Thousands of new beauty products hit the shelves every year, but which products are the best buys? From best sellers to Beauty and the Budget favorites, here's a list of eight beauty products worth buying!

1. Cetaphil Gentle Skin Cleanser ($9.19 at drugstore.com). This cleanser is dermatologist recommended, and it's perfect for all skin types! Though I haven't personally tried it yet, I have to say they must be doing something right--one bottle of this cleanser is sold every ten seconds!
2. L'Oreal Voluminous Mascara ($5.54 at Target). This is a classic mascara that I've used time and time again! Before makeup artists were as recognized as they are today, they didn't have a big budget for products. Instead, they had to buy their own products. This mascara was the one most typically used and they still use it today!
3. Physicians Formula Bronzer ($13.89 at Ulta). Physicians Formula actually developed the bronzer category. Before bronzer, there was just blush and, unless your Snooki, you had to find another way to create a "sun-kissed" glow. I remember when I first began buying bronzers, Physician's Formula was the bronzer I used. I rotate in and out with different bronzers today, but since I'm currently jonesing for some new bronzer I think I may go back to this product.
4. Sally Hansen Smooth and Perfect Nail Color, Sorbet ($5.50 at drugstore.com). I swear by this nail color! It's elegant, chic, and lovely. Plus you can apply up to three coats for a matte look, or one or two coats to give your nails a pearly sheen. The applicator brush is square, so you won't get nail polish all over your cuticles and fingertips (I'm THE messiest manicurist ever, so this really works for me), and it has a glossy, velvety finish. I've become sort of a walking spokesperson at work for this nail color, and I think everyone should certainly
5. Pond's Cold Cream ($8.99 at Ulta). It's a classic, and you just can't mess with a classic! Although I don't recommend using this on your face if you have oily skin, it is perfect as an eye makeup remover. If you look in my makeup cabinet, you will always see Pond's Cold Cream. I have been using it for over 10 years now.
6. Estee Lauder Foundation Brush ($32.00 at Neiman Marcus). I have almost bought the entire line of Estee Lauder makeup brushes. With a little bit of saving and a few returned Christmas gifts, I've been able to get about eight of these makeup brushes. I couldn't live without any of them, but if I had to choose just one, I would say the Foundation brush is the best buy out of the entire bunch. It's basically what sold me on makeup brushes in general. It allows for a smoother, more even application of foundation compared to makeup sponges. For those of you who read this blog often, you know I'm a fan of inexpensive makeup buys but you also know I wouldn't splurge on something unless it is truly worth it!
7. John Frieda Frizz-Ease Hair Serum, Original Formula ($8.99 at drugstore.com). For a woman who lives in the humidity-stricken south, I know what it's like to have frizzy, unmanageable hair. This product nearly saved my social life back in eighth grade when I first began using it. For those of us who don't have naturally silky hair, this product is a must-buy! It protects your hair from humidity and makes it more manageable.
8. Burts Bees Lip Balm ($1.99 at Motherhood). You gotta love this chapstick! It's a classic and perfect for those with dry, chapped lips. Plus, it's one hundred percent natural!

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There are a lot of do's and don'ts in the world of beauty, but generally speaking here are the seven easy beauty habits that you must have in your daily routine to maintain healthier skin! Bonus: I suggest affordable beauty products that I use daily, and most of these beauty tips will only take a few seconds of your time!

1. Remove makeup before bed. If you don't read the rest of my beauty tips below, at least read this first one! Taking off your makeup before bedtime is fundamental to having clear skin. Leaving your makeup on overnight will clog your pores and eventually lead to nasty breakouts. I use Neutrogena Deep Clean Long Lasting Cleansing Mask ($7.99) to remove my face makeup, and I use Pond's Cold Cream ($8.99) to remove my eye makeup.
2. Wash your face in the morning. Removing your makeup before bed is vital to healthier skin, but washing your face in the morning is also a good idea! Wash your face in the morning before you apply makeup to unclog pores, remove impurities, kill germs, and wash away excess oils your skin produced during the night. I use my Neutrogena Cleansing Mask in the mornings, but when my skin is feeling extra oily, I'll also use Neutrogena Clear Pore Oil-Controlling Astringent ($5.79).
3. Lotion up! Applying lotion daily is a great way to prevent dry skin, especially in the winter. Adding this beauty habit to your routine will help make your skin silkier and smoother, and who doesn't want that? I use Vaseline Intensive Rescue Soothing Moisture Lotion in Cocoa Butter ($8.49). Remember, a little can go a long way. Only use a dime sized amount for each area of your body.
4. Use a facial moisturizer. Right now I'm using Perricone MD Advanced Face Firming Activator ($120.00 at Nordstrom). It was a free sample I got along with a few other beauty products I reviewed for the company. It works great and it has lasted at least five or six months, but the expensive price tag will keep me from buying it again. Once I'm out, I'm going back to my drugstore favorites, like Neutrogena Facial Moisturizer ($9.99), which is still a great buy.
5. Curl your lashes. This is the easiest way to add oomph to your eyes, especially if you are going for a minimal makeup look or if you are not wearing makeup at all. Curl your lashes before applying mascara. Why? For two reasons, it prevents gunky mascara build up in your lash curler and you minimize the risk of pulling out your lashes. To really help the curl to hold, blast your eyelash curler with a hairdryer for a few seconds. The last curler will then act as a curling iron--the heat will really help your lashes to stay curled and full!
6. Shade in your brows. I highly recommend this step for women who have light hair or thin brows. A strong brow can really take your face to the next level, and it only takes a few seconds to properly shade them in. I recommend using shadow instead of a pencil. The shadow allows for a more natural, light and feathery application, whereas an eyeliner pencil is more harsh. Lightly shade in your brows using an eyeshadow brush and a brown or black shadow, depending on the color of your hair. Then use a brow brush to soften the look and straighten any unruly brows.
7. Wear chapstick. I have very dry lips, so I apply chapstick at least six to seven times a day. Most of the time, I use chapstick in place of lipstick because my lips tend to crack so easily. I haven't found the miracle worker of all chapsticks yet, but I really love how hydrated and refreshed my lips feel when I use Burt's Bees Replenishing Lip Balm with Pomegranate Oil ($5.49 for two).

