Recently in Frugal Snob Category

Does anyone else remember those Noxzema commercials with Rebecca Gayheart circa  Jawbreakers? I can't think of one cleansing product more popular then the brand's Original Deep Cleansing Cream when I was a young teen. The iconic drugstore brand just released new products (and packaging), to join their classic cleanser including a Deep Cleansing Cream Plus Moisturizer (original cleansing cream with added moisture), Original Deep Cleansing Cream Pump (love this, because I hate sticking my hand in tubs of cream...bacteria...eeck!), Anti-Blemish Pads to target acne, and a Blackhead Cleanser. The packaging still looks very drugstore-esque, but for those on a budget with problem-prone skin, it's a welcome and reliable option.

Were you a teen Noxzema user like myself?

Ferro Cosmetics is a line of 100% Natural Mineral Makeup all of which is made in NYC. I was sent some of their Minis to try-out and they come packaged in these cute, colorful organza pouches some of which even have feather trimmings. Their blushes and foundations each retail for just $5 which means you can stock-up on a variety of colors and mix-and-match to suit your color-tone (I've found that their darker, brownish blush works best on the top-half of my cheekbone, while their more pinkish ones work best for the apple). Five mini blushes can also be bought in a set for only $19.95. As for the foundation, I personally prefer using liquid foundation and then setting it with solid powder, but Ferro's foundations give enough coverage that they work well as a complement to a liquid foundation or for someone looking for light-to-medium coverage worn just over makeup primer.

I can't really compare the look I got from Ferro to my usual LORAC and Sensai routine, because the real draw about this line really is the price and wide product choice (over 40 eye colors alone! Including both matte and shimmery). Not only are there dozens upon dozens of items for under $10, there are few skin tons that won't be able to find a color-match (and if you consider that the colors can be mixed-and-matched pretty much everyone is covered). They have an extensive e-commerce site as well. Check them out by clicking here! 

If you've never tried BareMinerals before this is a great chance to do so. The BareMinerals Get Started Kit is a great way to try out BareMinerals because it comes with all your basics to get a natural healthy look. Right now and only at Sephora it is 20% off for $48 for only this week and is almost a $200 value. It's got buildable coverage and is great for all skin types. This is a great gift to give girls of any age, so stock up!

The kit includes:

- 2 foundations
- All Over Face Color in Warmth
- Mineral Veil
- Full Flawless Face Brush
- Flawless Application Face Brush
- Maximum Coverage Concealer Brush or Light Stroke Brush
- a How-to instructional DVD
- BONUS - Exclusively for SEPHORA : 0.05 oz Prime Time Foundation Primer

Get it at Sephora for $48. Offer good until December 1, 2009.

Now isn't this the cutest little make up kit you've ever seen? Too Faced celebrated its 10 year anniversary with the Too Faced Decade of Glamour Beauty Wardrobe Makeup Collection. It comes with its most popular products for the past 10 years. This is a great try me kit for Too Faced, or I'm thinking of giving it as gifts to the younger ones in my family. It's cute just to display on their dresser, and I love the silhouette of the girl in the bronzer/blush. The products are all deluxe sample size but for $19.50 for a $195 value who can go wrong? It's got a variety of color and product so this is great for the experimenting beginner or the beauty lover like us!

Get it at Sephora for $19.50.

L'Occitane 'Amande' Cleansing & Soothing Shower Oil is by far my holy grail body wash. When the SA told me to try this i was skeptical because I had never tried a shower oil before and was afraid it would leave a greasy film on my skin after using it. When you look at it in the bottle, it totally looks like oil.  But to my surprise, it lathers up a bit and doesn't leave me with a greasy feel, but like a soft layer of hydration. The almond smell is also wonderful but subtle. This is a great body wash to use if you don't have enough time to moisturize every day or you want an extra boost of hydration for the winter months coming ahead. This set from Nordstrom's Anniversary is even greater because you get two for $29.50, which is like paying for one at $22 and getting the second for nearly free at $7.50.

If you have never tried NARS Orgasm blush, this is a great time to do so. This kit comes with the Orgasm blush, Laguna bronzer, and an Orgasm nail polish. This kit is great because everything complements each other. The bronzer helps contour with a sun-kissed look and the blush gives you this illuminating morning after glow. And the nail polish is so pretty too. It looks just like the blush, a peachy pink with glimpses of shimmer. This kit is so versatile, it is flattering on almost all skin tones. This kit is now on sale at Sephora for $35. That's like pay $2 less for the blush/bronzer and getting the polish for free!

So I finally shopped at the Sephora at JCP the other day, I never really found them interesting because there is a regular Sephora just on the other side of the mall. They have probably 1/5th of what the regular one has-- but I guess since it is so much smaller that they change the lines often which means the old lines go on sale. They had a great deal of Stila products on sale from $4-$10! Some of the items I picked up was a Cobalt Smudge Pot, which I always wanted to try and I'm glad I did. This rich, but dark blue goes on so smoothly and dries to smudge resistant in a minute. I also picked up some Eye Shadow Pans. The only drawback of these is that you have to buy the refillable container for it, but for $4 it was still worth it. I also bought a Shine Lip Color like something between a sheer lipstick and a lip balm. At first I thought some of these were being discontinued, but looking on Sephora's site I see that they are still the retail price. So check out your local Sephora or Sephora JCP and see if you can find these great steals!

Sephora has recently started making a variety of valued boxed kits that feature their favorites products. This is a great way to test out different products and find out what you like best, or what doesn't work for you without having to shell out the big bucks. When they first came out with this I was super excited. They only had the lash kit and perfume kit then, but last season they brought a whole slew of products. The one I'm looking most forward to is the Glitz & Glam because it has a mini Guerlain Meteorites Pearls set. I've always loved the way the box looked. So opulent. Even better, some of the sets are on sale now! Prices range from $15 to $40.

Sephora Favorites The Fix-It Kit Skincare Deluxe Sampler $20

Sephora Favorites Glitz & Glam Shimmer and Shine Deluxe Sampler $38

Sephora Favorites Face Quenchers Moisturizers Deluxe Sampler $18.50

Sephora Favorites Blink, Winks & Brows Eye Deluxe Sampler $40