little snug around my back. This is not really a problem, but wanted to give you a heads up in case you wanted to use it on a bra that is already a little snug. Great deal!

These are just 3 that I found on my last dollar store trip, there are many more! I hope to share more dollar store finds with you from my next trip. Happy bargain beauty hunting!

Pantene Split End Repair- Stay Tuned!

I just received a bottle of Pantene Split End Repair Keratin Protection Creme in the mail. I can't wait to try it and tell you guys what I think. It claims to "bind existing split ends with one use." I am very skeptical as to how well this will work, being from the "old school" understanding that the only way to "fix" a split end is to trim it! My hair is pretty dry and brittle, so I can't wait to share my thoughts with you guys!! Stay tuned!

GIVEAWAY!!! Sigma Cleansing and Polishing Tool! Open Internationally!

Would you like a chance to win this great prize?

Just visit my Facebook page HERE and find the post with the rules! You have to like my Facebook page, Like Lil Belle's Boutique Facebook page, follow this blog, and then leave a comment on the post on my facebook page about your favorite beauty products! I will pick a winner Friday!!! :)

Egg Hair Mask!

This mask will help restore your hair's moisture and protein, and all these ingredients can be found in your kitchen!

1 egg
1 tsp Olive Oil
1 tbs Mayo

Take all the ingredients and whip them until the mixture is a little creamy, I added the Mayo because it helped make the mixture more creamy, Mayo is just egg and oil anyway.  Apply this mixture to dry hair for the best results. I used a plastic bag to wrap my hair in, but if you have a plastic shower cap that would work best. The heat from your scalp will cause this to drip, so have a tissue or towel ready.  Let it sit on your hair for about 15-20 mins and then wash with a mild shampoo and finish with conditioner. Style as usual.

The egg in this mask helps restore protein and the olive oil helps restore moisture! This is good for all hair types and lengths.

Natural Looking Sunless Tanner With Sun Labs!

I received a gift set from Sun Labs a few months ago to try out, and I have been using it off and on for those few months to really get a "feel" for the product so that I could give my honest opinion. 

I really enjoy using this product! First, you always want to exfoliate before you self tan, and this package comes with a great, minty smelling, exfoliator and loofah! Second, the actual self tanner smells like cherries! I didn't notice a "self tanner smell" until a few hours later, but it was a pretty typical smell, nothing worse than I have used before. I usually self tan at night and shower in the morning to remove any smell.  The self tanner is a very dark green/brown color when applying. I enjoyed this because I could always see where I missed or had too much product. It also dries pretty quickly, which is also good because you can get dressed relatively quick afterwords.

I really like the color I get from this self tanner. I don't feel orange, or oompah loompah looking! I feel like it is a very natural looking tan. I have very fair skin, almost porcelain, but not quite, and I used the dark, I think dark is good for anyone, it doesn't make you too dark or orange.  I also like the way this fades, no funny white patches or streaking when it fades.

I had only one problem area in all the times I used this product, over 8 times, and that was my ankle right above my foot. I didn't exfoliate the way I should have, and ended up with a patch of dark skin. So remember to always EXFOLIATE! :)

The lotion that comes with this set is good too, it helps your tan to last longer by moisturizing the skin. It is the only thing in the kit that I probably wouldn't repurchase, and that is because I feel it is just a good lotion, and I have my own favorite lotions that I apply to my skin after self tanning.

This set retails for $39.95 on their site, and it comes with a loofah and a tote bag.  Go here to look at the package deal.  I think I will probably just buy the self tanning product the next time, I still have exfoliator left over and plenty of lotion.

I really enjoy this product, and I hope you will too! 

Summer Haircare Tips

Summer time means lots of great things: sun, pools, the beach, outdoor sports, but it also means our hair can become very damaged and dry. Because of our sun exposure during the summer our hair can become dry, the color can fade, and it can get that "straw" feeling.

These are a few tips to remember to keep your hair healthy this summer! 

1) Keep your hair conditioned before you go into a chlorine pool. If you apply a conditioner or even just saturate your hair with water, like tap or bottled water, your hair will not absorb as much, if any, of the chlorine from the pool. This will help keep the hair from drying out from the chlorine.

2) Remember the skin on your scalp! Always apply sunscreen to the edges of you scalp and down your part if the hair is parted, this will help so that your scalp will not get sunburned! If you have a drastic part, like you are wearing pigtails, really spray the part well with sunscreen.

3) Apply a conditioner before you go into the sun for long periods of time to help put a "barrier" between your hair and the sun. This will help with color fading and drying of the hair and it will give you a good deep conditioning! :)

4) Try to wear your hair in a  loose braid or in a loose bun so that you aren't putting too much stress in the same area over and over when your hair is wet.  

5)Try not to wear a tight ponytail too often to avoid breakage in the same area as the hair tie. Also try o use a soft hair tie that does not have metal to help with breakage.

6) If you want to lighten your hair a little try a little squirt of lemon juice in a bottle of water with a little bit of conditioner, shake and spray on hair before going in the sun. Lemon juice can be drying so make sure to condition well afterwards!

  

These are just  a few things to remember this summer to help keep your hair in it's best shape!! Have a fun summer!

Make Your Makeup Last Longer!

I have never really used a makeup primer, never knew the benefits of using one, but decided to give one a try. I purchased the Claudia Stevens Facial Prep Foundation Base at Sally's Beauty Supply.

This was about $5 and has lasted me about 2 months so far. I put on a moisturizer, if I remember, and then apply just a small pea sized amount to my face using my fingers.

Here are some of the benefits I have noticed while using a primer for my makeup:
1) Helps my makeup stay "fresh" longer, it really helps it last!
2) Helps smooth out my skin so that I get a smoother overall look after applying my makeup.
3) It doesn't take as much foundation as usual, it really helps me to "stretch" my foundation.
4) The makeup just "glides" on!
5) I feel like it actually helps my foundation give me better coverage.

I really enjoy the texture of this product as well. It is hard to explain but I will try. It is not a lotion, more like a gel, but not cool like a gel, if that makes sense. :)  There is also little-no scent with this particular primer, so smell sensitivity should not be a problem.
I have very sensitive, dry/normal skin and I have had no issues while using this primer. No breakouts, no rash, and no itchy blotches, which happens when I use some of the Name Brand primers and skin care lines.

I really hope this helps to make your makeup last all day!!