The Drugstore = My Beauty Shop

Before I had kids, I was a department store/pro salon junkie. All of my beauty products were brand name, expensive and procured at places that were literally miles from anyplace you could also buy milk or aspirin or cat food. Children not only put a crimp in my budget for beauty supplies, they also took the leisure time that I used to spend going to Macy’s for moisturizer or Aveda for balm to treat my hair frizzies.

These days I’m a drugstore mom, with the vast majority of my beauty supplies picked up when I grab greeting cards or Children’s Tylenol. If I can’t make it to Macy’s on a regular basis, then I have to buy my beauty stuff when I’m buying my groceries, and I’ve got it down to a fine science with certain products I swear by. I thought I’d share them with you, and see if you can recommend some, too. (Disclaimer: while I have done work for a couple of these brands, none of them have given me any product or money in exchange for a mention. The only way my work could have swayed my opinion would be by exposing me to these products in the first place – but if they don’t work and I don’t love them, I’m not recommending them. So there!)

#1 Drugstore Beauty Product I Can’t Live Without: Olay Complete Moisturizer with SPF 15. I used to swear by Clinique moisturizer, but now I swear by Olay. I live in this stuff because it works and because I know it’s protecting me from the aging, damaging sun. For a richer moisturizer, I LOVE Regenerist Microsculpting Cream, but at the mid- to upper-$20s price point it’s about as expensive as I care to get with a face product. Often, I’ll use the Microsculpting Cream at night, then the Olay Complete for day.
#2 Drugstore Beauty Product I Can’t Live Without: Sonia Kashuk Hidden Agenda Eye Area Concealer Pallette. Being a working mom has given me dark circles and all sorts of other unsightly blemishes around my eyes, and this pallette is the best I’ve found for making me look like I didn’t get up 5 times in the night with a crying toddler. Get it at Target, along with a Sonia Kashuk concealer brush. My only complaint is that I use some of the colors quicker than others. I’d love if I could buy replacements one color at a time.

#3 Drugstore Beauty Product I Can’t Live Without: Maybelline Instant Age Rewind Radiant Firming Makeup and Protector Finishing Powder. Let’s face it, I’m not getting any younger. The goji berry and caffeine in these products seems to perk me up a bit while doing what a concealer and powder should. I also am a fan of the Cover Girl Clean line – it’s nice and light and blends easily into my skin.

#4 Drugstore Beauty Product I Can’t Live Without: Clairol Nice & Easy Root Touch-Up. Remember when I said I wasn’t getting younger? The grays have begun their invasion and my budget for salon trips can’t quite keep up. So I make my hair color last a little longer by doing up the roots with this easy-to-use system. It blends nicely with the salon color and, at about $6 a pop, it saves me money until I’m ready to go back to see  a professional.

#5 Drugstore Beauty Product I Can’t Live Without: Biosilk Silk Therapy. This stuff is so awesome if you’re like me and your hair gets these annoying flyaways or split ends. Just a tiny bit smooths everything down and makes my hair look healthy and moisturized without being greasy.

#6 Drugstore Beauty Product I Can’t Live Without: Oral-B Professional Care Smart Series 5000 electric toothbrush or Cross Action Manual brush. This is one situation where I did get a free sample, a couple of years ago during a job, and I’ve been a believer ever since. Neither my husband nor I has a job with dental insurance, so taking care of our teeth is a big priority. I don’t think I’ve had a cavity since I started using my Smart Series 5000 electric brush, and when I can’t use it, the Cross Action is an awesome substitute. The Cross Action is probably the best toothbrush I’ve ever used.

Now, how about you? Do you have drugstore beauty products you swear by? Tell me about them!