I used to go to the local drug store (CVS, Rite Aid, etc.) one a month and spend $100 or more on beauty products such as razor blades, depilatory cremes, hair conditioner, deodorant, lotion, facial cleansers, makeup removers, foot softening creme, eczema treatment, and more.

At the time, I thought these items were necessities, now I know better. There are some better (and cheaper) options!

I just saw a report on the CBS Early Show about how 'green' can mean big money for small businesses, fun products, and new careers.

My favorite part:
How big mega businesses gobbled up some smaller (but very popular) household brands.

Here they are...

Well, Martha Stewart has made my day!

Not only did she and her staff recommend Kiehl's for their generous free sampling program (in the March 2007 issue of Real Simple), but they also recommend Sephora for similar reasons.

Sephora stores offer generous samples from the more than 150 cosmetics lines they carry. Just ask and a salesperson will hand you a packaged sample or fill jars with requested products for free."

Sounds good to me!

Now you can create your own personalized compact filled with four (4) great products for your eyes, your lips and your face!

You already know how much I love the e.l.f. products (the mascara & eyeshadows especially), so I couldn't resist sharing the fact that they have a new cool product called e.l.f. elements.

It's a compact consisting of 4 different e.l.f. products in one.

The best part?

YOU get to choose which 4 products you want inside!

In honor of my favorite makeup: e.l.f., I thought I'd take this opportunity to "spell out" for you exactly why I like so much.

Okay, here goes...

When it comes to e.l.f. cosmetics, there's no doubt about it... Everything Looks Fine! Not to mention the fact that Everyone Looks Fabulous wearing e.l.f. makeup.

There's just so much to choose from... lots of Extraordinary Looks (for your) Face that leave you with an Extremely Luscious Feeling.

You'll find Extraordinarily Long-lasting Foundations, plus Easy-to-apply Liners & Facial (products), and lots of different Eye (colors), Lip (glosses) & Face (blushers).

The best part: Everything (is) Low-priced (or) Free (...like free shipping or free bonus products most of the time).

And you always get Expensive Looking Face products -- made with the same ingredients as other high-end cosmetics -- each for just a dollar!

There's a new line of makeup products for Eyes, Lips and Face (e.l.f.) on the market.

The best part? They're only $1 apiece!

So, thanks to e.l.f. cosmetics, women can now experiment with makeup without going broke.

(...and they're cheap enough, you can finally afford to have your favorite lip gloss, mascara, or powder everywhere... one in your car, one in your purse, one in your desk at work, and one at your makeup station at home!)

Choose from cool products like:

There's a new kid on the block (in the web world, that is)... and I like her!

She's Elizabeth Waverly, the new guide for About.com's BEAUTY site.

(...didn't think I'd be such a fan of beauty tips & such, did ya?)