What part of your daily beauty routine do you think is the most essential? Let me know in the comments below!

Valentine's Day is right around the corner, and Beauty and the Budget is here to help you whittle away your check-off list. Whether you're single or taken, you've probably already narrowed down your V-Day plans. And if you've been keeping up with Ms. B and I, you already know how to be sexy, what beauty products you need to fit your sweet or sexy side, and you've gotten lots of celebrity makeup inspiration. Now let's take a look at a few V-Day must-haves for your evening out.

I have quite a love affair with pink and red, especially when it's paired together. In what used to be a huge fashion faux pas, mixing pink and red together has become quite doable over the last few years. That's why these Velvet-Bow D'Orsay Pumps ($35.50 at Charlotte Russe) are the perfect addition to your ensemble.

If you're looking to channel your sexy side, these Jenny Jenny Tassel Earrings ($42.00 at farfetch.com) have a boudoir vibe. And who can forget the perfect scent to emulate a romantic evening? Opt for Philosophy Love Sweet Love ($42.00 by philosophy at Sephora).

See the rest of the essentials below, and click on styles for more details.

What are you planning for Valentine's Day?

More philosophy...

Whether you're flying solo with your girls or going on a date with your sweetie, make sure you have your beauty look in tact on V-Day. Ms. B and I have happily rounded up some of the best beauty buys for Valentine's Day, no matter if you decide to be sweet or sexy.

For a sweet and romantic look channel natural beauties like Jessica Biel. Opt for soft pinks and voluminous hair. And of course, you'll want to smell as sweet as you look. Try Philosophy 'sweet Talk' Candy Hearts Shampoo, Shower Gel & Bubble Bath ($16.00 at Nordstrom). This 3-in-1 formula will leave you silky smooth and smelling oh-so-sweet!

Play up your sensual side in deep red polish and lip color for the ultimately sexy look. Try a sleek hairstyle paired with a dark smoky eye and false lashes. The Rimmel Glam' Eyes Quad Eye Shadow Palette in Smokey Purple ($4.06 at drugstore.com) will add a level of sexy sophistication to your look. A purple smoky eye also offers something a bit more romantic than your typical gray/black smoky eye.

More Black Radiance...

Bare Escentuals Get Started Eyes Cheeks Lips $49 at CosmeticMall.com

Are you constantly hitting the snooze button? (That's me!)

We all need our beauty rest, and some require more than others. But just because we like to sleep in doesn't mean we should sacrifice our beauty. Fortunately, you can still look wonderful and get that extra ten minutes of sleep--without being late for work. I've mastered the "snooze button beauty routine" and now I'm ready to share my knowledge with you.

In all honesty, this is my typical morning routine. When I follow it completely I even have time to sit down for breakfast, as opposed to running out the door with two plain Eggo waffles in my hand.

