About a million years ago, I got contacted by Groupon who wanted to talk about how they have a special page dedicated to beauty deals. I took the credit they offered me and used it

to get a

“Revitalising 30-Minute Facial, Eyebrow Shape and Brow and Lash Tint at Beauty Shows Body & Skin Care”. I had never had a

facial before (well, apart from, you know), and I’d always supported full eyebrows, but I had figured out that (part of) the reason my fatty boom brunette fringed style idols Ally and Tangled Up in Lace look so fucking boss is because of their beautiful eyebrows. So I was keen to give it a go.

My facialist was running late, which was annoying because I had a job interview to get to afterwards, but it was nice and relaxing to lie down while she schlubbed stuff all over my face. I wish it hadn’t all smelt like cheap hotel shampoo, but afterwards I did feel gloriously glowing. Meanwhile, my eyebrows looked great – here’s the before and after.

Anyway, it cost me (well, Groupon) $39 instead of $90, which I never would have paid, so I think coupons are a great way to experiment and try new things, and also get things you know are good. I use the Chelsey Deal Aggregator which saves me from having to check all the various sites.

And! Another new discovery via coupons was Makeup 4 Me, which you M.A.C fans will like. Their stuff is cheap, I’m pretty sure it’s the real deal, and service is super quick. When I ordered it turns out they were out of Russian Red lip glass, so I was able to substitute a slightly more expensive Wicked Ways without having to pay extra. Woo!

So, to sum up: do keep an eye on the daily deal sites, whether you want to try new things or save money on things you already know. That is all.

With the various Fashion Weeks now a thing of the past, and New Zealand’s own fashion festival under way, there’s plenty of pretty things on the Internet that might be singing your name. However, we’re not all Ms Wintour or her well-heeled buddies and therefore we won’t all be buying up large at Prada in a few months daaaaaahlink.

If you do want a cheap and cheerful treat (while keeping things chic)…read on!

Shoes

I actually have these lovelies in red. They’re seriously high, so they’re not for the cautious girls who want to maintain their ability to walk long term. However, if you’re okay with a high heel, these are comfy. I wore them several days in a row without (a) back pain or (b) cramp in the arch of my foot. Winner! And they’re now $99.95…which is a discount of $100! Go and see the nice girls at Hannahs about it. It’s not their fault that Hannahs stocks the Kardashian Kollection.

Flatty flat flats, lurvely. These are very “on trend” and also extremely cheap. They’re currently AUD$20 from Jay Jays. I think that if you are down with buying a pair of shoes that you will wear for one season and then have to chuck away, these will fit the bill. However, I would recommend saving your pennies for a bit longer and getting something that will last a bit longer. Having said that, I’ve bought $40 ankle boots from Number One in the past that are still going strong, about four years later, so…

Alright, let’s have a bargain spa day.

Beauty

Farmers is having a great wee sale on Natio at the moment – any three items for $40! They have a great spa range as well as normal beauty products (moisturiser, serums et cetera) and a full range of make up and nailpolishes.

If you’re after a wee beauty pick-me-up on the SUPER cheap, then you might like to pop along to The Warehouse and check out their LA Colours range. The polishes, lip pencils and liquid eyeliners have all enjoyed a little visit to my bathroom cabinet (for research,

of course). The polishes are toluene and formaldehyde free, and dry quickly to a reasonably chip-resistant finish. These are seriously good, and for some reason my local Warehouse is currently charging just $5 for anything from this company (I suspect they’re selling it down as the rack isn’t being topped up, so get there quickly!).

Maybe you’re just topping up the staples but you want something fun! and new! and weird! Then have a go with the Dove Foaming Make Up Remover:

It’s so foamy! The thick, luxurious-feeling foam can be used over your entire face – yes, even around the eyes – and gets off all the makeup without stripping your skin. It even gets off my mascara. I think they might be channelling some kind of pixie magic.

Clothing

Baby, it’s cold(er) outside. It might be time to treat yourself to something cozy and cute, yes?

How about a bobble jumper from the House of G (that’s Glassons, just bein’ fancy):

Maybe you like to be a bit more unique? That bobble jumper is a steal but this little knitted jumper with cable sleeves from Asos works out even cheaper!

You know what looks adorable with a chunky knit? A floaty little skirt creating a contrast and flipping around in the breeze (wear tights though, cold legs ain’t cute). This

basic number would be a wardrobe workhorse for years, so it’s a double bargain at $49.95 on Ezibuy:

A treat can be as good as a holiday (but a lot cheaper!). What are you ladies loving from the budget-friendly end of the spectrum?

From one of our favourtite stores…