However, my skin, in its natural state, is just one shade darker than White-Out. This is only attractive if you are A) Edward Cullen, B) Katy Perry, or C) Powder. So I turn to sunless tanning to make it so my legs don’t blind the elderly and scare small children. The days are over that one must spend a fortune on lotions and potions that stain your hands and ruin your clothes. And you no longer need to fear the spray-tan booths that make you appear like an Oompa-Loompa, a la David Schwimmer on Friends. Read on for the best of the best in faux tanning in ICT:

• Bahama Mamas (several Wichita and suburban locations) offers one of the most competitively priced spray-tans and easy-to-use spray tan booths around. They offer three levels of tan, and the prices increase for each level.
• At The Beach also offers the Mistiq-Tan technology that Bahama Mamas employs.
• X-Treme Tanning is the place to go for you die-hard West-Siders – their location at Central and Maize is now up and fully operational, ready to spray paint your body into summer shape. This option is ideal for those that like their tan with a little privacy; it’s just you, a little towel, and a hairnet in the booth. I’ve always gotten a Level 2, and I’ve always been completely satisfied. The steps are clearly laid out, and after a quick towel-dry, you’re good to go!
• Caribbean Sun offered one of the first airbrush tanning services in Wichita, and has continued to excel in this area. They have 15 technicians at four locations, which almost guarantees someone will be available to spray your bod, and you can wear as little or as much as you’d like. This is a personal preference and the technicians have seen it all, so forget those tan lines!
• My personal favorite for personal attention is SunScape Tanning. While this salon only employs one technician, she is truly an artist, and can even spray you a few abs if you happen to be lacking in that general area! Again, clothing (or swimsuit) is optional, and the results are nearly instant. After cooling your jets in front of some fans for a few minutes, your newly tanned self can brave your shorts in style.

Many spas and salons also offer this service – who did I miss? Let me know in the comments!

(Image Credit)

Related posts:

1. [primp] Semplifi Hair Care Challenge – Part 2
2. [primp] When to Splurge (and Save) on Makeup
3. [primp] Happy Feet: Great Pedicure Spots

A family emergency meant that we weren’t able to meet with Al for our final assessment. Also, we added a little twist to the experiment. While it’s great that De-al Salon has been so helpful to me and my daughters, we realized that the average consumer buying Semplifi off the shelf or online wouldn’t be getting the gold star treatment we were getting. So after using the products for about three weeks, we packed up what was remaining in our bottles and passed them on to five more people. The idea was for these people to use the products for about a week, and then provide feedback. They would have to use the Semplifi website to figure out how to combine the products for their hair type, and they would have to overcome any issues they had during the week by using the website for information or by experimenting with the products.

The website has both good and bad parts. It has instructional videos, which have been helpful and informative, but they are hard to find (the “video” link is part of the header bar, and not easily found at first glance), and they can take a little long to load considering how short they are. I thought the website was professional-looking, but one of my friends said that just reading it made her think Semplifi was a multi-level marketing product (it isn’t).

Overall, the feedback was positive. My oldest daughter and I were very happy with the product line overall and plan to continue using it in the immediate future. We like how clean our hair gets, how soft and shiny it is, and how healthy it seems to be. If we could only have one item from the system, we’d buy the Styling Spray. It is a great-smelling, lightweight spray that can be used on wet or dry hair, and helps detangle, smoothes the hair and adds shine. The name is something of a misnomer, as it does not add any “hold” to your hair. Including a travel size of this product along with the full-size bottle would be a great perk. There were a few times when I had to wash my hair using my old travel-sized products in my gym bag, and I could immediately tell the difference. My hair wasn’t as soft as with the Semplifi, it wasn’t as full, and it looked dull and kind of stringy.

After a week, my 17-year-old daughter, who has normal hair with no real issues, felt like the conditioner and volumizer she had been advised to use weren’t keeping her hair under control. She had to use more and more of the Styling  Spray to keep it smooth and sleek, and she’s not a big fan of using a lot of product, so that wasn’t for her at all. She tried a few different combinations of products in an effort to find the perfect recipe, but never did. While she was initially impressed with Semplifi, she decided that it just wasn’t for her. She did say that the products smell terrific and that she thought they weren’t too expensive compared to other salon product lines she likes.

