The chicks at TotalBeauty.com’s Blog

Most of the debates I see on the TotalBeauty.com message boards are centered around which brands or products readers like or hate most (they're what inspired this list of most controversial products), but this week's dispute is about two beauty stores -- Ulta and Sephora.

People seem to feel pretty strongly that one may be better than the other. What do you think? Do you like Ulta better or is Sephora more your style? Check out the arguments for each below then tell us if you're on Team Sephora or Team Ulta by commenting or going here.

"In my opinion I like Sephora better but they are both very good. Most people think that Ulta has way better prices but if you look Sephora has some steals." -- iluvsmileymiley

"There are pro and cons to both stores. Ulta carries some of the major makeup brands that are found in department stores along with drugstore brands. They also have a nice selection of hair care products and fragrance. The last thing they offer is an in-store salon. Sephora carries a large selection of makeup brands and fragrance. They only carry a few hair care lines but do have plenty of accessories for cosmetics. The cons for Ulta would be a small selection of cosmetic lines, hair care and fragrance. The cons for Sephora would be the small selection of hair care lines and no salon services." -- makeupaholic

"Ulta seems to be just a high-end, overpriced, fancy drugstore. They have tons of body products and shampoos, etc. but they are outrageous in prices just like Sephora is. I do like that Ulta has sales and coupons, which I have never seen at Sephora." -- Cheryl57

"Sephora has better customer service than Ulta in my experience." -- Lipglossuser

• On Team Sephora? Then check out this list of their 22 best buys. 
• Is Ulta more your cup 'o tea? Then stock up on these products the next time you're there.  
• Do you skip both stores in favor of drugstore beauty shopping? Then you'll flip over this list of  products, and this one, and this one! Okay, I'll stop now.

Need to get your social networking fix for the day? Follow us on Twitter and friend us on Facebook.

Read More »

My feet are firmly encased in boots for the next couple months, but I still can't seem to give up pampering my toes. Even though I'm the only one who will see them, I still keep my feet in decent condition during the fall and winter.

One caveat though: During these chilly, closed-toe shoe months I'll usually skip the nail salon in favor of an at-home pedicure -- and with these tips, it's just like being at the salon, minus overwhelming smell of nail chemicals and $30 charge.

What's your opinion on this? Do you keep up regular pedicures even when no one will see your feet, or is it sayonara to polish until sandals make a comeback? And if you do polish, what winter colors are your favorites?

Read More »

It might sound weird, but it's totally true: even if you have super oily skin, you should still use moisturizer.

I wish I had known this as a teenager. I, of course, had super-oily, acne prone skin and I never touched moisturizer because I was sure it would break me out more. Instead I just applied every acne product I could find and tried to dry my skin out as much as possible. Sound familiar?

The reason this doesn't work is that your skin needs some moisture and if it gets too dry, it will produce more oil to make up for it. So by drying out your skin and not adding moisture, you're actually making it oilier! (As if the world wasn't cruel enough already.)

Now, the trick is to find the right moisturizer for your oily or acne-prone skin. TotalBeauty.com readers have a few suggestions:

Read More »

Some might consider me a pessimist, but I think I'm more of a realist. So whenever I hear about "miracle eyelash-growing creams," my bs radar perks up. True, there are products that can re-grow hair with varying degrees of success, but I still have my doubts, especially about some of the non-prescription products.

I must admit though, in this instance I think my caution is only somewhat warranted. I've heard great things from people about Latisse -- and even some of the non-prescription products too. Check out a few of them below, do you think any are worth trying?

Read More »

If you ask any makeup artist they'll tell you the same thing: never skimp on foundation. Why? Well, like it's name implies, this product is literally the foundation of your makeup look, and if it's not quality and doesn't make your skin look flawless, then all the other makeup in the world isn't going to give you a perfect look.

But -- and this is a big BUT -- not skimping on foundation doesn't necessarily mean you have to drop a lot of cash. In fact, you can find great foundations that will give you that flawless look for under $15! Don't believe me? Check out the reviews below from TotalBeauty.com readers. They managed to combine thrift with quality, so there's no reason you can't too, right?

Read More »

Now, let me make this clear: when I say "big problems," I don't mean a broken nail or frizzy hair (although those can suck when you've got an important day ahead of you, but let's get a little perspective here). No, I actually mean "big problems," the kind that aren't easily solved and may require professional help.

If you're suffering from one of these beauty dilemmas, then read on for advice. Also, in case you think I pulled this information out of my a--, er, brain, I should tell you that it actually came from these experts.

Read More »

Being a beauty editor, you would think that my hair would be in excellent shape, right? Ehh, wrong! Actually, a job that necessitates frequent hairstyling, not to mention hair coloring and my sun addiction (which flies in the face of all sane beauty advice, I know) has left my hair in pretty rough shape.

What about you? Are you giving your hair the TLC it needs or are you slacking a bit? This quiz below will help you figure it out -- and give you ideas on how to fix up your poor battered mane. Check out the questions below, click on any to answer then see where your hair stands.

Read More »