Cheap thrills

The Lipstick Index has been debunked by The Economist but I think the underlying theory is still correct. Most women are hardwired to feel that if they can treat themselves to a small luxury like a lipstick, it will make themselves feel better and not like they are in financial straits. It is definitely true in my case.

The only problem is that even a lipstick can get pretty expensive these days. However, my idea of a small luxury is pretty broad. It doesn't have to be a lipstick, it could be a nice accessory like a belt or scarf, or a favourite drink from Starbucks - just so long as it provides good quality and great value without completely emptying the contents of my wallet.

Aquis Essentials Microfiber Hair Towel ($7.99 at Marshalls; $20 MSRP)

As you might have guessed from my earlier posts on hair care (here and here), I have been on a mission to find new hair care products. One reason is that my hair, along with the rest of my body, is most definitely ageing and changing. What used to work no longer works. My hair is becoming finer in texture and more prone to damage. These changes have been tough to deal with as the roots get dirtier more easily but more washing just results in fragile, dried-out hair and scalp irritation. 

Several years ago, I bought the Aquis microfibre hairband from Sephora, and it seemed ridiculously expensive for what it was (about $14 at the time, but now about $6 on Amazon here). However, it has since redeemed itself as I use it daily and it is excellent as a gentle but effective way of keeping hair dry and secure under a shower cap, on those days when I am not washing my hair. When I spotted this towel by the same company at Marshalls for the bargain price of $7.99, I snapped it up. 

The microfiber material is woven from ultrafine polyester microfibers that provide a huge amount of surface area compared to a regular cotton towel. As a result, this microfiber fabric is super absorbent, as well as being soft, lightweight and compact. 

As promised, it dries hair extremely fast while being super gentle. It has cut down on the time required for hair drying by about a half, which in turn means less damage to hair. I have been using it for a month now, along with my new shampoo and conditioner (review coming soon), and my hair and scalp have not felt this healthy in a really long time.  

Bumble & Bumble Styling Lotion ($17 at Marshalls; $30 MSRP)

Up until now I have been using Kiehl's Climate Proof Shine-Enhancing Spray (earlier review here), but truth be told, it's expensive and I had an eye out for a cheaper alternative. I spotted this at Marshalls going for $17, and took a look at the ingredient list...

...and surprise, it's actually pretty decent - unlike the Kiehl's spray, this has no acrylate polymers, instead using hydroxypropyltrimonium honey* to provide the main thickening and stiffening effect. Also, no formaldehyde-releasing preservatives, instead using phenoxyethanol and chlorphenesin. Another big plus, synthetic fragrance (a given in hair styling products) appears as the very last ingredient, suggesting that I could expect low scent.

After drying with the microfiber towel, I apply a few spritzes of this hair spray and blow dry as usual. As expected from the honey content and lack of acrylates, this hair spray provides a very light hold, much less than the Kiehl's spray. The scent is a pleasant, faint citrusy smell that fades away soon after spraying. After a month of use, I have not noticed any scalp or skin irritation (always a hazard with trying new hair styling products), so that was another big plus. This was such a good buy, I went and scooped a back-up bottle on another trip to Marshalls. It is still going for $30 at places like Sephora, so if you can find it at Marshalls or Winners, grab it as it is an excellent deal.

(*This is a chemical derivative of honey, wherein the sugars found in honey have had a polymer with a permanent positive charge in the form of a quaternary ammonium attached to them, thus making the honey more amenable for use as a hair conditioner. After shampooing, the protein in hair tends to be negatively charged. On the microscopic level, the cuticle of each hair shaft, which looks like overlapping fish scales, lifts up and away from the core of the shaft. This causes hair to feel rough and dry to the touch. A hair conditioner will often contain positively charged polymers that are attracted to the negative charges on the hair shaft, and help smooth the cuticle, thus giving smooth and shiny hair.)

Joe Fresh Shine Lipstick ($6 at Real Canada Supercentre and selected Loblaws)

And yes, I did get a lipstick.

This packaging and the feel of the formulation are similar to Clinique's Almost Lipstick, but the colour palette is definitely trendier, including fuschia, coral and scarlet red. I chose the bright pink "Kiss/Baiser", which looks bright bubble gum pink in the tube, and goes on as a sheer wash of clear, bright pink.

This is an unfragranced and unflavoured formulation, which is a big plus. I like layering this over a brown-toned neutral lip colour like Laura Mercier Sheer Lipstick in "Bare Lips". The bright pink is very cheerful.

What's your beauty strategy when you are pinching pennies? Do you buy little indulgences or cut them out altogether?