My 13-year-old daughter has naturally wavy hair that was very dry on the ends, with a rough, coarse feeling. Of course, being a teenager, her hair also seemed to get very oily, very quickly, every day. This system worked great for her! The shampoo and lightweight conditioner kept her hair squeaky clean, and adding some of the moisturizer to her towel dried hair made it soft, shiny, and turned her naturally wavy hair from “wild child” back into soft waves. The Styling Spray helped on days that her hair was very frizzy due to the weather; otherwise, she didn’t really need it.

Our male guinea pig said the products were nice because they didn’t smell too “girly,” and that he was a big fan of the Volumize product because it helped his thinning hair look fuller. He felt the products were too expensive for him to bother with, however.

My mother has very long hair and felt the amount of conditioner required to saturate her hair made the products cost-prohibitive. She said if she were to cut her hair, and if she had a job that required her to “dress up” daily, she would be interested in trying the line again. Overall, she thought it was a good product.

My sister really liked both the Moisturizer, applied to towel-dried hair, and the Styling Spray to keep her thick, naturally wavy hair soft and manageable. Like my mom, she said she felt like she had to use more of the product than the website recommended to get good results, but other than that, she was very impressed. She didn’t care for the smell of the shampoo or conditioner and decided to return to her usual product. Still, she felt like the Moisturizer and Styling Spray worked with her usual hair care, and she would definitely consider buying both products in the future.

Finally, two other verb [ICT] writers used the line for a week. One reported back that she was happy with, but not blown away by, the products. She said while she noticed slightly improved volume and softness, her major hair care concern – frizz – just wasn’t solved by any of the products. However, she felt like Semplifi definitely seemed to know how about “problem hair” and if they ever developed a  serum to add to their line that would address her particular problem, she would be interested in trying it out.

Our second staff member said that trying to figure out the right combination of products was a bit of a challenge and suggested that the developers might consider making a printed chart or “cheat sheet” to include in the packaging. I think this is a terrific idea, especially to address some of the more basic hair types and typical hair care issues. She said that using the Semplifi line gave her the best “curly” hair day she’d had in quite some time, but that it didn’t work quite as well for her when she straightened her hair. She would consider buying certain products, but not the whole system.

I think the consensus is that like most things, Semplifi isn’t for everyone. Yet it seemed like everyone had something positive to say about at it. At $64 for the complete system, with free shipping and handling, it’s roughly the same price as any five given products from another salon brand. Here in Wichita, you can pick up the products at De-al Salon or order online.

Related posts:

1. [primp] Semplifi Hair Care Challenge
2. [primp] Local Beauty Options
3. [primp] Cut & Color: Best Salons

There, I said it. I’ve been hooked on high-end hair products since I was 17. Before that, my idea of splurging on “good” shampoo was to buy Pantene or Aussie at the supermarket instead of Suave. I’m not kidding; I went from Suave to Aveda on one sunny afternoon in a salon on Douglas, and I never went back.

Well, maybe that’s not entirely true. My income hasn’t always been able to match my appetite, so I’ve been willing to settle for generics that produced the same results and had the same smell and shine. I’ve also been known to bargain shop on eBay for products by the liter or in bundles to save money (free shipping gets me every time).

However, lately I’ve been unhappy with my hair. I’d just switched off from the big A to Bumble and Bumble, hoping to see some perk return, and it wasn’t happening. My hair was dull, limp, flat, refusing to hold a curl, stringy if flat-ironed… and I was desperate. My stylist suggested rinsing it with a de-mineralizing agent, and then using a deep conditioner. A pricey option, and in the end, my hair hadn’t improved much. I resolved to go on with life and hope that it would fix itself. My pocket book didn’t leave me any other options.

Then my beloved editors asked if someone wanted to try out a new hair care line called Semplifi, created right here in Wichita. Semplifi only has five products, and the developers claim it can fix anything. It has to do with the way the products work together, the way they work with your hair, and another little secret. Of course, I was skeptical; who wouldn’t be? I went to their website, and scoffed as I read the glowing testimonials. Still, I was intrigued. So, I came up with a plan. You see, under my roof there are four women with four very different kinds of hair, and very different hair problems. If Semplifi works as well as it claimed, it should work for all of us, right? Thus, the experiment was born.

I contacted the distributor and was thrilled when they offered to bring me and my daughters in for a consultation with the developer of Semplifi, Al Melchiorre. Al was very enthusiastic about the product line that he spent five years on. He told me that when he came up with the idea of Semplifi, he had to work with developers in Vancouver, Canada, because he couldn’t find anyone here who believed in what he was trying to do. I felt a little guilty, since I was so doubtful.

