Why good skincare is important, even in a recession--part 2

So consider this my attempt to freak you out (a little) about why it's so important to take good care of your skin, even when economic times are tough. TotalBeauty.com just published a list of the 13 worst-skin cities, and it isn't pretty.

Every part of the country has at least one metropolitan area that makes the list, and the negatives that add up to a bad rating include everything from smoking statistics to stress to pollution to overly humid and overly arid locales.

It's just another reminder that the environmental conditions no matter where we live probably take a negative toll on our skin unless we take steps to protect it. So, while the list may be scary, all those negative factors can be mitigated by good skincare habit.

Take a look at yesterday's post, and take the time to keep up at least a minimal skincare regimen to take good care of you.

Have you recession-proofed your skincare routine?

As people begin cutting back on non-essentials to survive the recession, some of the first things to go are high-ticket non-essentials, and for a lot of us that includes the skincare products we all love so much. The to-die-for facial cream or super-moisturizing masque might be much-loved, but when it comes to wondering if you'll have enough extra cash to buy groceries, plunking down $50 or $75 or more for a tiny jar of cream suddenly seems the height of folly.

The June issue of Marie Claire magazine features a cover story on "budget" skincare; their grand total for recommended budget products for a woman in her 30s is $278.21. That's for enough product to last you about six weeks.

I'm not sure the editors of the magazine truly understand what "recession-proof skincare" means for those of us struggling through the bad economy, because $278.21 so entirely exceeds my budget that the magazine's total is just laughable. What chagrins me most about articles like this, however, is knowing that women out there will read it, see the outrageous "budget" price tag, and resign themselves to abandoning their skincare routine because they think good products are still beyond their fiscal reach.

But just because the magazine editors don't get it, and just because you've had to cut back, do not resign yourself to abandoning your skincare regimen.

I've previously shared my recipe for homemade makeup remover, and raved about my favorite inexpensive skincare line, Boots No. 7. Those are a good start. I'll write about other bargain products in the future, and I'm on the hunt for more skincare recipes that'll put you in league with the most prestigious spas, many of whom make their fabulous creams, scrubs and masques from items you'll find in your own pantry.

Don't forget, however, that there's more you can do to care for your skin from the inside out--and these reminders are important no matter what the condition of the economy.

• Drink plenty of water. Dehydrated skin will make fine lines and wrinkles appear more prominent.
• Get plenty of sleep. It'll reduce the appearance of dark circles under your eyes.
• Eat a few servings a week of cold-water fish like salmon. The Omega-3 oils in the fish are vital for skin to renew itself (plus, it's good for your heart). If you're concerned about mercury levels in farm-raised salmon, then check the freezer case at the supermarket for wild-caught Alaskan salmon--it'll probably be cheaper than you think, too.
• Always cleanse your face before bedtime, even if you just use a quick option such as a makeup remover wipe. The dirt and grime that accumulate over the course of a day can clog pores and cause breakouts.
  
• Always wear sunscreen, and make sure your foundation contains a sunscreen. I use mineral makeup, which has a 15 SPF sunscreen, and has protected me against many unexpected extended sun sessions--walks at the farmers' market, etc. EyesLipsFace.com carries a mineral line with a $5 mineral foundation--and it contains a 15 SPF sunscreen. That should fit into anyone's budget.
  

As long as times are tough, daily budget struggles take a toll on the psyche, and neglecting your skincare regimen will only make it worse. Remember to take care of yourself, inside and out--and be aware that there are very, very inexpensive options out there that'll allow you to maintain a soul-boosting personal care routine. You'll feel better, and your skin will thank you.

You do frequent your local 99 Cent Store, don't you?

Well, you should. If you do patronize yours--whether it's the western 99 Cent Only chain or some derivation in another region of the country--then I'm not about to tell you anything you don't know.

But for those of you who previously wrote it off as a repository of cheap plastic crap nobody wants and packaged foods of dubious date and origin, you might want to give it another look.

When you do, you'll find an impressive array of kitchen gadgets, a huge selection of (mostly desirable) canned foods, frozen foods, spices and--believe it or not--tons of fresh produce, eggs and breads. And, as this is the 99 Cent Only store, you can load up your fridge and cabinets without dropping too much coin. See the pic here? That's $25 of randomly selected food that we picked up on an impromptu stop there this week. As you can see, in with the canned food is fresh celery, green onion, romaine lettuce, low-fat Breyer's ice cream, tortillas, sparkling mineral water, low-cal frozen dinners--quite a haul. And a nutritious haul, at that.

You'll even find gourmet goodies there--jars of marinated artichoke hearts, tins of oysters, imported crackers, sun-dried tomatoes--so it's not a bad place to check when you're stocking up to entertain. So promising are their offerings these days, that it's spawned a 99 Cent Only Store Cookbook, filled with recipes using--you guessed it--nutritious meals using ingredients easily found at the store. And the cookbook, in turn, has spawned a blog, where you can get a heads-up on new shipments of especially good stuff, along with occasional recipes.

Still think the 99 Cent Only Store is beneath you? Hey, even NPR covered the only-a-dollar awesomeness recently, and you can listen to it here.

And while the edible goodies at the 99 cent store should be enough to get you in the door, don't forget to check the personal care aisles, too. Toothpaste, shampoo, lotions--all those things that add up so quickly at the drugstore--won't wipe out your pocketbook here, and you may be surprised at the brand names you find on the shelves. With most of us cutting back and watching what we spend a lot more closely these days, it's a relief to be able to walk into a store like this, stock up on everything we need--including fresh, nutritious produce--and spend no more than $20.

