Teen Mom 2 star Chelsea Houska chats beauty with the Bargain Blonde

When I recently received an e-mail from Chelsea Houska's PR Team asking me if I'd like to interview her, I couldn't type "Um, duh" fast enough. Were my eyes deceiving me? Was this really an e-mail asking if I'd like to interview Chelsea Houska from MTV's Teen Mom 2?  No friends, my eyes were not playing tricks.  This was real life and last night i had the opportunity to speak with this pretty mamma all about her favorite beauty and hair products.

via Chelsea's Instagram (@ChelseaHouska)

As a huge Teen Mom fan (I've never missed an episode), excited was an understatement. Chelsea has always been a favorite of mine because of what an amazing Mom she seems like and on a personal level, I can relate to her relationship woes with Aubree's father. 

Plus, I've always thought she was beautiful with great style, and since she is currently enrolled at Black Hills Beauty College in Sioux Falls, South Dakota, where she studies the art of make-up application and hair design, I couldn't wait to chat all things hair and beauty with her.  

In case you are wondering, I'm happy to report that Chelsea was just as sweet and down to earth as I expected.  In fact, I totally felt like her and I were long lost besties just chatting away. You could even hear little Aubree running around in the background.  Speaking of Aubree, is she not the cutest ever?

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Enough of my rambling. Check out our interview below and let me know what you think in the comments! 

Did you always know you wanted to be involved in beauty/hair?  What made you decide to go to beauty school?

My mom went to beauty school and she did it for a little while when I was younger. And when I was growing up, our house had a room that was like a salon. I was always in there playing with my friends' hair so I've always known this is what I wanted to do.

You are running late and only have time to put on three make-up items before leaving the house, what are they and why?

Mascara because you always need mascara, a little powder or bronzer and lipstick or chapstick. I feel like that covers a little of everything.

I have long hair as do you, so how do you keep yours healthy?  Any tricks of the trade learned in beauty school?

Before beauty school I never used thermal sprays, but ever since I started school, I learned how important thermal sprays are. I use Kenra Thermal Styling Spray, which you can get at salons.   

I always curl my hair, and the products I use are mousse, a spray leave-in conditioner, thermal spray and I finish with a silkening gloss. 

Chelsea's Curls via

Favorite hair product you swear by? 
There is this stuff that I use that makes my hair really big. It’s called Dust It by Osis. You put a little bit in at the roots and then you tease it. I love it!

*Editors Note: We started talking about how we both have fine hair and I told her it is impossible for me to tease my hair because of this. She swears Dust It is a miracle, so I am ordering it online here and I will report back.  It has great reviews online!

How many times a week you wash your hair?

My hair is really fine and if I don’t wash it often, it looks greasy so I wash it every day or every other day.  I have used the Kenra Dry Shampoo between washes. 

Whenever I'm babysitting my 4-year-old nephew, my beauty routine goes out the window.  How do you find the time to put yourself together as a single mom enrolled in school raising a young daughter?   

It’s so hard!  But, I always wake up early before her to get ready and then once I'm ready, I'll get her ready.  We have a great routine down.  If I try to get ready while she's awake, it's so hard because she loves to play in my make-up. 

Chelsea and Aubree via

What is your favorite drug store foundation and mascara? 

I've used Revlon Colorstay Foundation for forever and my favorite mascaras are by L'oreal. I just try to find the mascara with the thick brushes on the end because I like my eyelashes really big!  

  

Do you use pencil, automatic or liquid liner?  What is your favorite brand? 

I use pencil and automatic.  I am obsessed with all MAC make-up, so their eyeliner is probably my fave. 

Name a makeup crime that you hate.

I hate this but I know I’m guilty of it sometimes. I hate when people have foundation lines all down their chin. I hate it, but I know I’ve been guilty of it! 

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What celebrity beauty style do you admire the most?

For hair I admire Lauren Conrad because she does a lot of how-tos on her blog that I like to follow.  I love the Kardashian girls for make-up.

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Do you feel like you have to get "done up" before filming? Do you have stylists that help you or is what we see hair and make-up wise done all by you? 