However, Al was very persuasive as he spoke about Semplifi. He explained that the secret of Semplifi is that certain products penetrate and fill the shaft of your hair, making it impossible for anything else to do so. The end result is that your styling products can’t penetrate and therefore don’t damage your hair. Al went on to assess each of us, running his fingers through our hair, lifting it, examining it… I really felt like he was doing detective work! Finally, he sat down with each of us and gave instructions on how to properly combine the products. Each of us had different problems, so we each had different ways to combine them to get the maximum benefit.

The plan is that all four of us will keep track of how we are using the products, and what our opinions are. We are making notes on how our hair reacts when we just wash and go, when we flat-iron, when we break out the curls for a night out, and any other time we do something different. Today I used mousse and put my hair in pigtails? Noted. In a few weeks, I’ll be back with an explanation about each of us, and what our hair was like before and after Semplifi. I’ll also talk more about the products and the Semplifi website at that time.

This skeptic has to confess that my immediate impression is positive. Actually, all four of us were impressed after Day One. After just one washing, and applying the products as instructed, we all felt like our hair was cleaner, silkier, and better-looking. My hair was lighter and full of volume, something I can’t remember it being in the recent past. I actually didn’t know how to style it, because it wasn’t the same hair I’m used to. If the next few weeks keep going like this, my next article might just sound like those testimonials I scoffed at on the website only a short time ago!

Have you used Semplifi? What did you think? What hair care products do you swear by?

Related posts:

1. [primp] Semplifi Hair Care Challenge – Part 2
2. [help] Low-Cost Health Care in Wichita
3. [primp] Local Beauty Options

Guest post by Kelsey Metzinger

Hello everyone, my name is Kelsey and I am an addict…

…and by addict, I mean beauty product addict. Nothing else makes me feel as good as buying a new lipstick. I make pilgrimages to far away cities to shop the cosmetic counters of Nordstrom and Saks. I spend copious amounts of time online in search of whatever is deemed the “it” product by the beauty editors. And like millions of other women (and a few men) I pray to the church of Sephora. Beauty products are my heroin.

I am also one of these folks that likes to shout from the rooftop to “shop local!” When I overheard two gals in town talking about not being able to buy bareMinerals (you’ve all seen the infomercial right?), I interjected and told them where to get it. In fact, I’ve had lots of conversations with people who didn’t know Wichita has some really great places to get the products they see in magazines and on television. Here’s my list of the best places to get your fix:

Beau Monde Spa and Boutique is a spa but also carries some of the most renowned cosmetic lines, including bareMinerals (otherwise known as the makeup that changed my life), Smashbox, and Stila. Currently there are two locations, on the east side Comotara Center (2939 N. Rock Road) and on the west side New Market Square (2441 N. Maize Road). A third spot, Beau Monde Beauty Bar will be opening soon at Douglas & Oliver next to Aspen Boutique with a focus on cosmetics. The store will also feature a section dedicated to bridal make up.

Eric Fisher is known for hair, but the east side salon is also home to the Eric Fisher Cosmetic Café (302. N. Rock Road). They carry many of the must-have lines found in all the fashion magazines, including T. LeClerc, the super funky line, The Balm, and DuWop – famous for its Lip Venom gloss.

BeautyFirst is primarily known as a hair salon, but also carries a selection of cosmetics including Too Faced and the award-winning jane iredale Mineral Makeup. Also of honorable mention, BeautyFirst carries the super cool line TokyoMilk, a selection of bath products, lip balms and fragrances in to-die-for packaging. The business also has two locations, east at 2035 N. Rock Road and west in New Market Square.

Bear with me, I know how you feel about the mall, but Von Maur at Towne East carries a range of Philosophy products. I have been a Philosophy user for years and was recently reminded by an equally product-obsessed friend that I could just go there and buy my stuff instead of ordering it online. If you go, you must try the Pure Grace fragrance, which smells like diving head first into a pile of fresh clean laundry. They also have a dizzying array of shower gels in scents like Cinnamon Buns & Hot Cocoa.

And lastly – also in the mall, but sooo worth the trip – is the newly installed Kiehl’s counter in Dillard’s Towne East. If you are not familiar with Kiehl’s, you should be. No really. Go now. The cosmetic selection is very small and no frills; only containing mascara and lipgloss, the fragrances are clean and long lasting, and the “Lip Balm #1” – of which I am never not within arm’s reach – has a cult following all its own.

So there you have it – plenty of places to visit when you are jonesing to get your “pretty” on… locally!

Related posts:

1. [primp] Semplifi Hair Care Challenge – Part 2
2. [primp] Happy Feet: Great Pedicure Spots
3. [primp] Semplifi Hair Care Challenge

1. Morning Fun – Start with a morning yoga class at Yoga Central (402 N. Hillcrest). Whether you’re good at yoga or not, it’s bound to be entertaining, and the Saturday morning class is only $7. After you do something nice for your body, you can indulge guilt-free in donuts and coffee at The Donut Whole (1720 E. Douglas). Each girl can order a different flavor and you can break them up into little donut appetizers and sample each one. One donut each plus a cup of coffee (with one free refill) is about $4. Afterwards, head to Abode Home (1330 E. Douglas). You can spend at least an hour here picking out furniture for your dream home and testing out the couches and chairs, and it’s free! End your morning girl date with a trip to the Spice Merchant (1308 E. Douglas) where you can get a half-pound bag of beans for about $7.

2. Dinner, Drinks and (watching people) Dancing – Start off with dinner at Dolci and Joe’s (3425 E. Douglas). The portions are gigantic, so you and a friend can easily split a sandwich or burger and fries for only about $5 each. Afterwards, head down the street to Margarita’s Cantina (3109 E. Douglas). While the drinks aren’t especially cheap, the people watching on the dance floor can’t be beat once the night gets going. Even for a cover charge, the show you’ll get is a bargain, guaranteed to keep you and your friends entertained.

3. Day of Pampering – Body and Soul (353 N. Hillside) offers professional massages, but you can also sign up to be notified about when they have student massage sessions. You can get a 55-minute Swedish massage for $20! After your bargain massages, head to Xenon (3804 W. Douglas) for an inexpensive pedicure, ranging from $19-24. End this day with a tasty natural smoothie from Green Acres (8141 E. 21st St).

4. Baseball and Beer – In the spring, load up your coolers with beer and snacks and head to a Sunday afternoon Shocker baseball game. Really, whether you like baseball doesn’t matter. If you sit behind the outfield, where tickets are only $7, you’ll have plenty of interesting people to watch. After the game, head to Chalet (3030 Penstemon) for $1 beers, an inexpensive meal (most of them are under $10) and a great jukebox.

5. Dinner and Shopping (at Home) – The first part of this is pretty simple. All the girls can pitch in to buy groceries to cook dinner at someone’s house, or you could do a potluck. Everyone brings a bottle of wine to share (or beverage of choice). For the shopping part, have your friends bring bags of clothes that they don’t want. Lay out everything on the floor and then let everyone loose! Your friends can shop from piles of clothes and accessories and head home with a whole new wardrobe for free. I’ve done this with friends on a few occasions, and it is always a good time.

Ladies, what do you do when you want a day of fun with your friends? Share in the comments.

Related posts:

1. daily [snap] – ICT Roller Girls
2. [eat] Lunch with Liz: The Donut Whole
3. [think] Should Standing Be Allowed at Intrust Bank Arena Concerts?

And now… our recommendations:

For the product junkie:

Give your favorite product junkie something she can’t get anywhere else – Herb Luxe Apothecary bath products ($6.50 – $14.50) made right here in the ICT by Bungalow 26 owner, Kelsey Metzinger. She sources most of the ingredients locally and uses only natural ingredients and essential oils. The products come in heavenly scents like eucalyptus mint, lavender rosemary and spicy citrus. Feeling lucky? Enter our contest to win your very own set of Herb Luxe Apothecary soaking salts, bath seltzer and salt scrub – all in eucalyptus mint.

Also on the product junkie’s wish list? Smith’s Rosebud Salve ($8, Bungalow 26), a favorite of beauty editors everywhere and a product that’s hard to come by in the middle of Kansas. Package it all together in a Betsey Johnson animal print make-up bag ($30 – $48, Pink Saloon).

For the fashionista:

For the girl who has everything, a La Mer wrap watch ($120, Pink Saloon) will brighten her holiday season (and possibly get her to show up on time for a change). Also flying off the shelves at College Hill’s Pink Saloon boutique? TOMS shoes ($48 for canvas, $58 for a glittery pair). Buy a pair and TOMS gives a pair to a child in need. And even though some of us wish leggings would have stayed in the eighties, the trend continues with “jeggings” – jeans/leggings – get it? Snag a pair for $78.

For the beer aficionado:

Believe it or not, the beer drinker in your life can actually make his or her own signature brew for a fraction of the cost of a trip to the liquor store. Delano’s What’s Brewin’ sells home brewing kits, which include all of the ingredients needed for 2.5 cases of beer, for only $69.95. The shop also offers malt extracts for a wide variety of beers as well as grains, hops and brewers yeast. Tie a bow around a brewing kit plus a copy of Joy of Home Brewing ($14.99) and know you’ll get to reap the benefits 3-7 weeks later when the beer is ready to drink.

For the craft-savvy:

Knitting isn’t just for your grandmother. In fact, it’s seen a resurgence in recent years as celebrities were spotted carrying around knitting bags on movie sets. The craft is relaxing, fun, and even social (check out Wichita’s own Knit in Public meetup group). For the knitting novice, pick up a set of knitting needles ($7), two skeins of yarn ($5.75 each) and Knit Aid ($7.95), a beggining knitters guide at Twist, a bustling yarn shop in the Delano district. There is a vast selection of yarn to choose from to fit a variety of budgets. Knitting kits for projects like scarves include everything your favorite knitter will need for $36.

For the wine lover:

With the katrillions of holiday parties during the month of December, wine makes an excellent hostess gift. Tom Messman of Beyond Napa, Old Town’s new wine boutique (translation: gorgeous liquor store featuring mostly wine, though a limited beer and liquor selection is available), gave us his top recommendations for the budget-conscious. His first pick, a 2008 Festivo Malbec from Argentina ($18.99) was described as “smooth as a baby’s butt… too bad you can’t print that.” Oh, but Tom, we can. Another great option, a 2006 Graffigna Cabernet Sauvignon ($14.99) is “readily drinkable.” His final pick, a 2007 Sean Minor Four Bears Chardonnay ($14.99), is “clean, crisp and mineral.”

If you have a “cork dork” in your life and budget isn’t a concern, Tom recommends the 2007 Beringer Sbragia Limited Release Napa Chardonnay ($39.99), 2005 B Cellars Blend 24 ($36.99), and, if you’re going for broke… literally, a 2004 Silver Oak Napa Valley Cabernet ($102.29).

An offbeat gift for the wine lover in your life may not be wine at all. Instead, pick up a “winestein” ($20.99, LuCinda’s) – a wine glass that’s molded into a beer stein.

For the hipster chic friend:

Sock monkeys are, for better or worse, in. What better way to jump on the trend than to don a sock monkey hat… right? Pick up this adorably quirky knit cap at LuCinda’s in Old Town for $29. Other cute options include bird wallets ($22 – 28) that look like they may have been designed with your favorite new Twitter friend in mind or roomy canvas silhouette totes ($20, Bungalow 26)

For the coffee or tea addict:

One step into the Spice Merchant and you may never want to leave. With coffee roasted right in the store and an extensive selection of teas and accessories, your favorite coffee or tea addict will be easily satiated. Pick from the wide-variety of fresh roasted coffees (from $11.50 and up per pound) and pair it with a French press ($18 – $30). Or choose a gift pack of teas ($8.99), a tea pot ($28.99) and locally produced honey ($7.99).

For your favorite co-worker:

If you’ve ever been stuck in a cubicle for 8+ hours a day, you know desktop toys make for easy entertainment. Pick up one of the many stocking stuffer-ish items (starting at only a few bucks) at LuCinda’s or a humorous desk pad. For the co-worker who brings her own water bottle to the office, pick up a stylish aluminum water bottle ($25) and banish that boring Nalgene bottle to a desk drawer.

For the mother-in-law:

It’s time to step away from the Yankee Candles and find an alternative for the woman who gave birth to your significant other. How about locally made jewelery by Karen Ritter ($8 – $40, Bungalow 26) or a gurgle pot ($42, LuCinda’s)? If you must go the candle route, mix it up with eco-friendly soy candles ($25 each, Bungalow 26).

Shop Directory:

Beyond Napa – 338 N. Mead St., 316-260-9920

Bungalow 26 – 611 W. Douglas Ave., 316-440-4846

LuCinda’s – 329 N. Mead St., 316-264-1080

Pink Saloon – 4730 E. Douglas Ave., 316-612-7465

The Spice Merchant – 1308 E. Douglas Ave., 316-263-4121

Twist – 607 W. Douglas Ave., 316-262-9276

What’s Brewin’ – 720 W. Douglas Ave., Wichita, KS 67203

Related posts:

1. [shop] Holiday Gift Guide: Electronics
2. [shop] The Disappearing Local Business
3. [shop] Local for Valentine’s Day

After a few hits but mostly misses when I moved to Wichita, a friend suggested Urban Image salon in Old Town Square and Carrie Jones, my awesomely talented stylist. She’s never steered me wrong, whether I was going long, short, highlighted, lowlighted, curly or straight. As a bonus, spending an hour in her chair is like hanging out with my best girlfriend. I hesitate to even publish this post because I’m afraid everyone will start booking appointments with her and I’ll never be able to get in.

So while asking for a recommendation from someone on the street who is rocking a fabulous haircut is solid advice, I polled verb [ICT]’s twitter followers for their recommendations. Think of it as a salon focus group just for you, the reader. Maybe this will save you from your own overbleached, asymmetrical incident.

verb [ICT]’s Andrea Anglin agrees with my pick: “I’d be remiss if I didn’t give a shout out to Susan Bradley and her staff at Urban Image!!”

Says KWCH’s Rebecca Gannon: “@KWCH12 ladies go to Planet Hair. Look up Jaime – she’s my go-to-girl.”

Liz Barrier-Winslow: “I’m sure I’m not the first to say Eric Fisher Salon, but Trish at the east location is THE BOMB!!!! She’s been at it for 15 yrs.”

Chandra Stauffer: “Joy Encinias – Sola Salon Studios on the west side.”

Former Wichitan Shannon Albert: “Colleen at Charisma was my stylist and I miss her so much since having to move. She’s fantastic.”

Jessica Mahler: “Took me two years to find a stylist I liked when I moved to Wichita. Stephanie at House of Hair in Delano has my business.”

Shannon Boone: “Cheveux Salon on N. Woodlawn. The stylists are fantastic & they’ve got the best massage therapist in town!!” Janelle King seconded this recommendation.

Lori Lohrenz: “Newly opened Salon Q in Old Town, next to Mosley Street Melodrama. Ask for Cha Cha, the owner/operator.” Katie Lohrenz agreed.

Matt Pankratz chimed in: “My wife loves Man Ha at Shine. Hillside and Douglas I think.”

Brent Reichenberger: “Planet Hair stylist @alyshanett. Can’t go wrong.”

Jennifer Campbell: “Loretta Holmes has always been trusted with my hair.”

Jordan Walker: “Don’t know if its on the list, but I love de’-al salon on Woodlawn!”

JD Patton: “My wife (@ictmissy) says to check out Nicole at Sola Salon off of 21st & Tyler.”

Jan Seawell Reckers: “Mandi Mitchell at Capelli. If you want an awesome colorist, especially red tones, she rocks seriously! Plus she’s a cool chick!”

Melissa Schnieders: “I really like Eric Fisher Academy. Takes a little longer but worth the price.”

Related posts:

1. [primp] Semplifi Hair Care Challenge
2. [primp] Local Beauty Options
3. [primp] Semplifi Hair Care Challenge – Part 2

O, makeup. How do I love yet resent thee? For most women, cosmetics are a bane and a blessing. They can be employed to play up your best features and mask your perceived flaws. But each day is like painting the Sistine Chapel just to wash it off at the end of the day.

Not all cosmetics are created equally. I’ll admit, I practically go into heat when I’m at the MAC counter. All the pigments all the weights and sheens and lusters. Yes, vanity is a sin. But so is looking like hammered hell should you happen to run into, say, an ex-boyfriend or that bitchy girl you knew from high school. But on a ramen noodle budget, a MAC-only makeup bag is a pipe dream.

So, where should you save and where should you splurge?

SPLURGE:

Foundation – Like a house, you want to build on a firm foundation. Or, in this case, one that matches the rest of your skin. The high-end brands use better quality ingredients that better match your skin tone. There’s nothing worse than seeing a pretty girl with an obvious line of demarcation running along her jaw.

Concealer – Yeah, this is not the same as foundation. This goes under your eyes and on any blemishes. So it’s kind of important for it not to stand out. The object it to hide, not highlight. Do yourself a favor, splurge a bit.

