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.

Anything from fresh lemon juice to olive oil can help you achieve smoother, fresher more vibrant skin and hair – all in the convenience of your own home. Here’s a tip from a Victoria’s Secret model on how to restore hair after it is scorched and ironed; mix one tablespoon of fresh squeezed lemon and one teaspoon of olive oil, and slather your hair with it, focusing on putting more product on split ends. Leave on over night and wake up to restored, glossy, and super shiny hair. Be sure to sleep on an old pillow case when doing this, the oil residue will wreck your linens.

Women who have kids probably always have some spare Cheerios lying around the house – so why not use them for a facial treatment? Just grab a handful of the cereal, a teaspoon of honey, and few drops of fresh lemon. Blend the Cheerios until they are a fine powder, and once refined, mix in the honey and add the drops of lemon, and voila you have the perfect ingredients for a facial scrub. Apply the mixture to your face, and leave on for 10 minutes. Rinse with warm water, and feel smoother, more vibrant skin.

So, before leaving the house to buy expensive salon products, look in your pantry, fridge, and medicine cabinet first – you may already have the right mixture for an at-home facial, hair treatment, or moisturizer.

Want more tips that have been created and culled from Pearlman and Douglas? Beauty Chat will be giving away The Beauty Cookbook to one lucky winner. To enter to win this ultimate at-home guide, just leave a comment below with one of your “secret” beauty tips for your skin, hair, nails, or face. One of my useful tricks is to apply baby powder to my roots when I don’t have time to wash my hair. The powder absorbs the oils, and immediately makes my hair appear fresher. Share some of yours with me! A winner will be announced on March 26th.

And there’s still time to enter to win a basket of beauty goodies too! Be sure to check out our survey and giveaway!

Photo Credit: Amazon and Cheerios

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!

How to Fight Frizz! Naturally frizzy hair is best controlled while it is wet.  Frizz can be greatly reduced by applying frizz control gels and mousses right after you have rinsed out any hair conditioner, essentially while your hair is still wet.  You do NOT want to towel dry your hair, as the friction of the towel against your locks just adds to frizz.

For the summer months, you want any frizz control product to be as lightweight as possible. The ingredient you want to look for in a good gel is Polyquaternum, a polymer that makes the strands of hair bond together and give a nice hold.  The result is hair that looks sleeker, and more defined, as opposed to frizzy strands flying all over the place!

Can Your Hair Handle the Heat? Everyone’s first reaction when dealing with frizzy summer hair is to whip out the straightening iron.  This leads to heat damage and just makes hair dryer and frizzier.  If you must use heating tools, be sure to take the necessary precautions to protect your locks.  Look for thermal protectant products containing amodimethicone and dimethicone.  These ingredients provide a protective film on the hair cuticle that prevents water loss and keeps the cuticle from cracking and breaking.  Apply these products to hair before heat styling.

Limp Locks To keep curls bouncy and plump, use products that contain keratin, a natural thickening protein found in hair.  This product can be found in thickening shampoos and volumizing sprays. These products also thicken and lift hair with natural alcohols such as Beetroot Alcohol.

Heat-Free Styling Tips!

Try these tips for air drying:

Use lighter styling aids such as mousse and light gels for faster air drying time.  Gently squeeze excess water out of the hair after applying styling aids to reduce air drying time.  Remember, avoid towel drying!!

Some really cute hair styles can be achieved without having to put a hair dryer, straighter, or curlers to your hair.   The three I mention below give really beautiful beach beauty waves that work with summer humidity and heat instead of fighting it:

-    While hair is still wet, apply your light gel or mousse, and simply wrap hair into a bun on top of your head.  After hair has dried at least 60%, remove bun and you’ll have soft and beautiful waves.

-    Another way to achieve that beach-y look, twirl damp hair around your finger, applying styling gel as you go along.

For the easiest way to get those waves, simply put your wet hair in braids, let dry, unbraid and voila!

Thanks, Keneesha, for all of your tips! To learn more about Urbanbella, you can visit their website.

Photo Credit: Queen of Babble and Bella Public Relations, Inc.

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.

