Who doesn’t love a beauty bargain? Seriously: crazy people! I asked this recently in the Monday Poll, and I got so many good ideas from you that a followup post was necessary. ? Connor starts preschool in August, and hot dayum!
It’s expensive. So I’m game to save a little moola.
Anywho… I mentioned this one in the poll, but I’m a die-hard Cetaphil fan. It’s just a creamy face wash. No bells and whistles. But it never dries out my skin or gives me breakouts, and it’s only $7 at Target.
After washing my face with it and wiping it off with a wet washcloth, my skin’s clean but NOT dry or tight. Sometimes I use it to wash my hands and body, too!
For the record, it isn’t a superstar when it comes to removing makeup all by itself, though, so at night I remove my foundation and eye makeup before I do Cetaphil.
Other drugstore products I swear by…
- Aveeno Body Lotion — The Skin Relief 24H Moisturizing and the Daily Moisturizing Lotion are my faves.
- Herbal Essences bio:renew Micellar Water & Blue Ginger Shampoo, Conditioner and Foam Conditioner — Doesn’t strip my hair or weigh it down, and it’s so affordable.
- Neutrogena Dry Touch Sunscreens — They feel light on my skin, aren’t super greasy, and I like how they layer underneath makeup.
What’s a drugstore beauty product you swear by? Feel free to list as many you can/want!
Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,
Karen
NYX matte lipstick in Beauty and Whipped Caviar, Target Up and Up grapefruit body wash (for clearing acne), and Revlon colorstay foundation and powder. Walmart’s Equate brand has some good dupes as well.
Aveeno Body Lotion does what it says in 12hrs!!
Aveeno day & night creams are great too; as is the daily scrub but not for makeup removal (leaves behind a residue)
Also the Rimmel Eye Makeup Remover is great for removal of non-waterproof makeup and great for fixes with no greasy feel afterwards.
Essence nail polishes & lipglosses (avail thru shoppers drug mart in Canada or on line, aimed at preteens/teens)
Hawaiian Tropic SPF 50. Smells great, not greasy, and it works! I also love Maybelline loose powder to set my makeup; I hate how gross the poof gets but have not mastered the art of powder application with a brush. Drugstore triangular sponges to put my foundation on; they’re cheaper and easier for me to use than a Beauty Blender.
Oh, girl, preschool spending is just to get your feet wet. The real money is coming up later.
I’ve dropped over $200 this week, just for uniforms and the first of three supply lists for one of the two girls. There will be two more supply lists for the 11 year old and then three supply lists for the 15 year old. I also still have to get the 15 year old a couple more pairs of pants and the 11 year old her shoes. Then there will be volleyball-related stuff for one and basketball-related stuff for the other.
Coty Air Spun powder sets everything well, Cetaphil is always my go to, Clear shampoo and conditioner, Garnier Micellar water gets the makeup off. I love drugstore brands!
It’s hard to believe Connor is old enough for preschool already. How exciting!
You should see what my brother pays for his kids to go to private school in the San Francisco area. Yikes!
There is so much great stuff at the drug store these days. I’m quite in love with Physician’s Formula Butter Blush in Plum Rose. E.l.f. Flawless Finish Foundation in Light Ivory is the only drug store foundation that doesn’t oxidize on me, plus it’s a great color match. Almost any NYX lippie gets my seal of approval.
I use L’Oreal Lash Paradise mascara every now and then. L’Oreal EverCreme shampoo and conditioner are my daily, need to wash the workout sweat out of my hair duo. And I use the L’Oreal True Match Naturale Powdered Mineral Foundation every so often to lightly powder over my sunscreen before a workout to keep it from sweating into my eyes. Guess I’m just a L’Oreal kind of girl.
I do like the e.l.f. foundation brush, too.
I use Cetaphil, too, the normal/oily version, also love Essence Volume Stylist Curling Mascara (pink tube), L’Oreal Fairest Nude lipstick, Yes to Cucumber Facial Wipes for removing makeup and Oil of Olay Facial Cleansing Clothes to wash my face, when I don’t want to use the Cetaphil and Clairisonic. OH and Maybelline Nude Glow e/s for $3.99 is da bomb.
Girl, I hear you on preschool costs! As for drugstore faves that I swear by here are a few that I love:
Cerave Hydrating Facial Cleanser
Cerave moisturizing PM lotion (I use it all day and for my eyes too!)
Aveeno Hydrate and Protect for face SPF 50
ELF Poreless Primer
Ulta Matte eyeshadow primer
Catrice Prime and Fine Spray (my dupe for Mac fix plus Although the spray isn’t that great, so I generally transfer into an empty bottle of Mac fix plus)
LA girl pro hd concealer/color correctors
Morphe beauty sponge
Maybelline fit me matte powder
Nyx slim lip liner
Elf makeup mist & set
L’Oreal blow dry it smoother cream
L’Oreal sleek it iron straight heat spray
I must admit though that I have not found suitable drugstore alternatives for my beloved Mac foundation, mascara, eyeshadows or blushes so I usually but them when Ulta or MAC have sales or by buying the pan.
