Best drugstore shampoo & Cover Girl Lash Blast Luxe in Royale review

Best Drugstore Shampoos

Though Pantene dominates this category, it wasn't number one. Guess what brand was?

Shampoo is something TotalBeauty.com readers feel very passionate about, which will become clear as you peruse these glowing reviews of their favorite shampoos. But the icing on the cake is that these products are all from the drugstore -- and many are under five bucks, no joke. See shampoos

No. 19: Aussie Sydney Smooth Shampoo, $3.99

TotalBeauty.com average reader rating: 9*

"My hair is naturally curly and I've dyed it a lot so it"s pretty dry and frizzy, but with Aussie Sydney Smooth Shampoo... my hair has NO FRIZZ..."

No. 18: Head and Shoulders Citrus Breeze Shampoo, $7.69

TotalBeauty.com average reader rating: 9*

"[Head and Shoulders] fixed [my dandruff] problem in one wash ... not only does it keep your head moisturized, but it gives your hair tons of shine..."

No. 17: TreSemme Smooth & Silky Shampoo, $3.89

TotalBeauty.com average reader rating: 9*

"I don't even need to condition anymore," one reader says of its moisturizing quality...

Want to see what's no. 1? Click here!

Happy Friday! To compliment the hair dryer story, here is a revisit to the best drugstore brand shampoos. Enjoy!
Speaking of drugstore products, I recently tried the Cover Girl Lash Blast Luxe in Royale, meaning navy blue.
When it comes to mascara, navy blue is the best for making whites of the eyes whiter and tired eyes look awake. This is a wee stinky of a product, but, I like the finish and with three coats it really does give a full lash look. It's not incredibly blue, so I'de like to see more pigment, but for under $10, this is a decent mascara. The new big hard brush wand took some getting used to, but again, I think it's worth your try for the price. Plus, it washes off easily. Enjoy!
Catch me on Twitter! www.twitter.com/cherelynn
Visit http://www.makeupuniversity.com for information
Thank you for visiting the blog and check back for promotions and beauty giveaways!

How to pick a hair dryer

The 10 Best Hair Dryers

Should you spend $200 on a blow dryer? Or will a $20 model do the trick? Find out here!

Hair dryers range in price from bargain models from brands like Conair to splurges from brands like Chi. But which ones really offer the best results? The answer may not be what you think. Check out the best of the best here. See hair dryers

No. 10: Vidal Sassoon VS547 1875 Watt Professional Full-Size Ionic Dryer, $19.99

TotalBeauty.com average reader rating: 7.8*

"I've never used a dryer that left my hair softer than this -- simple as that ..."

No. 9: TIGI Bed Head 1875W Active Ionic Dryer, $69.95

TotalBeauty.com average reader rating: 8.4*

"I have wavy/kinky hair so the comb attachment saves me from having to straighten my hair after I blow dry it ..."

No. 8: Vidal Sassoon VS783 1875 Watt Ionic Styler Dryer, $39.99

TotalBeauty.com average reader rating: 8.5*

"With this dryer, it only takes about 15 minutes on [medium heat] to dry my hair ..."

Want to see what's no. 1? Click here!

This is an amazing article about hair dryers because you, like me, may just pick out whatever at the Walmart or Target store. It's awesome to have a recommendation and why to pick that dryer. That's it! I"m throwing out the old and getting a new one, now!
Stay tuned, there are so many Back to School freebies and promotions coming your way!
Such as:
Bruno Jamais dinner gift certificate
ZIA Naturals hydration boost serum
Alba Botanical Rain Forest Products and a re-visit to
LashFood because I love it!
Come back and visit because you never know, you just may win!
Catch me on Twitter! www.twitter.com/cherelynn
Visit http://www.makeupuniversity.com for information
Thank you for visiting the blog and check back for promotions and beauty giveaways!

Crispy summer hair help is on the way!

Fried Hair Rehab

Our program comes to the rescue for women at every price point

Sun damage, coloring, flat-ironing ... you've demanded enough from your stressed hair. Find out how to bring health back to it, thanks to advice from a panel of hair pros. See tips

Okay after multiple trips to the river that gave me a sunburned that actually peeled, plus the pool and Big Surf, my hair needs help! Thank goodness for this Beauty Bubble!
Stay tuned, I've got a gift certificate to Bruno Jamais restaraunt coming at you any day now...stay tuned to win a free dinner on me! Muah!
Catch me on Twitter! www.twitter.com/cherelynn
Visit http://www.makeupuniversity.com for information
Thank you for visiting the blog and check back for promotions and beauty giveaways!

QUIZ: are you in a beauty rut?

Quiz: Does Your Daily Routine Need a Lift?