The very next day I received information on AG Hair Cosmetics’ Colour Savour Shampoo and Conditioner. I’ve just about gone through my bottles and my hair is doing great! While there is some hint of my golden tresses peeking through, it’s not nearly as bad as it was the first time around.

Made of an herbal extract blend, a sunflower seed extract, and meadowfoam, the Colour Savour products will enhance your color and eliminate color destroying free radicals. Your shade is sure to last longer when using AG Hair Cosmetics products.

Check out their website for to purchase the Colour Savour Shampoo and Conditioner or get more information on all the other great products they offer.

Photo Credit: AG Hair Cosmetics

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

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.

As for makeup, keep it simple. Focus on one area and leave the rest looking natural. My main focus are my eyes, so I make sure to have them pop out, while toning down my lips and cheeks. The key to making your eyes stand out is eyeliner. Liquid liner is fabulous, yet tricky. Practice a few times before your night out. Then, finish off with a couple coats of mascara to really open up your peepers.

Depending on how much free time you have, skip the nail salon and just use a clear coat. Make sure to shape your nails first. If you have a little more time, try out a scarlet red polish. Use a base coat first, apply two coats of color, and finish with a top/shine coat. You can repeat these steps for a quick pedicure too!

Last, but not least, your outfit! This one’s a bit tough, since it all depends on what you’re doing and where you’re going. Again, focus on one are here; if you’re showing off your killer legs, cover up a little more on top. You want to make sure you’re dressed appropriately for the venue, so ask your date or friends if there’s a dress code. And since it’s Valentine’s Day, feel free to throw in a little something red.

Hope you all have a fabulous Valentine’s Day!

Photo Credit: M.I.S.S.

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?  

Granted, it’s easy to become lax on the beauty regimen when deadlines are murkily approaching, and getting projects done become minute-by-minute momentous. Not to mention, having a not-so-glamorous economy as the nation’s backdrop can render your wallets even more conscientious.

Because I am a beauty advent, finding a balance between inner and outer beauty was in order!

So here are tricks and tips that me and my bank account live by, which just might do wonders for you too:

√ Let’s face it – your face is the first part of you that people see. Eyebrows are especially poignant. Rather trying to yank out that ingrown hair via tweezers, eyebrow threading is the way to go. I pay 12 big ones for brows and upper lip at my local hole-in-the-wall salon every two weeks.

√  Good skin provides the foundation of a solid beauty routine. The key to keeping my facial canvas fresh is a good exfoliator. St. Ives Apricot Scrub is more than decent and beyond reasonably priced. Once a week is good – twice at max – to give your skin a deep cleaning. For a light, dewy look on the go, I use Benefit “That Gal” Brightening Facial Primer, which I apply prior to my foundation or wear alone.  

√  ChapStick – Need I say more? And it’ll cost you all of $2.

√  I know many of you gals are addicted to the regular “mani and pedi.” However, when times are tough, a $25 to $40 sitting session can add up. If you can stand to lose the acrylics, stick to the one and only pedicure. Typically, a pedicure should run you about $20, not including tip or the “flower.” As for your hands, acrylics damage your cuticles and over time cause a brittle feel to your nails. So have a personal kit with clippers and cuticle oil (Sally Hansen’s Vitamin-E nail and cuticle oil), and take a couple minutes to groom them every so often.

Remember, staying active can provide a productive lifestyle; however, you don’t necessarily have to wear your chaos. You can maintain that busy, yet beauty-conscience broad in you without it costing you too much energy or money.  Don’t worry, though, a slip is totally warranted (ahem, unshaved legs). 

What are some of your thrifty, time-saving tips?

Photo Credit: TV.PopCrunch.com and Sephora

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

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

*Use antiperspirant on face under foundation to make it last longer on your face, thus saving you re-applying throughout the day.

*Scrape remaining lipsticks out of tube, place inside pill box or small clean paint pallet and then put in microwave for about 10 seconds at a time (can take more than one try to melt properly) until they are all nice and formed to new container. Place in fridge for approx. 4 minutes.

*Nail polish is getting low… add one or two small drops of polish remover to the bottle, shake and there you go! A few more coats!