WetnWild Max Volume Plus Mascara, CoverGirl Lash Blast Fusion mascara, Maybelline Full N soft mascara… so many great drugstore mascaras! I also love Revlon SuperLustrous lipstick, Out the Door topcoat, Essie nail color and Milani Rose Blush. My heart will always have a special place for only at the drug store vintage finds like Rainbath Shower gel, Jean Nate and Coty Airspun powder.
My favorites are Loreal Lash Paradise mascara and Maybelline Volum’ Express Colossal Spider Effect mascara!! I have yet to find any mascara to beat those and there is no way I would pay more than $10 for a mascara. No way, no how!
I love Garnier make up wipes. [green package] The smell is wonderful, spa-like!
I hope Connor absolutely loves preschool!
L’Oreal EverSleek shampoo and conditioner, which I like because they are both sulfate- and silicone-free, gentle on my hair but don’t weigh it down.
L’Oreal Telescopic mascara in Carbon Black.
Aquaphor for the very worst dry spots. I layer it over another moisturizer. I’m super desiccated.
Pixi Glow Tonic!
Hi Shin Ae,
I hope she does too. I think it’ll be good for the both of us! We’re very bonded and while I have loved having her with me every day for it’ll be nice to get a long and steady stretches of time to myself.
P.S. Totally agree, Pixi Glow Tonic is great! I used it back in the day.
Neutrogena Ultra Gentle Hydrating Cleanser (creamy formula)
Garnier Skinactive Micellar Cleansing Water
CeraVe Facial Moisturizing Lotion – AM & PM
Bliss Makeup Melt – the new drugstore version of Bliss
Loreal Voluminous Lash Paradise mascara
Neutrogena Essential Eye Palette by Kerry Washington
Just started using No.7 Protect & Perfect Intense Advanced Serum
Herbal Essences Bio-Renew blue ginger & micellar water shampoo and foam conditioner
Trader Joe’s 100% Argan Oil
Trader Joe’s Shea Butter & Coconut Oil Hair Mask
and of course – Trader Joe’s Rose Oil Hand Cream
Also just tried the Method Body Energy Boost Body Wash from Target, which smells alot like the ginger product line from Origins.
By the way, just finished the book “The Beauty of Dirty Skin” by Dr. Whitney Bowe, and you should check it out if you see it in the library. Alot of science, but very informative – thought you would like it since you are all about skincare this year!
Hi Daphne,
I love science so I will probably be into it! I just grabbed some fiction books yesterday: Sourdough by Robin Solan, River Under the Road by Scott Spencer and Mrs. Fletcher by Tom Perrotta. Can’t wait to start them. What else are you reading these days?
So many gals here on MBB rave about that CeraVe Facial Lotion. Adding it to my wish list!
I love Cetaphil cleanser too! I use the one for oily skin. I also love L’Oreal Voluminous and Lash Paradise mascaras, Rimmel lip and eyeliners, CeraVe baby lotion (no parabens, yay), and Essence Lash Princess and Make Me Brow.
I really like the CeraVe lotion and also use their SA version for the bumpy spots around my knees. I used to use the facial cleanser but prefer something a little more “thin” for my Clarisonic and more pore clearing (Burt’s Bees acne wash – the gel cleanser, but it’s VERY thin). Speaking of pore clearing, the Neutrogena Rapid Clear acne lotion has been good for my t-zone. I also like St Ives body wash and body lotion. For body sunscreen, we’ve had good luck with the Up and Up kids’ spray. I think that’s about it for my drugstore/Target faves. 🙂
How is it possible Connor is going to be old enough for preschool? Wasn’t she just born like last month? That’s how if feels to this reader.
Also, preschool is no joke. That was like making a double house payment for us every month. ka-ching ka-ching.
I love Vaseline but there used to be a really great root volumizer spray from Pantene. Can’t find it anymore and I wish I could buy it again because I’ve been using it for over 20 years. Gives me great volume without weighing my hair down or making it dirty.
Voluminous Mascara, Burt’s Bees lip shimmers, Pacifica perfumes, and everything Trader Joe’s.
These are my-can’t-live without affordable products! Cerave moisturizing cream, Suave Keratin dry shampoo, Lypsyl lip balm, Australian Gold mineral sunblocks, Not Your Mother’s Beach Babe Sea Salt Spray, L’oreal EverStrong thickening shampoo and Elnett hairspray, Pacifica sea foam face wash, dreamy youth moisturizer, and cactus micellar water. 🙂
Rimmel eyeliners, Johnson’s Baby Head To Toe (for my face wash), Neutrogena Hydro Boost Gel, Garner Micellar Water are my faves.
Maybelline Lash Sensational Mascara in brownish black. I’ve tried every high end mascara out there and never finish a tube. I have gone through countless Lash Sensational mascaras and won’t ever stray again. I also keep repurchasing Eucerin Gentle Hydrating Cleanser. It’s no Fresh Soy Cleanser, but it removes my makeup without stripping my skin too badly and I never stress about rationing it or repurchasing it.