It’s nearly the weekend. The hustle and bustle of the week with its stresses and deadliines is finally going to be over and give way to the hustle and bustle of the weekend. If you are like me, you have your weekend schedule nearly as full as your weekday one. You have planned both practical and recreational activities enough to more than fill those two days.

But somewhere in there, don’t forget to allot a little “me” time. What better way to pamper yourself than a long and luxurious bubble bath?

Make it more than just a bath, make it a total relaxation experience. Turn on some soothing music, light a candle and fill your tub with something that will delight your senses and rejuvenate your skin and your spirit.

Aveeno’s Stress Relief Foaming Bath with Natural Colloidal Oatmeal contains Lavender and Chamomile to calm and relax while it cleanses and moisturizes dry skin. Aveeno’s formula has been clinically proven to calm and relax and improve your well-being.

Depilatory creams and lotions are products that remove unwanted hair without shaving or waxing. Depilatories work because they contain chemicals that dissolve keratin, the material that hair is made of.

To get the best results, wet a washcloth with warm water and apply it to the area you wish to denude. This softens the hair prior to application of the depilatory cream. After waiting the prescribed time (be careful not to leave the depilatory on longer than the maximum recommended time) wipe the area with a washcloth again, using a little pressure. Do not rub. This will help to remove the hair more effectively.

Depilatories are touted for being quick solutions to unwanted hair, but because of the waiting time involved, I don’t find them to be quicker than shaving. The advantages that a deplitory offers are that the results will last days longer than shaving and you won’t have to suffer nicks and cuts.

The disadvantages of depilatories are that they often have an unpleasant odor while they are working and they may irritate sensitive skin. Always do a patch test on your forearm to make sure you are not allergic or sensitive to the product. Do not use on broken skin.

The easiest product for application that I have seen is Nair’s Mousse. It automatically applies a good, thick layer that surrounds each hair and has added baby oil and aloe so it is gentle and healing for your skin. Average wait time for legs is about 8 minutes, maximum wait time is 15 minutes. Be careful never to exceed the maximum of 15 minutes.

With the straight hair styles now in fashion, many women are resorting to high temperature, high air-volume hair-dryers and flat irons. But the stress all that heat and pulling causes can make hair brittle and dry.

The great thing about today’s styles is that anything goes. It’s fun to change your hairstyle to suit the weather and also to give your hair a break from all those harsh products.

If your hair is wavy you can let it air-dry naturally. Use a good leave-in conditioner to keep the frizzies under control and make it look shiny and fresh. Even if your hair is straight you can scrunch it with mousse and give it that sexy, tousled and curly look. On hot or rainy days, pull longer hair up into a bun or a twist while it is still wet. An updo is a classic look for the office. It will dry through the day and when you take it out of the clips or pins, it will have voluminous waves that will look natural and healthy.

Play and experiment with your hair until you find the no-fuss way that works for you. You will shave a few minutes off your morning grooming routine and enjoy the change in your usual look.

Why beauty on a budget? Because it really doesn’t cost a lot to look fabulous. Occasionally I may pay a little more for a product that really excels or that I just happen to like for whatever reason (usually something very logical, like the fragrance or the packaging). On the whole though, there are many good manufacturers of beauty products and cosmetics whose products if chosen carefully and used well, will give you the look you desire and the confidence to be as beautiful as you feel.

What about homemade cosmetics and cleansers, you ask? Now and again I might tell you about some easy home preparation that works as well as commercial products, but let’s face it, today’s modern woman is busy. She may be pursuing a career with all she has or staying at home caring for children, but her time is at a premium. She deserves to have the best and still some time left over for herself.

It’s always trial and error to find the products that work best for you, but you don’t need to spend a fortune to look your best. In the long run, it isn’t the the label or the price tag that people see, it’s you. Let them see how beautiful YOU are!