Beauty

I have to admit, I like getting little designs on my nails when I go to the salon. The manicurists make the prettiest little flowers on my toenails or the nails on my ring fingers so easily. I, on the other hand, can barely keep my hand steady to paint my nails with a simple coat of polish. In an attempt to master their detailed artwork, I tested Sally Hansen Nail Art Pen ($8, available at Walgreens). The pens look more like fine point sharpies and come in 8 shade options. The instructions say to use on top of a base coat or a shade of your choice.

So with the economy being…well, what it is, it’s no surprise to hear that department stores are bearing much of the brunt. And with this decrease in people traffic inevitably comes a decrease in beauty counter sales. This got us wondering: Have you been feeling the pinch in this way? Have you been skipping that department store counter experience in exchange for drugstore aisles or—gasp!—a natural, makeup-free face? Do you miss it? Tell us here: