The cosmetics industry calls it “trading down,” but most women call it common sense. The economy is prompting women to look more closely at budget alternatives to many of their favorite department store products.
Here’s a quick look at 21 budget beauty resources to help us save some scratch without having to sacrifice too much on quality. 🙂
If you enjoyed this post, you may also like…
- Beauty on a Budget: Advice from a Stylist: From the Fashion & Style pages of The New York Times, makeup artist Ann Orcutt shows how to “trade down” from department store makeup and drugstore without sacrificing on quality.
- What’s Your Favorite Drugstore Skin Care Buy? Don’t miss the comments on this Glamour mag post with suggestions on top drugstore skin care buys.
- 8 Eyeshadows Under $10: Glamour’s Beth Shapouri links to a gallery of 8 pretty eyeshadow palettes and quads worth checking out.
- Boots Amazon Forest Brazil Nut and Vanilla Selection: I love Brazil nuts. If you do, too, then check out the Boots aisle at your local Target.
- Kiss Manicure Salon Kit: Here’s a fantastic $10 kit with eight items for manicures on the go.
- Sally Hansen Miracle Cure: Where the heck has Sally’s Miracle Cure been all my life? I have GOT to get myself a bottle of this stuff.
- Maybelline Define-A-Lash Mascara: How do you beat $7.95 for longer than long, blacker than black lashes?
- Top 5 Drugstore Beauty Items (Dec 2007): A couple of these aren’t easy to find anymore, but they’re all great budget standbys.
- MSN Lifestyle Blog: Favorite Drugstore Beauty Buys: Here’s a nice list of drugstore beauty products Rebecca at MSN Lifestyle recommends.
- Beauty on a Budget: Under the Radar Finds: I’d never heard of some of these drugstore gems before.
- A Product Snob’s Favorite Drugstore Finds: When it comes to budget beauty, it takes something truly special to win the heart of a self-proclaimed products snob.
- Cheap Chic False Eyelashes: If Shu’s too rich for you, try these peeper enhancers. They’re a whopping $5.99! Sport flirty, fun lashes for much, much less.
- Suave Humectant Shampoo and Conditioner: Here’s a nice review of a popular uber-drugstore shampoo and conditioner that combined cost less than $7!
- Neutrogena Antioxidant Age Reverse Day Lotion: Futurederm articles cover all the bases, and this one’s no different. Here’s a look at a product whose name may be a mouthful, but for less than $20 it promises to reduce free radicals by 99%.
- Olay ProX Professional Anti Aging Skin Care Line: At $61.50, this kit’s at the high end of the drugstore beauty spectrum, but Futurederm thinks it’s one of the best skin care systems around.
- Which Olay Night Moisturizer Should I Use? Choosing among Olay’s many products isn’t easy. They make a ton! This look at Olay night moisturizers can help.
- Real People Love Clean and Clear Persagel: Here’s an acne spot treatment that gets consistently high marks from users.
- 10 Cheap Beauty Must-Haves : A $1 lip glaze?? Yup. These budget beauty over-achievers shouldn’t be missed.
- Luxe Tips Blog’s Favorite Drugstore Beauty Products: A few more recommended drugstore gems… these courtesy of the great Luxe Tips blog.
- Best Budget Mascaras: Have you stopped by a drugstore in the middle of the night, wondering which budget mascara was best? Here’s some help.
- Best Budget Friendly Body Washes: Here, Real Simple readers picked some of their favorite inexpensive body washes.
Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,
Karen
Wow! What a treasure-trove of great information! I really can’t stand certain drugstore products (I never like the eyeshadows compared to the high-end brands), but I know there are some great, inexpensive products out there! Now you (and these links) will help me find them! Awesome! 🙂
Hi Glosslizard,
You’re welcome! 🙂
I love some of these products..so happy to hear they are known for being good!
.-= Tali’s last blog post… Product of the week- Amouage Reflection =-.
Hi Tali,
There’s a lot of really great drugstore stuff. Are there any products you’ve really been loving lately?
Great post! much more than just 21 tips!
.-= adriana’s last blog post… =-.
Hi Adriana,
Glad you enjoyed it!
When my nails start acting up, I always grab Nutra nail from the nail polish ale. It does wonders to strengthen or grow your nails.
Hi Aleia,
That’s good to know! Thank you for the recommendation. 🙂
I have been raving to people about the Boots Brazil Nut line, because it smells just like yellow cake batter! 🙂
Hi Kerri K,
Yummy… I love dessert scented products. How well does it moisturize?
I’m sad that the Boots stuff received such a poor review. When I come back from school, I always find that my mommy will tuck away some new drugstore beauty finds in my drawers, and the latest was the Boots body scrub but in the Mint Melon Sugar scent (she got the Brazil Nut & Vanilla for herself). I really like the scent of mine, but hers smelled AMAZING to me. My only gripe is that it leaves you feeling a bit…oily. But it scrubs nicely with a good consistency without feeling too abrasive. Oh well. Different people, different skin right? Thanks for the links, Karen!
Hi Caitlin,
That’s so sweet that your mom does that! 🙂 She sounds like a very good mommy! How often do you visit home? And what are you studying?
I kinda like the oily residue, but that’s probably because my skin is *supa* dry. I’ll have to try the Brazil Nut scrub now… ‘
great post/idea! hope you post more of these 😉
.-= Maggie’s last blog post… Project 5 Pan Update + I’ve been tagged! =-.
Hi Maggie,
Glad you enjoyed this round up. I’ll try to do more in the future.
This post made me happy 🙂 I especially liked the article on Orcutt. Thanks!
Hi Shannon,
You’re welcome! 🙂 Happy Monday!
These drugstore products are the expensive kind in the home country, Karen. Haha.
Hi Meream,
Hopefully one of these days you can make it over here to stock up!
I do wish our drug stores here carry some of these brands. Yea, we have Johnson’s here but not Burt’s Bees, ELF, etc…
.-= Vonvon’s last blog post… Had A Great Weekend! =-.
Hi Vonvon,
I wish you guys got Burt’s Bees, too. That line makes some amazing body care products.
I live in Mabelline Define-A-Lash. Absolutely love it! Better than most high-priced department store brands.
wow, thanks for the link love!!
I’m so glad I found this Beauty Budget Info. Always wondered why I spent so much when I could have gone this route. Oh happy days! 🙂
Forgot to thank you for your site. I get lots of great tips and info and pics from you.
Karen-
Did I read somewhere you said Flirt was found at Target?
I thought that was sold at Kohl s ?
( I couldn’t find your post after to answer it:(
Michele