The most important holiday for our moms is just around the corner! But do you have a gift for yours?

Not to worry, we have two sets of Mother’s Day gifts for our Beauty Chat readers. The anti-aging set specially put together for moms who want to maintain their youthful glow. Our second set is for our “Glam” moms, which includes makeup and a lash enhancing serum.

So what do you have to do? Just leave us a comment below telling us which set you would like and why your mom should get it. Winners announced on Wednesday, May 5th!

Photo Credit: Bohemian Rose Bath & Soap

Patte!

Big hugs to all who entered our contest. We asked that you fill out our survey and let us know your thoughts regarding Beauty Chat in order to participate (Jennifer will provide you with the results shortly).

So, much appreciation to those who took the time to do so!

Here is what Patte won:

• IMAAGE® eyeshadow, blush, and lipstick

• Shampoo and conditioner samplers by Aveeno®

• BAND-AID® Friction Block Stick (for your heels!)

• Lash & Brow Enhancing Serum by Lash Allure MD

• A Retinol Correxion® Deep Wrinkle Daily Moisturizer (with an SPF 30) and Multi-Correxion Exfoliating Cleanser by ROC®

• “How Not to Look Old” book by Charla Krupp

• “Living Beauty” book by Bobbi Brown

A pretty rewarding gift, wouldn’t you say? More contests and giveaways to come. Thanks for being such fabulous fans.

Photo Credit: Chicago Sun-Times

How would you like to save hundreds of dollars in beauty products every year? Many expensive salon products are made out of the same fruits, vegetables, and oils that you use to prepare your favorite dishes. If you are looking to improve the appearance of your hair, nails, face, and skin, The Beauty Cookbook: 200 Recipes to Make Your Kitchen Your Spa – For Your Face, Your Body, and Your Hair by Kym Douglas and Cindy Pearlman may be your next “must read.”

This every day at-home spa guide features inexpensive recipes, beauty treatments, and tips for head-to-toe beauty. Douglas and Pearlman are the best selling authors of The Black Book of Hollywood Beauty Secrets; in this new book they offer beauty tips to adhere to in these eco-conscious, economically challenged times. More »

My hair is constantly being a pain in my butt! It has always been wavy/curly with a dash of frizz – which is not exactly the most manageable attribute. I tend to straighten my hair everyday; in fact, most of my friends don’t even know my hair is curly!

My bad habit of using heating tools (as well as consistently dying it) has caused my hair to look dried out and even frizzier! In pursuit of saving my locks, I have been taking extra care of my hair.

So, for all of the ladies (and gents) with curly tresses, here are some hair care tips  provided by Keneesha Hudson, owner of Urbanbella Hair Apothecary & Salon in Atlanta, GA, to help you achieve happy and healthy hair! More »

Not long ago, I decided that I wanted a little bit of a change for my hair. I proceeded to my hairdresser and told him to go crazy. Well, not entirely crazy…but I was open to new ideas. We decided on a lighter color all over with some golden highlights to brighten everything up.

About a month later, I went back and asked him to cover the caramel hues with the same color I had all over – the original lighter shade. Unfortunately, I had to return to him about a week after due to the highlights coming through.

A couple of hours later and I was a solid color again. This time, however, I didn’t want to risk having my new color fade, so I decided to look for a better shampoo and conditioner for color treated hair. More »

How often do you blow-dry, curl, or straighten your hair? If you’re like most women, one of these hair damaging routines is part of your daily regimen.

Although we get some pretty fabulous styles by dying, curling, and/or straightening our hair, it also causes a lot of stress to our tresses.

The most obvious sign of damage: split ends! Having dyed and damaged hair myself, I tend to examine my split ends while sitting at a stop light and wishing I could somehow make them go away. And, thanks to AG Hair Cosmetics, now I can!

I recently got the opportunity to try out their yet to be released Split End SPA Repair Serum. With only a few drops, you can kiss those split ends goodbye! After using this great new product for three weeks, my hair looks and feels smoother.

Be sure to look for it when it makes its big entrance in May 2009.

AG Split End SPA Repair Serum ($24)

Photo Credit: AG Hair Cosmetics

Valentine’s Day is only a few days away and that means we ladies only have a limited amount of time to get ourselves looking gorgeous (not that we aren’t already). So what’s a girl to do with only a small time frame? Panic! Just kidding…here a few quick tips.

If you were planning on getting your hair done by a pro but forgot to book your appointment, no need to worry. Save a few bucks and do it yourself, or ask a friend to help. For you curly tressed gals, let your spirals flow. Add a few bobby pins to keep them out of your face and you’re all set. Have gorgeous, wavy hair? Add a little mouse, air dry and you’re ready to go! If you have pin straight hair like I do, just run the flat iron through to tame those pesky fly-aways and throw on a cute headband.
More »

After taking a hiatus from the Beauty Chat buzz, I am back just in time for the New Year. Please don’t be mistaken by my leave of absence as being indicative of a fun-filled vaycay, adorned with tropical cocktails and extravagant timeshares. Rather, it was characterized by never-ending stress and long nights of studying for the most important test of my life to date – the LSAT. 

And one wee hour of the night, while buried in pages of prep material whose ink reeked of frustration and lengthy moments of “um,” I had a moment of clarity in the form of “Wow, I have really let myself go!” My Benefit compact stared back at me in sheer mockery as I noted the Groucho Marx brows, stress blemishes, and washed-out roots that blended into two-tone hair frenzy. What was a working, budget-dependent woman to do?   More »

If you’re a fan of AG Hair Cosmetics, then you’ve probably already heard of their new dv8 Texture Spray. Meant for shorter hairstyles, this styling product holds your locks in place all day, provides texture and shine. Since my hair is ultra straight and a medium length, I asked my boyfriend to try it out on his curly tresses.

After testing it out for a few weeks, here’s what he said:

“I liked that it has a good hold to it but didn’t like that it took too long to dry. And it made my hair seem extra curly. Oh, and the smell isn’t too bad either.”

Overall, a pretty good product…just be sure to give your hair time to dry. And since it can be used on damp or dry hair, you can spray it on just after you shower or once you’re ready to put on the finishing touches. Another great thing about this texture spray is that you can just rewet your hair in the afternoon to restyle. It even washes out easily at the end of the day without leaving any gunky build up.

The new AG Hair Cosmetics dv8 Texture Spray is now available in salons and retails for $20.00, be sure to get yours for some fun, new styling!

Photo Credit: AG Hair Cosmetics

Are you running low on your favorite beauty product but can’t afford to restock? With the holidays just around the corner, it’s even harder to replenish. So what’s a gal to do?

The ladies of Beauty Chat and PlasticSurgery.com have come up with some great budget beauty tips! Check them out below: More »