Answer these questions to find out if you need to add a dash of daring to your humdrum existence

Tired of being stuck in a rut? No time like the present to add a little sparkle to your summer. Answer these questions to find out if your routine is in need of a pick-me-up, then learn fun tricks to help make every day a blast. Take the quiz

Variety is the spice of life! Keep adding new and improved beauty products as a mix to your favorite staples! Take this quiz to see if you are in a rut, though chances are, if you are in a rut, you know it already.
Enjoy the beauty bubble!
Catch me on Twitter: www.twitter.com/cherelynn

Thank you for visiting the blog and check back for promotions and beauty giveaways!

Shaving helps and hints

Beauty Spotlight: Smooth Shave

Everything you need for perfectly smooth and sexy skin

Your must-have item this summer: seriously sultry skin. Luckily, we've got everything necessary to achieve it. From quizzes to find your perfect shave method, to tips and celebrity inspiration. We even asked more than 200 guys what they find sexy -- check out their answers here. Check it out

I recently was sent a sample of a new razor that had a block of moisturizer on the end of it. Good in theory and poor in practice because it only rubbed from one side and made a gooey glop of semi useful lotion like substance on the other. The blade barely reached the skin and so it didn't do much of a shave at all.

Enjoy the beauty bubble and the shaving options you have! P.S. If you are an at home leg waxer, we want to hear from you! Post your comments of success or not so successful at home wax kits and techniques please!
Catch me on Twitter! www.twitter.com/cherelynn
Thank you for visiting the blog and check back for promotions and beauty giveaways!

How clean is your skin?

Quiz: Is Your Skin Clean Enough?

Find out if your routine is really getting rid of excess dirt and oil

Everyone slacks on their skin care now and then but do you do it too often? Cleaning skin correctly is vital for a clear complexion. Find out if you need to step up your regimen. Take the quiz

I love a squeaky clean feeling on my skin. Not too much to dry out and strip the skin, but tight feeling! Enjoy the recommendations!
Catch me on Twitter! www.twitter.com/cherelynn
Visit http://www.makeupuniversity.com for information
Thank you for visiting the blog and check back for promotions and beauty giveaways!

Non-orange at home highlights: how to & what to!

Master At-Home Highlights with these Tricks

Coloring hair at home can be inexpensive and time saving, but also tricky, so follow these tips to avoid disaster

Highlights can add dimension to hair and give it a gorgeous sun-kissed effect when done correctly, but a few missteps can make you look skunk-like or worse. Thanks to experts Rona O'Conner, celebrity colorist and co-owner of the Lukaro salon in Beverly Hills, Calif. and Marcy Cona, Clairol Global Creative Director of Color and Style, we got the scoop on how to successfully highlight hair at home -- check out their tips here. See tricks

Yeah, I used Sun-In as a kid and came out orange striped like a Tabby cat. Good luck and post pics of the results!
Catch me on Twitter! www.twitter.com/cherelynn
Thank you for visiting the blog and check back for promotions and beauty giveaways!

What kind of Cougar are you?

The Best and Worst of Cougar Style

Check out the good and bad of these ladies' looks

While the term "Cougar" might bring to mind party animals like Linda Hogan, many cougars are cool cats like Courteney Cox Arquette. Classy cougars know that less is more, while others could use a little make-under. See it all here. See styles

I think the term cougar should be left to large cats in the wild. Enjoy the beauty bits!
Catch me on Twitter www.twitter.com/cherelynn

Visit http://www.makeupuniversity.com for information
Thank you for visiting the blog and check back for promotions and beauty giveaways!

The tricksy business of picking a hair conditioner

The 10 Lowest-Rated Conditioners

See which products from Dove, Aveda and more left our readers with dry or greasy (ew!) hair

They say good hair starts in the shower -- but only if you have the right products. Unfortunately, these hair conditioners do not make the cut. All of them either left TotalBeauty.com readers with limp, greasy hair -- or dry and frizzy strands. Check them out, so you'll know what not to buy if you want beautiful hair in your future. See conditioners

No. 10: Garnier Fructis Fortifying Curl & Shine Cream Conditioner, $2.99

TotalBeauty.com average reader rating: 5.7

"It does make my hair less frizzy, but I lost so much volume I would almost welcome back the frizz instead of [a] flat head ..."

No. 9: Dove Advanced Care Conditioner, $4.75

TotalBeauty.com average reader rating: 5.6

"It didn't soften, or condition my hair as others have ..."

No. 8: Aveda Blue Malva Color Conditioner, $17

TotalBeauty.com average reader rating: 5.5

"Although it doesn't deposit color on my hair like it should, it does succeed in depositing on my bathtub, leaving gray stains."