It's time for another episode of get the look for (a LOT) less

As each season turns, InStyle magazine runs a few put-it-all-together pages for an assortment of looks. Over the next few weeks, I'm going to take each of this summer's looks that they present, and put it together for you for much less.

First up: the Urbanite look. InStyle has put together a nice collection of separates and accessories that'll last you through a summer weekend: shorts, a top, a sundress, a bikini, a coverup (which can double as a casual dress or topper over jeans or capris), embellished sandals, a set of 3 bangles, a straw hat and a patent leather bag. Total for all the pieces: $2,242.

That's just a little bit out of my budget; I'm guessing it is for yours, too. But everything on that page is fabulous. Can you get almost identical pieces for much less?

I'm Budget Girl, and that's why I'm here.

First up, the accessories: the straw hat, $10 at Sam Moon. Set of bangles? I'll go you two better with a set of five charm bangles from Sam Moon for $4.95. And the patent handbag? $23.95, also at Sam Moon.

Those white cotton short-shorts are cute, but a bit much at $295. Find almost identical white linen tie-front shorts at Victoria's Secret, on sale for $19.99. The tunic dress (and part-time swim cover)? How about $44.50 at Alloy.com. The $315 chiffon blouse? There are at least seven very similar to it at Forever21.com, but I like this one best, at $22.80. Instead of the pricy green silk sundress, Victoria's Secret has this one, very flattering with the ruched front and in a range of summer brights, on sale for $18.99.

And finally, the swimsuit and sandals? Target's swim separates are on sale for $14.99 for each piece, and you have the advantage of choosing not just the color and pattern, but which top and bottom styles look best for your figure. And you'll find a bejeweled sandal very similar to the one in the magazine feature at Alloy.com for $29.50.

So, what's the damage if you go for the budget versions of every piece in that urbanite weekend ensemble, even accessories? $204.66, less than one-tenth the price of the ensemble featured in the magazine. I'll leave you to ponder that (and click away on the budget-priced links), and I'll be back with another look for even less in a few days.

Exciting changes coming soon!

Budget Girl has been under the weather all day, so I have no detailed budgety items to pass along this evening.

However, I thought it would be a good time to let you know that this blog is moving to its very own website in about a week. It'll be easy to find, and I'll post a permanent link here to make sure you can find your way there.

The new, improved site will be expanded, with posts divided by topic; you'll have a weekly newsletter subscription option as well, and a new link for up-to-the-minute Twitter posts--all geared toward keeping you informed on all the best budget fashion and lifestyle info out there. I'm very excited about what's on the way, and hope you'll enjoy it as much as I am as I put the finishing touches on the new site.

Over the next few days, I'll be posting some look-for-less features on great summer ensembles, so be sure to check back daily!

Big summer markdowns gearing up--well, just about everywhere.

And it's just in time for summer, so the timing couldn't be better. The markdowns seem to be coming a little sooner this year (and seem to be a little more dramatic), which is probably because of the economy. Hey, we'll take our breaks wherever we can get them, no?

The first one you may want to check out is J.Jill's big sale. There are markdowns site-wide, and now through May 25, you'll get an additional 40 percent off all J.Jill Outlet items. Have your eye on something that isn't on sale yet? Take 20 percent off any full-priced item with the coupon code 20MAY09, and all full-priced shoes will get a $15 discount at checkout.

J.C. Penney has all their summer dresses on sale, along with their entire inventory of swimwear, and even the i heart ronson line has several pieces on markdown. To cap off the sales, you'll get free shipping on orders of $99 or more.

You'll find the same kind of deals at Newport News, with a serious dress sale, all the swimwear marked down, and through Memorial Day weekend, you can take an additional 30 percent off already marked down items with the promo code 502 at checkout.

Old Navy has their summer lineup on sale, with particularly good $5, $10 and $15 deals on everything from shorts to fun and breezy summer dresses. Lots of color going on in Old Navy's clothes this summer, so there are some really fun pieces to play around with.

Just about everywhere you look, you'll find good markdowns on summer clothes--whether online or in stores. I could've gone on for paragraph after paragraph listing all of the sales, but this hits the high point. Besides, I'll leave some of the fun of the hunt to you. Why should I have all the fun?

Want deeply discounted services at top salons? Go here.

It's a brilliant idea, really--work with top salons who, like the rest of us, are hurting a bit in the current economy, and find a way to get them booked up during dead hours if they offer the services at a discount.

I give you Lifebooker.com. It's a relatively new site, and for now covers salons in the New York and Los Angeles areas only, but they expect to expand nationwide very soon.

Here's how it works--you search for salon and spa services online, and you're given available time, the amount of the discount--as much as 50% in most cases, with occasional specials for even bigger discounts--and book your service for the available time, much the way opentable.com works for restaurant reservations.

Lifebooker began its online service about a year and a half ago for salons and spas in New York City, and just added Los Angeles a couple of months ago. You can search by service, price, neighborhood, salon name or appointment time. And if you go back and add a review after your service, you'll earn "Reward Dollars," cash-back credits that you can use on future appointments. They offer everything from standard salon services (for women and men) to waxing to tanning to full-blow spa packages.

If those highlights are looking a little faded or your layers have disappeared, if your eyebrows make you look like Groucho Marx or you just want a massage, you'll find great deals on Lifebooker. For those of you in other cities, keep an eye out for their entry into your market, and I'll update here whenever I see new cities added to the menu.