Are you looking to save some cash but don’t want to sacrifice your beauty regiment to the recession gods? I’ve got some good news for you: Hollywood makeup artists like Troy Surrat, Ashunta Sheriff and Brett Freedman recently spilled a wealth of information to Elle magazine. They recommended beauty products that cost less, but still promise to pay off big.

Here’s an edited list of their picks (I’ve whittled it down to the ones that can be found at drugstores for $10 or less):

• $2: Blistex Lip Tone
• $2: Jordana Premium Lipliner
• $3: Rimmel London 1,000 Kisses Stay-on Lip Liner in Tiramisu
• $3: Maybelline New York Expert Eyes Twin Eye & Eyebrow Pencil in Blonde
• $4: Wet N Wild Mega Glo Illuminating Powder in Catwalk Pink
• $4: Ardell Duralash Naturals
• $6: Maybelline New York Great Lash Mascara in Very Black
• $6: Styli-Style Line & Seal Eye Pencils
• $6: Max Factor 2000 Calorie Mascara
• $6: CoverGirl Wetslicks Fruit Spritzers in Fig
• $7: Rohto Ice Eye Drops
• $7: CoverGirl Queen Collection Natural Hue Minerals Pressed Powder
• $7: L ‘Oreal Paris Hip Concentrated Shadow Duo in Lively
• $7: Rimmel London Lycra Lash Extender
• $8: Maybelline New York Dream Mousse Blush in Peach Satin
• $9: L ‘Oreal Paris Hip Brilliant Shine Lip Gloss
• $10: L’ Oreal Paris Hip Pure Pigment Shadow Sticks
• $10: Neutrogena Soothing Undereye Corrector
• $10: Neutrogena 3-in-1 Concealer

From sleek and professional to fun to funky, the possibilities with nail art are endless. And, it seems like these days America’s demand for nail technologists is dang near endless, too!

In fact, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistic’s Occupational Outlook Handbook, employment of manicurists and pedicurists will grow by 28 percent thanks to the continued growth in the number of nail salons and full-service day spas.

And this demand has a lot of business-savvy personal appearance workers returning to beauty school for nail technology programs. It seems like a logical career step – these programs are relatively short-term, but adding nail care to your repertoire can have long-lasting effects on your career prospects.

Whether you’re already in the beauty industry, or you’re an artistic individual looking for a fun, creative outlet with potential for career success, think about enrolling in a nail technology program. It makes sense – beauty is one of today’s fastest growing fields, but manicures and pedicures are topping the list of consumer demand. Give the people what they want and benefit from working in a growing field!

We all know that lavender has many benefits, like relieving stress and making a home smell fragrantly nice. But, this little herb packs a healthy punch as well and can be added to your daily routine. Lavender can be used in a soothing warm bath, as a flavorful herbal tea, or applied topically in the form of lavender oil to alleviate headaches, back pain, and even muscular tension. Additionally, lavender has also been known to reduce allergic reactions and inflammation of the throat.

Since lavender has the ability to relieve stress and enhance a calming state-of-mind, this herb can help people get a better night’s sleep. Simply add a scented candle, potpourri or essential oil to your pillow to help you fall asleep.

To help with chest congestion, you can make a lavender compress, which is then placed on the chest. For best results, be sure to inhale the steam of the lavender, or you can cover your head with a regular towel and hang your head over a bowl of hot lavender tea and breathe in the vapors to improve breathing.

How to make your own lavender tea:

•    Two tablespoons of dried lavender
•    Add to a cup of hot water
•    Cover for about 10 minutes
•    Rinse and then serve

It is important to know that lavender oil should never be placed on the skin without being diluted in water first.

Do your nails crack or break easily? Nail strength, like so many of our traits, is passed down from our parents. So, if your mother complained about broken, chipped nails, chances are, you will, too.

But, don’t despair! You are not completely doomed! There are some steps you can take to save your nails from nub status. Just check out these tips:

1. Wear short nails. The longer your nails are, the more likely they are to break. File your nails regularly to maintain short, pretty nails that are less likely to break, chip, crack or split.