Want to see what's the worst? Click here!

Conditioner can be a tricky thing; necessary but how much? The stylist has said most people use too much, though I like my hair to be slickery in the shower and light and bouncy after dried.
I use a mix of products, though I must say, lately the Schwarzkopf line Bona Cure has been my fave. Oh, it's also pricey. I switch between that and a shea butter formula, which is a bit of a knock off from Frederic Fekkai's version. I bought it at Sally's as a travel size and liked it enough to back and get more.
Here's my tip for the day with conditioner: yes, put sunscreen on your scalp and a wee dollop of conditioner on your ends to protect hair while out in the sun all day. I say this because I have a wicked sunburn on my scalp and the ends are crunchy. Ah, live and learn. See you at Big Surf in my granny suit!
Thank you for visiting the blog and check back for promotions and beauty giveaways!

Simple yet profound beauty blunders

Biggest Beauty Blunders of (Almost!) All Time

From hairy pits to shaved heads, we're sure these celebs will always regret these scary style slip-ups

Celebrities usually can do no wrong when it comes to style and beauty, but sometimes even the most gorgeous women make bad decisions when it comes to their hair, makeup and plastic surgery. See proof in these photos. See blunders

Okay, Britney is doing much better now than she was in the picture. Though, these are pretty funny and somewhat scary. It makes you think, "what were they thinking?". Enjoy the beauty bubble and stay tuned for the upcoming "Back to School" features and makeup booty give aways!
Visit www.twitter.com for more info! www.twitter.com/cherelynn
Thank you for visiting the blog and check back for promotions and beauty giveaways!

14 hair stylist secrets!

14 Secrets Your Hairstylist Won't Tell You

Find out how to get the best appointments, haircuts and better -- or free! -- services

Whether you think of a salon visit as a fun treat or a necessary chore, you'll want to get the best service (and hairstyle) possible, right? That's why we talked to the experts, hairstylists and salon owners. They told us the secrets of the salon -- the best times to go, how to get that last-minute appointment when you're desperate, and much more! See secrets

Well, if I had a "stylist" I might know these, but I don't. I clicked through and enjoyed learning something new. Now, all I have to do is find a hairstylist!
Catch me on Twitter! www.twitter.com/cherelynn
Thank you for visiting the blog and check back for promotions and beauty giveaways!

Quiz: What's your anti-aging IQ?

Quiz: What Is Your Anti-Aging I.Q.?

Take this quiz to find out how much you really know about the skin's aging process

Anti-aging is much more complicated than simply wearing a hat to the beach, so before you self-diagnose or splurge on a new skin-care regimen, take this quiz to see how much you really know about your skin. Take the quiz

Anything anti-aging at any age is preventive measures and worth a discount on your insurance. Enjoy the beauty bubble and put sunscreen on. Think you put enough? Put some more on!
Catch me on Twitter! www.twitter.com/cherelynn

Thank you for visiting the blog and check back for promotions and beauty giveaways!

Scrubs: for hand & body and all year round!

18 Highest-Rated Body Scrubs

Our readers share their secrets to super-soft skin

Flaky skin is a huge no-no in the summer. The solution? A body scrub that sloughs off flakes and leaves skin hydrated. But not all scrubs are created equal. Read these reader recommendations to find one that'll work best for you. See scrubs

I love a scrub! I make my own and you can too! Simple recipe given to me by Catherine Zeta Jones whose grandmother gave it to her.

For moisturizing and soft hands: or where ever you want to put this:

1 part rose water

1 part glycerin

1 part sugar



Mix equal parts together and tinker with till you get the consistency of paste that you like. Now put/store in glass jar next to the sink or where you bathe. Use as often as you need it!



Enjoy! Hope you are having a fabulous Sunday filled with the Glory of the Lord! Amen!

Catch me on Twitter! www.twitter.com/cherelynn

Beachy waves for short hair gals like me!

Create a Tousled, Beachy Hairstyle on Short Hair

Follow these easy steps to turn blah hair into a sexy, lived in style

Eli Thomas, owner of Thomas Chance Hairdressing in Santa Monica, Calif. shows you how to transform a sleek bob into a more playful, tousled look (a la Ginnifer Goodwin, Blake Lively and Jennifer Aniston). All you need are a few key items and you're set! See how-to

This look is for non-kid having people. We are going to the river today for some beach time and water fun. My hair, will be pulled up and wrapped down with my visor so I can keep a close eye on the Treasure who seems to have no fear of the water currents.
Enjoy your Saturday!
Catch me on Twitter! www.twitter.com/cherelynn
Thank you for visiting the blog and check back for promotions and beauty giveaways!