The Snooze Button Beauty Routine

1. Wash your hair the night before. Make sure you blow dry your hair thoroughly, or else your hair could end up frizzy in the morning. Take a few extra minutes to give it an all over, even blow dry. I like to section my hair off and use a roll brush to give it some body. *Super Time Saving Tip: If you didn't get a chance to wash your hair the night before, you can always apply baby powder to your hair to take away the greasiness.
2. Pick out what you're going to wear ahead of time. Okay I'll admit I'm the worst at this. I cannot tell you how many times I've stood in my closet for ten minutes or more, just wondering what to wear. Sometimes, I'll have my outfit laid out and then completely change my mind. However, on my most successful mornings, I've already pre-planned the day's attire, slept on the decision and made necessary changes, and saved myself a lot of time.
3. Use hot rollers. Hot rollers save me about twenty minutes of my beauty routine. I pin my hair up in curlers and continue with my beauty routine while the curls set in. This is my favorite time saving tip. Not only does it add volume, but it makes you look like you spent more time on your hair than you actually did.
4. Apply tinted moisturizer. Use a tinted moisturizer for its two-in-one effect--a primer and foundation. This will buy you a few minutes that are definitely worth it.
5. Opt for colored lipstick. Like it or not, vibrant lips make you look more refreshed and awake. This is an easy fix if you had a late night or woke up late. People will actually think you spent more time getting ready just because you paid attention to the details with the right lip color. *Time Saver's Tip: Apply it on the way to work, like when you're letting your car warm up.

So many makeup brushes, so little time--so which ones do you really need?

Beauty and the Budget here to help you figure out which brushes are really essential to your everyday makeup routine. There are several brushes on the market right now, both expensive and cheap, but you don't need a whole collection to get the ever-so-popular Kim Kardashian smoky eye. However, if I can be completely honest here, I don't like cheap makeup brushes. I'll buy cheap makeup any day, but in my opinion you can get great results if you have the right makeup brush no matter how expensive your makeup is. I only have 8 or 9 brushes on my makeup counter, but when I do buy a brush I am prepared to make an investment. I'm a huge Estee Lauder fan, but I also think Sephora carries a great line of brushes too.

Let's get down to it, beauties, when it comes to your eyes, these are the only four makeup brushes you really need:

Flat Stiff Brush: Use a flat stiff brush to pack shadow onto the lid. You'll want a stiff brush to pick up plenty of color. I use this for my base shadow, after applying a primer.

Stiff Dome Brush: Use this brush when you want to create a smoky eye by feathering in darker shadows. You can also use it to simply apply color to the crease, which is how I use it.

Soft Dome Brush: Similar to the stiff dome brush, only it offers a different finishing look. This offers better blending that the stiff dome brush, and because the brush has soft bristles, it offers a lighter, more subtle look.

Pencil Brush: There are many uses for this brush, so I consider it a staple for any makeup bag. You can use it to apply eyeshadow under the lower lashes, and it goes on soft and subtle. It's also good for fading eyeliner if you want a smoky eye. As for me, I use it to apply shadow to the creases, and I gently swipe the brush upward to fade the shadow out. I also use it to line my upper lash line before apply a light coat of liquid liner. It will help you get the perfect cat eye or smoky eye.

Of course, we'd all love to have a major beauty stash at our disposal, but sometimes we just don't have all of those cool tools at our disposal. When you're in need of a quick beauty fix, here are a few tips to get you through!

Extreme Curl Lashes...

There are several heated lash curlers on the market right now, but you can save yourself a few bucks by heating up your own lash curler with a blow dryer. Heat for a few seconds, then curl your lashes for a lasting effect.

Soft, Silky Tresses...

You're all out of hair serum, which, if you live in Mississippi, is a crisis situation. The humidity here will totally kill your hairstyle. When this happens, use a dime-sized amount of baby oil on your hair. Not only will it act as a frizz controlling hair serum, it will also add extra sheen.

Luxurious Legs...

Here's a Beauty and the Budget, tried and true shaving tip: When you're all out of shaving cream, substitute with conditioner. Suave conditioner has been my form of shaving cream in the past. I've found that not only do my legs turn out silkier, but they also smell wonderful!

Rosy Cheeks...

Did your favorite blush just crush into pieces all over the floor? (Ehem, not that that's ever happened!) No worries! Simply dab on your favorite pink or red lipstick on your cheeks. Rub in gently with your finger (or a makeup sponge) in a circular motion. Then cover lightly with powder, and voila!

A Lasting Smoky Eye...

When you want that perfect smokey eye, you don't have to spend lots of money on the perfect eyeliner or smudging tools. Although a smudge applicator is helpful, you can get the perfect smoky eye by simply heating up your eye pencil. You can hold the eye pencil over a candle, but since I don't typically light candles at 6 a.m. in the morning before work, I usually just hold the pencil close to my Chi. The heat will melt the liner, making the eye pencil go on extremely smooth. *Note: Do not hold pencil directly next to the Chi iron plate. Hold it close to the Chi for about three seconds.

The Perfect, Smudge-Free Mani...

When you're all out of Quick Dry, or if you just don't care to spend the money on it, skip it completely! Instead, let your nails air dry for about two to three minutes. Next, submerge nails in icy water for about three minutes.

A Wrinkle and Acne Free Face...

Can't afford expensive wrinkle creams? Retinoid creams actually help to smooth wrinkles and get rid of zits overnight!

Well-Groomed Cuticles...

If you don't regularly get a manicure or have a cuticle pusher in your beauty stash, simply use a warm washcloth to push back your cuticles. I like to let my nails soak in hot water first.