Powder – A good powder can end up saving you money. With the right kind of powder, you don’t really need foundation. And the better the brand, the better the coverage it affords without looking caked on. Showing my brand loyalty here, but MAC Studio Fix or MAC Mineralize are W-O-N-D-E-R-F-U-L. Oh, and on the conspicuous consumption end of the spectrum, I know I notice when a woman pulls out a MAC compact versus a Cover Girl one.

Eyeshadow – Upgrade your everyday eyeshadow. I have a neutral palette of high-end shadows that I use daily. The problem with drugstore shadows is that a lot of them are mostly chalk, whereas high-end shadows have more concentrated pigments that are better for blending and layering. So upgrade your eyeshadow and look fabulous every day.

Blush – Again, the richer the pigment, the better it blends. And blending is a good thing with blush. You want a youthful sun-kissed glow, not look like a clown.

SAVE:

Mascara – Because you should only keep a tube of mascara for three months max, opt for a cheaper version. To get that expensive look, don’t worry about what formula you get. Instead, pay more attention to what kind of wand it has. Smaller brushes reach every lash so they don’t clump together as much.

Eyeliner – Again, this has a limited lifespan and there’s not much difference between drugstore and department store formulas. You may have to go through a few brands before you find one you like, but I wore a waterproof Revlon Color Stay eyeliner to Worlds of Fun in 100+ degree weather and it didn’t move a nanometer.

Lipstick – Concentrate on the texture, not the brand. You can get a drugstore brand that will work just fine. Just make sure it’s creamy and won’t crack. Because grandma mouth is grody.

Lipgloss - It’s all the same. Just don’t overdo it. You don’t want it to look like a slug crawled across your lips.

Nail polish – Your at-home manicure will look just as good with drugstore nail polish. Save your money on color and opt for some BLING-BLING. Or not.

image credit

Related posts:

1. [shop] When to Go Generic
2. [primp] Spray Tanning
3. [primp] Cut & Color: Best Salons

Dashing Diva’s Nails – I’m starting with this one because it is absolutely, hands down, my favorite nail place of all time. I first discovered the salon, located at 11330 E. Central Ave., when I lived at home. Since moving a little further west, the location is not as convenient for me, but every time I stray to another place, I regret it. The employees there are friendly (but not overly-chatty), and they remember me, no matter how long it’s been since I’ve been in. I find that the polish here lasts longer, even if it’s during the school year when I’m wearing pointy-toed shoes every day. Also, the foot rubs are heavenly. Price: $30 for a spa pedicure, but they have other, more extensive treatments at various prices.

Xenon International Academy – I don’t know if I’d ever be brave enough to get my hair cut at Xenon, but I can definitely recommend the pedicures. The academy, located at 3804 W. Douglas, is also a good alternative for those looking to save money. Although the polish job was a little sloppy, the overall experience was positive. Price: Ranges from $19-$24 for a spa pedicure.

Beau Monde Spa and Boutique– If you want to feel extra pampered, Beau Monde is the place to be. Even though I wasn’t getting a massage or facial, they let me put on a big fluffy robe to get my pedicure. I also like the spa because they have a room in the back where you can relax before and after your treatments. Although it pains me to say this as an East-sider, in general, I find the employees at the New Market Square location (2441 N. Maize Rd. #2510) to be friendlier than those at the east location (2939 N. Rock Rd. #100). My polish here didn’t last very long, which was disappointing since services here are quite a bit pricier than other locations. Price: Ranges from $37 for a 30 minute basic pedicure to over $100 for more extensive services.

Tips and Toes – I hear good things about the east location of this nail salon (2161 N Rock Rd # 110), but the one in New Market Square (2441 N Maize Rd # 111) is one of my least favorite places in Wichita. It’s always really hot, so I end up feeling uncomfortable and I’m not able to relax. Also, the people who work there are not very friendly and seem to hate their jobs, which always makes me feel slightly guilty for making them rub my feet. The end result of the pedicures I’ve gotten at the salon are not bad, but it’s not worth dealing with the awkward environment. Price: $30 for a spa pedicure.

Do you have a favorite mani/pedi spot? Let us know in the comments (you too men – we won’t judge).

image credit

Related posts:

1. [primp] Local Beauty Options
2. [primp] Cut & Color: Best Salons
3. [win] it: Spa Treatment at Fresh Spa Market