While I love Sephora, MAC, and department store makeup counters, I don’t love looking at my bank account after spending an afternoon there. While I do believe that “you get what you pay for,” I know that there are some awesome drugstore products out there that work better than their expensive counterparts.

Last week, I filled you guys in on the Top 5 Beauty Products Worth Splurging On, and this week, I present to you the Top 5 Drugstore Beauty Steals:

1. Bonne Bell Lipsmackers

Bonne Bell Lipsmackers– $1.99 at drugstore.com

Back in our pre-adolescent days, these were just thought of as precursors to lipgloss and lipstick. I’m still snickered at when I pull a Dr. Pepper or watermelon flavor from out of my purse. But in all reality, Lipsmackers are a godsend. Not only are they seriously moisturizing and give the prettiest hint of color, but they smell incredibly good.

At $1.99 each, what’s not to love? These might be the only item from my tween years that I’m willing to use again and again… and again!

What are the other 4? Read the rest at CollegeFashion.net!

I definitely would not consider myself a beauty junkie. I enjoy new products and like experimenting with makeup, I mean, what girl doesn’t? But the overwhelming amount of new stuff coming out each season seems almost impossible to really stay on top of.

Besides the fact that in college, most girls don’t have unlimited funds to spend on super expensive beauty products. We’re lucky to have a few free minutes in between classes and events to run down to the drugstore for a new tube of mascara. So, when a good deal and new brand comes along that catches my eye, I feel the need to share it with the masses who would appreciate it, aka CC readers.

ELF (Eyes, Lips, Face) makeup is my new obsession and recent splurge that I actually don’t feel too guilty about. Why? Because EVERYTHING on the website is only $1! Yes, that is right girls, just one freakin dollar for lip glosses, eye shadow pallets, all over color sticks and so much more…I bought ten items for a total of ten dollars plus some shipping, and voila, I’ve already got 10 things for the price of one product normally. Can’t beat that excitement for a boring summer day.

I may be living on a McDonalds budget these days, but growing up with some of the finer things in life have left me with some Caviar taste.

I am not talking about yachts or private jets; more like pretty handbags and a little bit of pampering. And while I can’t always afford the things I adore, I have become quite deft at finding deals on some of life’s little luxuries. Like the manicure. Nothing makes me feel good at the end of a rough week like a good finger soak and coat of Wicked.

But, even with the low prices at many nail shops these days, throwing away $12 on something that is going to chip, crack and have to be re-done in a week is hard for a lady on a budget.

Doing it yourself, though, is easier than you think and will save you tons of money without having to sacrifice a sexy set of hands.

In order to do your nails like a pro, you need to get the right tools: nail polish remover (duh), cotton pads, emery board, Vitamin E oil, orangewood stick, buffer, base coat polish, color polish, top coat. This may seem like a big investment now, but it will save you big time down the road.

Now for the steps:

1. Whether you think you have polish on your nails or not, take a cotton ball dipped in remover and run it over your nails. Once the polish is gone, wash your hands thoroughly with soap and water to get rid of excess remover from your hands and nails. The cleaner your nails the better the manicure. Tip: If your nails are yellowed from the polish, soak your hands in lemon juice for 10 minutes. Voila! Clear nails again!

2. Shaping your nails comes next. When filing your nails make sure to file in only one direction; the back and forth motion will ruin them. You can make them any shape that suits you (oval, square, round), but keep in mind that the longer they are, the weaker they are. Once you finish filing, soak your nails in warm water to rinse off the nail-dust and soften those cuticles.

3. After soaking, rub Vitamin E oil (or Olive Oil!) into your cuticles and use the Orangewood stick to gently push the cuticles back. Your cuticles keep bacteria from entering your body so be nice to them and never cut them. Tip: If you keep them moisturized between mani’s there will not be a need for much cuticle maintenance, anyway.

4. Wash your hands thoroughly again. Left-over oil will keep your polish from adhering to your nails.

5. Buffing the nails separates the crappy mani from the professional. Run the buffer back and forth over your nails to smooth out any ridges and provide a better surface for the polish to stick to.

6. Now that your nails are finally prepped, it is time to add some color to those digits. Start with a clear base to protect your nails from staining and provide a foundation for your color. Let the basecoat dry completely before moving onto your color. Brush two (dark colors) to three (light colors) coats onto your nails letting each coat dry in full before adding the next. Finally, brush on a light coat of top coat. And let it all dry.

The hardest part of the at-home manicure for me is the waiting, but moving on too soon and smudging those nails is a waste of all that time and hard work. Just sit still, let it all dry, and enjoy your beautiful (and budget) manicure.

But I would have wrongly insulted you, because Kevin is certainly turning out to be the best thing his kids can hope for.

A few days ago, K-Dawg began serving papers to a few close acquaintances of Britney, cousin Alli Sims being one of them. The horrible rapper’s lawyers claim many more “acquaintances” of Spears will be served, body guards and nannies most likely included.

After hearing the bad news, Britney went out and did what any certifiably insane person would do; cruised a drugstore for cheap candles and a $12.95 Hallmark gift book entitled “50 Truths Worth Knowing”.

Here’s a truth worth knowing for you, Brit. Salvation ain’t gonna come in mass produced volume of crap. Get outta the drugstore and into rehab before your lame ex-husband becomes less lame than you.