Top 11 drugstore brand mascaras

Top 11 Drugstore Mascaras

Get gorgeous lashes for cheap with these standouts

Think you need to head to a department store and spend upwards of $20 to get a decent mascara? Think again. TotalBeauty.com readers prove that there are drugstore mascaras that give them the same -- if not better -- results, and all are less than $10! See mascaras

No. 11: Almay One Coat Nourishing Lengthening Mascara, $5.99

TotalBeauty.com average reader rating: 8.5*

"This NEVER clumped, did lengthen my lashes a bit, did NOT flake (even after I purposely rubbed my eyes a little) ..."

No. 10: Wet n Wild MegaProtein Mascara, $2.29

TotalBeauty.com average reader rating: 8.7*

"It's gentle, lasts all day, and my lashes look thick and soft, not at all clumpy ..."

No. 9: L'Oreal Paris Telescopic Clean Definition Mascara, $8.99

TotalBeauty.com average reader rating: 8.9*

"The brush separates lashes and coats them so that you get long, individual lashes ..."

Want to see what's no. 1? Click here!

Mascara is my all time most favorite cosmetic product. L'Oreal Voluminous and Max Factor 2000 are my fave drugstore brand mascaras. Enjoy the list and if you have a favorite that is not listed, holla back and comment!
Catch me on Twitter! www.twitter.com/cherelynn
Thank you for visiting the blog and check back for promotions and beauty giveaways!

Care free beach hair! Here! Where you're at!

Tousled Hair 101

The tools and tricks you need to master a tousled, beachy hairstyle

It's the perfect carefree look for summer, and it's a cinch to do. Just follow these steps and soon you'll have envy-inducing waves in your hair. See how-to

Care free look my butt! After having a child, my normally straight hair is suddenly curly, though only on part of my head. So most days, if I don't blow it out or curl it all, I have carefree curls that look beach breeze tossed. Go figure. Enjoy the beauty bubbles!
Catch me on Twitter! www.twitter.com/cherelynn
Thank you for visiting the blog and check back for promotions and beauty giveaways!

Deep cleaning is as important as daily maintenance

Solve Beauty Bummers with Deep Cleaning Tricks

Issues like acne and body odor are no match for these sneaky scrubbing tactics

These basic steps will help you solve your biggest confidence busters, ensuring your pores remain clear, your body smells fresh and you feel totally clean and gorgeous from head to toe. See tricks

oh boy, do I ever need some deep cleaning afte this trip! I'm so ready to go in for a major overhaul...the question is where to go?
If you have "THE" place to go in the greater Phoenix area, post your comment. If I visit the spa/salon that you recommend, I'll send you a super deluxe comp basket of goodies fresh from my store supply of products and goodies!
Catch me on Twitter! www.twitter.com/cherelynn

Thank you for visiting the blog and check back for promotions and beauty giveaways!

Best rated shampoos & conditioners

Quiz: What's the Best Shampoo and Conditioner for Your Hair?

Every great style starts in the shower, so make sure you treat your hair right

Smoothing, volumizing, moisturizing, color-safe, straightening -- with so many shampoo and conditioner formulas on the market, deciding which one is best for your hair can be a challenge. Thankfully, Erin Anderson, co-owner of the Woodley & Bunny Salon in Brooklyn, New York helped us direct you to the right products for your hair type and issues -- get your results by taking this quiz. Take the quiz

Ok, I still adhere to the old tale of switching shampoos every couple of weeks. So I use my Schwarzkopf Bona Cure for three weeks, then switch to L'Oreal something, then maybe some Shea Butter stuff I found at Sally's and back to Bona Cure.
What works for you? Thanks for visiting and posting your comments about what works best in your hair!
Catch me on Twitter! www.twitter.com/cherelynn
Thank you for visiting the blog and check back for promotions and beauty giveaways!

Sun Kissed Glowing hair!

How to Get a Sun-Kissed Glow on Budget

One reader gets a glowing red carpet-worthy overhaul that's a cinch to maintain -- see if it's right for you

After losing 80 pounds, TotalBeauty.com reader Deana felt great on the inside but still needed help on the outside. Inspired by sunny Hollywood blondes like Goldie Hawn and Heidi Klum, our celebrity hairstylists and makeup artist gave Deana a bright new look to help boost her confidence, and kept it budget-friendly to boot! See tips

Do you remember the product called "Sun In" ? And it was a bottle of pump spray highlights? If you do, like I do: it required being "fixed" at a salon afterwards. I am still growing out the bad bleach job that burned my hair to the roots from two years ago. So the information about getting sun kissed glow isn't for me, but maybe for you? Enjoy!
Catch me on Twitter....www.twitter.com/cherelynn
Thank you for visiting the blog and check back for promotions and beauty giveaways!