I wish we had people who did our hair and make-up but they definitely don’t!  At first, when I first started filming, I would always try to get ready, but now I don’t always and I always regret it if I don't. 

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There you have it bargainistas. My Guiliana Rancic "red carpet moment".  Except I was sitting on my couch in sweats on a cell phone.  Story of my life.

So, what do you think? Do you love Chelsea as much as me?  I cannot wait to try out the Dust It hair product she recommended.  Huge thank you to Chelsea for taking the time to chat beauty with me! 

Review: e.l.f. Flawless Finish Foundation and All Over Color Stick

It's been a while, but I'm happy to report that as a result of my latest Target trip, I have two new e.l.f. products to dish on: The e.l.f. Studio Flawless Finish Foundation ($6) and Essential All Over Color Stick ($1).    

I wasn't sure what to expect because foundation is something you definitely don't want to skimp on in my opinion.  I mean, no one likes the girl with the orange jaw line, right? Plus, I already have a favorite foundation living happily in my make-up bag, (L'oreal Infallible) so why fix what isn't broken?  Well, for only $6, I just couldn't resist the urge to at least try it out.

Here are my thoughts ...

The packaging was pretty & I love a pump dispenser. Check and check.

Since I'm so pasty that I could easily be mistaken for Powder, I purchased the lightest shade: Porcelain. 

The coverage is medium to full, which is my preference when it comes to foundation coverage:

Product shown on my hand. 

And here is how my face looks with the foundation (no PhotoShop or editing of any kind).  Everything about this foundation reminds me of my fave foundation, but is half the price.  I'm sold.

Oh, what is that rosy hue on my cheeks you ask?  Why, it's the "All Over Color Stick" in the shade Pink Lemonade.

Product:

Here is a swatch of the product not blended and blended (using my fingers):

A little goes a LONG way with this color stick, which can be used to highlight your cheeks, brow bones and lips.  Personally I wouldn't put this particular color on my eyes, but that's me.  I've used it on my cheeks and lips and love the color.  Another tip - do not apply the stick directly to your skin. Use a light touch and a finger to apply and blend.

There you have it friends.  Two more slam dunks from e.l.f.  If you've tried these particular products, what did you think?  If not, will you try them?  Leave your thoughts in the comments.

p.s. Right now e.l.f. has a promo for $10 of a $30 online purchase using the code "TAXREFUND" by 4/16.   

Pour one out for my homie: Sephora Collection Mineral Loose Powder Foundation

Figures. I would get addicted to this foundation after it's been discontinued.  Pour one out ...

Allow me to fill you in on the story, which goes a little something like this:

I peruse Sephora during a lunch break one day.  The usual.


I spy the above Sephora Collection Mineral Loose Powder Foundation in a bin for $4 bones.


I say to myself, "No way can it be that price. I must buy immed."


Turns out I fall in love a.k.a. I am obsessed with the coverage and ridiculously easy application care of my new pink bedazzled e.l.f. gem Kabuki brush.  Exhibit A:

Yes, you need in your life. Target has a ton of e.l.f.'s new gem collection tools.

Naturally, I start wearing this foundation every day.


I decide I should stock up before I run out.


I venture to Sephora dot com to buy some more, which brings me to exhibit B:

DAMN YOU SEPHORA!  Whhhhyyyyyy?????

I should have known better than to cheat on my beloved e.l.f.  I know you can't see me, but I'm shaking my fist in the air.

Plan B: Frantically scoured the e.l.f. Web site for mineral loose powder foundation because I refuse to pay Bare Minerals $28 price tag. 

 Badda bing:

e.l.f. Mineral Personal Blend Foundation SPF 15 - $8

Badda boom:

e.l.f. Mineral Foundation - $5

I am going to try the Personal Blend option first because my skin is either ghost white or fake tan and this will allow me to control the shade of color.  

God bless e.l.f.  I swear, I don't know what I did before e.l.f. was in my life.  I am ordering stat and I will follow-up with a review.

Is anyone else obsessed with mineral foundation?  What do you recommend?

p.s. Go enter Ashley's giveaway! It's a year subscription to SELF magazine.