2. Eat calcium-rich foods. Nail strength depends a great deal on calcium. By taking in calcium-rich foods like cheese, milk, salmon and broccoli can improve the strength of your nails and prevent breakages.

3. Use less polish. Unfortunately, nail polish can dry out weak nails, too. The next time you visit a nail technologist, request a buffer instead of polish. Buffing can still give you a shiny, classy look and it comes with an additional bonus – it stimulates nail growth.

4. Avoid nail polish remover. This will be easier to manage if you follow tip #3! Since nail polish remover lists alcohol as one of its main ingredients, it can cause your nails to become more brittle and more prone to breaking. Try to limit yourself to about once a week – so try to think ahead about upcoming events before you try out any funky neon colors.

5. Cut down on H2O exposure. Since water can make your nails dry out, prolonged exposure can cause your nails to split and break more easily. Make sure you dry your hands and nails thoroughly after washing and bust out the gloves for dish duty.

6. Slather on hand lotion. Hand lotions with a rich formula, not containing alcohol, can help seal in moisture and help make your nails more flexible. It’s better to bend than break, right? So, make sure to follow up apply a generous amount of lotion every time you wash your hands.

Here at BeautySchool .com, we strive to be on the forefront of eco-friendly beauty products. And, we have dropped the ball! There is one area that mostly goes over-looked and we are shedding some light for you beauty buffs with a conscience: Eco-friendly tools. You have gone through the process of switching out your makeup, facial soaps and lotion, hair care products to be cruelty-free… but what about your foundation or blush brush? Yes, those makeup tools can be chalk-full of cruelty.

If you have gone the distance to be compassionate about your products, it’s time to ditch the sticks that are made up of animal hair and plastic. There are several different types of eco-friendly makeup tools ranging from cheap to luxury. The trendy makeup tools consist of synthetic hair and bamboo, which are much better for the environment and animals.

Here are some products to consider the next time you’re at the makeup counter:

•    EcoTools
•    Sevi Cosmetics
•    Larenim Mineral Makeup
•    Alima Pure
•    And much more!

The holidays are quickly approaching. You know what that means: it’s prime shopping time! I always get a bit panicky this time of year because I never know what to give to people. But, this year is different – I discovered a trendy gift that’s perfect for anyone: a cute, reusable shopping bag!

These days, there are so many different styles that I’ll be able to find one for everyone – whether they’re conservative soccer moms, trendy hipsters or free-spirited bohemian types.

There are some super-cute bags around – and they aren’t that expensive. Even Anya Hindmarch’s highly-coveted “I’m Not a Plastic Bag” bag is only around $15. Most of the bags at www.ecobags.com are well under $10.

You can even get sets that add up to less than $2 a bag. So, instead of the bag being the main present, I could stuff it with it with a bunch of green goodies – like Bare Escentual’s all-natural Buxom Babes Diamond Lips lip gloss set that’s on sale at Sephora for $22, or one of those lovely organic-source brushes we talked about recently.

So, fun! So, trendy! So many possibilities! Plus, it’s a gift I can feel really good about giving.

I also just found out that San Francisco recently banned the use of plastic bags entirely. This YouTube video talks a little bit about how it has affected grocery store owners, consumers and how it has cut down on garbage. Check it out! It might make you want to switch out stockings for reusable shopping bags, too!

No matter whether you have cosmetology training or not, finding the perfect foundation for your face (or someone else’s face) is always tough. We’ve all seen the three worst foundation offenses:

1.    Foundation that is way too dark for a woman’s face and creates the dreaded “line” at her jaw.
2.    Foundation that is way too light for a woman’s face, and reflects like the moon in flash photos.
3.    Foundation that doesn’t have the desired effect of smoothing skin, and rather clings to every imperfection.

So here’s the thing. I personally believe that the majority of women don’t need to wear foundation. I think that a tinted moisturizer with SPF smoothed over the whole face, followed by a light bronzer dusted over the cheeks and forehead is the most natural and flattering.

However.

Especially when women get their makeup professionally done, we feel like we need the whole shebang. So how to make sure that the foundation you’re putting on is going to look the best all day long, in all kinds of light?

