Banish the bumps and stay smooth for summer.

Shelsea is definitely bikini-ready.

If you have a problem with ingrown hairs due to shaving or waxing, it can be more than frustrating:  You aren’t into the European, let-it-all-hang-out look when you don’t get rid of the hair, but you also hate looking like you have chicken pox legs when you’re out at the lake.  It’s a dilemma.  Thankfully a new crop of products have been introduced that claim to combat those bumpy blisters.  The problem?  They are just too expensive.

But we have a solution.  Literally.  Instead of tossing hundreds of dollars out for Tend Skin, Bikini Zone, and Bump-B-Gone, just summon your inner apothecary and mix up a batch of this homemade remedy.

Vanity Rocks Sak’s! Come take part in our Mother’s Day Event this Saturday.

This Saturday from 10-7, Vanity Rocks will be at the Salon at Sak’s Fifth Avenue to take part in their Mother’s Day Makeover Event.  There’s going to be a lot of fun beauty stuff going on with prizes galore.  Plus, you’re at Sak’s and just steps away from glorious handbags and dresses to die for. (9722 Great Hills Trail in Austin)

Also, we are running some specials in honor of our favorite women.  This Mother’s Day, give your mom (or yourself) unlimited days of beauty courtesy of Vanity Rocks. With permanent makeup and eyelash extensions, you can look your best and feel more confident every day with less work.

How to wear deodorant where you need it without getting it where you don’t.

FRUGAL FRIDAY BEAUTY TIP:

Dry Cleaner’s Hangers

It was officially extremely warm today.  And I officially broke my first sweat of the year.  This means it’s time to step up my deodorant game.  Unless you’re as good as Catherine Zeta-Jones in a room full of lasers, it might be hard for you to get into your clothes without a little white line appearing on the side.  Recently, there have been products on the market to deal with this problem, but I’m not spending any money on that when I have a tried and true trick I learned from Todd Oldham back in the early 1990s.

Vanity Boot Camp: Blast your body into bikini shape with Shelsea.

It’s almost summer, and that means the return of brain-boiling Austin heat. It also means that it’s time to dust off those shorts, tank tops and bikinis. If, like me, you are looking down at squishy, pale thighs and a stomach off of which nothing would bounce, it might be time to consider an intensive physical makeover at Vanity Boot Camp.

POWDER POWER! The unsung hero of hair products.

Dry Shampoo & Hair Powder

I have never liked to wash my hair.  As a child, I would gladly eat a heap of veggies to get out of my hygenic responsibilities.  While I don’t avoid cleanliess so much anymore, I still hate washing my hair; it looks frizzy, half-wavy and totally crummy.  I have invested hundreds of dollars in the products my stylist uses, but to no avail.

Then I found out about dry shampoo, which is basically a powder that absorbs excess oil from your scalp, gives your hair some body and extends the time between washings.  It’s simple and cheap to reasonably priced.

Eye Do: Lengthen your lashes for Wedding Season

The end of April showers signal the beginning of another kind of deluge:  Bridal Showers.  Lots of them.  And weddings galore.  Whether you’re the bride, a bridesmaid or if you just love cake, you want to look your best.

Something you may not know is that Vanity Rocks offers customized packages for the altar-bound.  That means that you can leave your bridesmaids with more than just another dress; you can give them a gift they’ll never stop thanking you for:  Eyelash extensions.

Frugal Friday: Sweet Tomato! Sunscreen and smooth skin in one.

The Sweet Tomato Face Saving Scrub

Benefits: UV protection similar to a sunscreen, protects from environmental damage, slows down aging effect on skin.

[Thanks to Connie Ding for this week's beauty tip!]

If you read Frugal Friday last week, you might think I’m part of a conspiracy to get you to rub food all over your face in the name of vanity. But, there are just so many inexpensive and readily available beauty enhancers around the house and especially in the kitchen.
This week, we examine the tomato. You may have heard of Lycopene, which is a substance high in antioxidants that is found in tomatoes. Lycopene has been shown to reduce risks for cancer, diabetes and heart disease. And, you may have already changed your diet as a result, but next time you’re dicing some tomatoes for a salad, save the top for a special facial treat.

(Click MORE for recipe)

Frugal Friday Tip: Turn your face into a baked potato.

There is no part of your face that gives away more about you than your eyes.  From expressing emotion to the puffy remains of the all-nighter you pulled, it’s all in your eyes.  There’s two tricks you probably already know about to disguise tired eyes–cucumber slices and MASSIVE sunglasses–but there are a few more that not only address puffiness, but also dark circles.  I call this approach:  Baked Potato Beauty.

Lash out against wrinkles (and pretty much everything else you don’t want) with Botox

From: The New York Times, Source: Food and Drug Administration/Allergan

If you haven’t tried Botox yet, there’s a good chance that you’re worried about how safe it is to inject botulism in your face.  It’s an understandable concern, and I’m not just saying that because I felt that way until recently.  Well, even the skeptics can’t deny that research has proved again and again that it is safe and very effective when injected by a professional.

Frugal Friday: The Splendorous Spoils of Olive Oil

What:  Olive Oil

Price:  $5.50 and up

Where to find it:  Any grocery store

Olive oil has been used as a beauty tool for almost as long as it’s been used in cooking. But, unlike the olive oil you use when preparing an Italian feast, you don’t have to spend more money to get the best results.