Recently in Frugal Snob Category

Ever since Sephora introduced their own branded line of products, the number of frugally-priced brands they offer seems to have dwindled (I SO miss Bourjois!). The best out of the remaining has got to be First Aid Beauty. I'm going to San Fran next week and will be taking the First Aid Beauty FAB Essentials Kit with me. It's only $15 and has all the TSA-approved essentials you'll need for a quick trip:
 
- 1.0 oz Face Cleanser
- 1.0 oz Daily Face Cream
- 2.0 oz Gentle Body Wash
- 2.0 oz Body Moisturize

Just add to that eye cream and hair products and you're good to go! Everything is allergy-tested, fragrance-free and free of parabens, harsh chemicals, and colorants making it a reliable line for someone like me with very sensitive skin.

On a side note, the pouch the products come in has a little bit of extra room, so you can stuff your eye cream and anything else you might need all in the same place. 

I remember reading a stat in WWD awhile back that said that 40% of adults (men and women), regularly use baby products on themselves. Even as someone who frequently uses baby products and even eats baby food (have you ever tried Plum Organics Fiddle Sticks? Delicious!), I was surprised at how high that number was. I tend to initially find myself gravitating towards baby beauty finds because of the cutesy packaging, but they also usually have a mild (or no) smell and are formulated for very sensitive skin. For anyone in the NYC-area Gracious Home on the Upper East Side as an AMAZING selection. Speaking of which, in addition to a slew of new addition to the main Yes to Carrots line, there is a now a Yes to Baby Carrots line. Jump for some stand-outs from both!

Growing-up in Manhattan it was quite the adjustment when I went upstate to Cornell for college (I didn't even know how to drive at that point!). While I missed a lot of city things, Ithaca had one thing that Manhattan didn't -- Target (ooo how I miss being a 5 minute drive away from Target!). I was there weekly picking-up everything from groceries and household essentials, to DVDs and undershirts, but of course the biggest perk of Target in Ithaca is that no one shops their designer collaborations! I have a ton of Luella, Behnaz, and Proenza, all of which I was able to leisurely shop. Now another collaboration is in the works however and I have a feeling even the folks in Ithaca will be interested in it. Caldrea, the luxury aromatherapy home-keeping brand, has teamed up with Target to launch (April 1st) an amazing line that I was able to preview two weeks ago. Priced from $5.99-$19.99, the line has got wonderfully scented candles (votive, room, kitchen, pillar, and signature ones in gift boxes), diffusers, home fragrances, hand care sets, soaps, counter-top and all-purpose cleaners, kitchen sets, and more, all packaged in sleek and modern containers.

The collection's scents include: Citron Ginger, Water Lily, Pomegranate Fig, White Birch, and Cypress Sage. I can't wait to snap-up some of their candles in a few days! Maybe I'll even get a few cleaners...pretend like I'm somewhat domestic:-)

I went to a wonderful event two weeks ago at The Standard Hotel (their restaurant/bar/18th floor lounge is a must-see for anyone living or visiting NYC!), where John Frieda's team was hosting a luncheon to introduce some of their latest products. The space was decked-out with luscious flowers and John Frieda products arranged around the room and it couldn't have taken place on a nicer Spring day. The products highlighted were from the Frizz-Ease Smooth Start range which address the primary causes of frizz -- dryness and damage. Frizz Ease has been around for over 20 years, but with their new products John Frieda is tackling frizz in the shower via shampoo and conditioner. They've got a Hydrating shampoo and conditioner (meant for those with dry hair) and a Repair shampoo and conditioner (meant for those with damaged hair), both of which fight frizz. John Frieda's International Creative Consultant Harry Josh explains -- "By the time hair is dry, it becomes much more difficult to tame frizz. When I'm on a shoot, I always want to work with wet hair to optimized the effects of frizz fighters." Learn more about the frugally priced ($6.49 each), hair products here!

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!