Cosmetically Challenged

I've never been that good at makeup. During my adolescence, I failed Hair and Makeup. The one lipstick that I own is used so rarely that even though it's eight years old, it has barely lost its point.

My 12-year-old daughter J uses more lip product in the course of a week than I have in eight years. And somehow she has learned how to apply eye makeup. She can even do the Smoky Eye. I, on the other hand, look like the "before" picture in the hair and makeup segment on a "What Not to Wear" episode. (By the way, that show is the only reason I know what a Smoky Eye is. I do know, however, that it's too much makeup for twelve-year-olds. Especially for day.)

I also know that when 12-year-old girls leave pots of pink lip gloss in their pockets, it can color a whole load of laundry. Because of this, I have accumulated a whole arsenal of laundry products to help me remove the makeup that gets all over clothes. I'm much better at removing makeup than applying it.

But with an almost-teenage girl in the house, the bathroom shelf is sprouting an increasing number of products for face and hair. My daughter must have four different types of face wash, and if she could, she'd have enough shampoos in the shower that her hair could smell different every day of the week. Her favorite gifts include body wash and body butter in a variety of scents. The only kind of butter I know is the kind that is made from cream and can be purchased in a one-pound box at the supermarket!

I'm amazed that she knows about these things and knows how to use them. She certainly didn't learn this from me.

What she can learn from me is how to buy the products she loves--on a budget. That's what coupons are for!

COUPON TIME:

Check out these fabulous beauty deals:

$5 Shipping on your order at Macys.com when you spend $75 or more on beauty & fragrance items
Valid through: Unknown
Enter promo code BEAUTY at checkout.

$10 off an order of $60 or more at Beauty.com
Use this link to activate the promo code. No need to enter a promo code. Discount should appear in your shopping cart after you enter a Delivery ZIP Code and click "get Estimate". If you don't see it, return to the offer landing page and try again.
Valid through: December 31, 2008

Free Shipping on orders over $75 at Origins
Plus a free beauty sample!
Valid through: unknown

Free 10-Day Supply of Bare Escentuals at Sephora
Get a 10-day supply of Bare Escentuals bareMinerals SPF15 plus a baby kabuki brush with any purchase.
Enter promotion code 10DAY at checkout.
Valid through: December 31, 2008 or while supplies last.
One offer per order. Not valid in Canada. Substitutions may occur. Cannot be used in conjunction with other promotion codes.

Free shipping with an order of $15 or more at Avon.com
Use coupon code FALL815.
Valid through: November 6, 2008 11:59pm ET

Free Super Glossy Lip Shine 5 Set with any $30 order at elf
Use coupon code LIPGLOSS5 at checkout.
Valid through: November 30, 2008
Cannot be combined with any other coupons or discounts.
Valid while supplies last.