*Dried out mascara can be heated up to work again. Use hair dryer or soak container in hot water.

*Can’t afford leave-in conditioner for dry hair? Apply a small amount of vegetable oil to your hair, comb it through, let it sit for about 15 minutes and then wash and condition as usual.

*Store lip liner and eyeliner in the refrigerator to keep them from drying out.

*Sharpen the edges of old tweezers with sandpaper.

*Take old perfume bottles and add water to them, shake up, and now you have a light body spray.

*Puffy eyes or skin use Preparation H. 

*If you can’t afford oil-absorbing sheets, use toilet seat covers instead.

*Drop of honey on a blemish, cover with a band-aid and leave overnight.

*Conditioner can be used for shaving legs when you’re out of shaving cream.

*After shaving down below apply solid deodorant (not gel) to the area, helps combat ingrown hairs.

*Use a little bit of Vaseline and then apply eye shadow, it’ll look more vibrant and will look more liquidy instead of powdery.

*To help whiten your teeth, mix a little baking soda and hydrogen peroxide to form a paste. Use once a week! Also, drink lots of water.

*If you are in a hurry and don’t have time to wash your hair, put a little baby power in greasy areas, it absorbs the grease and your hair looks fresh. =)

*If you are applying makeup during the summertime, but it keeps melting off, stick your face in the freezer a few times to freshen up. It saves time, and you don’t have to get your foundation or compact pads from getting greasy and using them up!

Have some tips to share? Leave a comment below and enter to win a spot as a Guest Blogger for Beauty Chat! A winner will be announced on January 5, 2009. Good luck!

Photo Credit: Capessa.com

This is something I’ve only recently learned and it only took me about 10 years to figure it out!

My “problem” has always been my pin straight hair. At one point I hated my straight hair so much that I even got a perm. However, because my hair was so long, it was hard to manage and didn’t look the way I thought it would.

No matter how much hairspray I use or how long I let the curling iron sizzle on my hair, the ringlets fall out in less than two hours. Which is about how long it took me to curl them…a very frustrating experience.

Not wanting to spend so much time on my hair one morning, I decided to use the flat iron instead and just go with a sleek look. Imagine how surprised I was when all day I kept getting compliments! Everyone asked what was different, was it my makeup? Nope, I just decided to finally give in to my super straight strands.

Now that I know what works I feel a little more confident with my entire look. So now I wonder why everyone is always trying to change? Natural curls are gorgeous, yet every woman I know spends a lot of time and money on straightening them out. 

Instead of changing it, embrace it…own it. Your natural beauty is much more attractive.

How about everyone else? Have you ever tried something new that just didn’t work out?

 Photo Credit: news.com.au and Jaen-Paul LaBrada

You see, the Detailer is designed for pixie cuts like Victoria Beckham, not my long locks, which are similar to those Mandy Moore is currently sportin’. So, I enlisted the help of my friend Jana (who has a bob going on) to test out this precious iron to see if it’s just as useful as it is attractive.

Here’s what she had to say:

Me: What was your initial thought when seeing the item?
Jana: It’s cute.

Me: Is the iron easy to use?
Jana: Yeah, although the glove takes some getting used to.

Me: Compared to other irons, how does this one stand?
Jana: It’s definitely different. It is easier to get those pesky flyaways because it is smaller and can get closer to the scalp. But because of its size, you can only flat iron a small amount at a time.

Me: What do you like most about the iron?
Jana: The fact that it does get extremely hot, quick. And I can get the hair close to my scalp.

Me: Is there anything that you dislike about the iron?
Jana: It kind of tugs at your hair. But that could just be because I was using more hair than I should have.

Me: Retailing at $39.99, do you feel that the iron is priced right?
Jana: Yeah, I actually do. Flat irons can be quiet expensive, but I think that is decent.

You may be wondering what Jana was talking about when she mentioned a glove. Because this iron reaches 400 degrees, there is a mitt that is to be worn during use.

For more information on the Detailer, or to check out the other hair tools that TS-2 offers, head over to their Web site.

Photo credits: J9 Public Relations and Wireimage