If this is a professional makeup job, be sure to schedule a practice session before a big event. If you’re just looking for the right shade for day-to-day, don’t be afraid to shop around. It’s okay not to buy from a salesperson right away. Better yet, visit a store like Sephora – they will give you samples in little pots that you can take home and try for a couple of days.

A few easy tips:

•    Make sure you test the foundation on the whole face. While the jaw line is the most accurate skin color, many     women’s’ faces have a natural flush that doesn’t occur there.
•    Walk around! Check out the color in natural light, bathroom light … and take a picture … with the flash on.
•    Keep in mind: if your complexion tends to be oily, your makeup is going to darken within minutes when it mixes with this oil.

Unfortunately, domestic abuse is something many of us have become all too familiar with. Countless women and children are subjected to violence within their own homes on a daily basis. Even worse, some of these victims are forced into silence, fearing retribution at their partner’s hand.

Domestic violence victims often don’t know where to turn for help. They may have controlling partners who put extreme restrictions on the everyday freedoms some women take for granted. Many victims are too afraid to seek help from the police or an abuse shelter.

This is where the program, Cut It Out: Salons Against Domestic Abuse, comes in. Cut It Out began as a statewide program in Alabama. By 2002, more than 500 salon professionals in the state had been trained to recognize signs of abuse and to connect domestic violence victims to abuse professionals. In 2003, the program went national. Today, salons across the country have access to Cut It Out’s domestic violence prevention specialists.

Cut It Out’s mission is to teach salon professionals to recognize the warning signs of domestic violence. Because of the close relationship some hairstylists enjoy with their clients, salon professionals can be an important lifeline in the fight against domestic violence.

Check out some of these websites to learn more about Cut It Out. If you ask me, this is just another reason to feel great about a career in the beauty and salon industry!

Visit Cut It Out’s website to learn more about domestic violence and to support its mission:
http://www.cutitout.org

Find a Cut It Out trainer near you with this list organized by state and city: http://www.cutitout.org/DVTrainerList.aspx

Here’s an article about how Cut It Out helped the stylists in one salon:
http://www.nytimes.com/2008/11/20/nyregion/20salons.html?hp

I know that Halloween is over but the dressing up is just beginning! Beauty blogs are gearing up for the release of Twilight. These bring-your-face-back-to-life looks might even help you snag a vampire of your very own.

Beauty and the Blog is even having a give away for some oh-so-hot products to get you ready for the premier of the movie. If you do not want to spend time entering the contest, you can stop by your local Sephora and pick up the products.

Included in the Win a Vampire (makeover) are:

•    Gwen Stefani’s L L.A.M.B. fragrance
•    Cargo Lip Gloss in Bella Bella
•    Fresh Twilight Freshface Glow
•    Shu Uemura Dazzling Topaz Diamante
•    Nars Lip Gloss in Bloodwork and Kat Von D Painted Love Lipstick in Underage Red
•    ck Calvin Klein Splendid Glam Mini Nail Enamel Collection
•    Kat Von D True Romance Eyeshadow Palette in Ludwig

The contest runs until the November 21st! So get your entry in and hopefully they will bite… I mean, pick you for the prize.

As you know, beautyschools.com loves organic, natural beauty products. And, what could be more natural than wearing no makeup at all?

After Election Day and Michelle Obama’s appearance in a memorable red and black number, I was reminded of another fashion statement she made a while ago. She told Chicago Sun-Times columnist Mary Mitchell why she chose to occasionally forego a daily makeup regiment.

“I want people to get used to my face more naturally so that I don’t have to do that every day. Who’s got time to put eyelashes on and all that?”

I guess that’s probably easy to say when you have a complexion as naturally radiant as the new First Lady’s. What about the rest of us who aren’t able to roll out of bed with glowing skin?

There are a few great products out there that give you coverage, but allow the natural character of your skin to show through. That way, you can show the world your natural beauty and still put your best face forward.

Mineral makeups that you brush on are great for achieving this look. Right now, I’m into Bare Escentuals. I just brush it on in the morning and it lasts all day. It takes about 2 minutes and it allows my freckles to show through (but still covers any nasty blemishes). And, it’s made of 100% pure minerals so my skin doesn’t absorb any toxins.