My Favorite Drug Store Finds: Body Scrubs

"Let us learn to live simply, so that others may simply live." — Mahatma Gandhi

This is the fourth post in my drug store series.   Check out my previous posts on drug store conditioners, mascaras/eyeliners, and lipsticks/lip glosses.

I like to exfoliate my skin at least once per week.   I really like Sabon's body scrub.   There is none better in my opinion.   The down side is that it is not easy to get.   There are not many Sabon stores and if you order online, you have to add shipping costs.   So I decided to try some brands that I saw at Target and Walmart.   I found two scrubs that I really like.

SheaMoisture Organic Olive and Green Tea Body Scrub ($9.99 for12 oz)

This scrub smells really good and it leaves my skin soft and glowing.   The crystals dissolve easily into the skin and it is not abrasive.   The oils are very light and do not make your skin feel greasy.

*BEST VALUE *Tree Hut Shea Sugar Brazilian Nut Body Scrub ($5.98 for 18 oz at Walmart)

I love this scrub because it works really well and it smells amazing.   It smells like chocolate but it is not overpowering.   The scrub melts into the skin easily.   I feel like I really pampered myself after applying this scrub.   I actually love applying my moisturizer afterward.   The smell, along with the softness of my skin, makes me smile.

Please comment if you have tried the scrubs that I discussed.   I'd love to know what you think about them.   If you have any favorites of your own, please share.   Also, I am still trying to find facial cleansing and moisturizing products in the drug store aisle.   I tried Neutrogena, Olay, and Biore but they are too harsh for my dry, sensitive skin.   If you have a facial cleansing routine that includes drug store brands, I'd love to hear about it.

Good bye, for now.  Thanks for reading.

My Favorite Drug Store Finds: Lips

"My philosophy? Simplicity plus variety." — Hank Stram

This is part 3 of my drug store series. Check out my two previous posts on drug store conditioners and mascara/eyeliner. This post focuses on my favorite kind of makeup: Lipstick and lip gloss.

Lipstick

I was really a snob when it came to lipstick. I never thought I would find a lipstick that could keep my lips moisturized and maintain its color in the drug store. Well I did. In fact, I found two that I really like. The first is L'Oreal ColorRiche. I tried this lipstick because it was on sale. I am happy that I did. I have the Fiery Veil (no. 177). It looks very orangey in the tube but it goes on very soft. I love the color. I also love the way my lips feel after applying the ColorRiche lipstick. They are soft and they stay that way all day.

Here are my lips. I added a little clear lip gloss on top:

The second is Boots No. 7 Moisture Drench Lipstick. I believe this brand is only available at Target. I have the No 30 (Plum Beautiful). It is a rosy color that is very soft. This lipstick feels more like a lip conditioner than a lipstick.


Here is a picture of my lips with the Boots lipstick:

Lip Gloss

I love lip gloss. I am always wearing it. I don't take out the trash without applying my gloss first. Okay, that might be an exaggeration, but you get the picture. I have a lot of lip gloss but I find the one that I wear on a daily basis is one that I got from Target. Boots No. 7 makes my favorite lip gloss too. It is the Sheer Temptation and it is the Entice shade. I love the way my lips feel when I use this gloss. It does not dry my lips out. It provides just a hint of color and a little shine. It is perfect as an everyday lip gloss.

Here I am with my Boots lip gloss:

What drug store lipsticks do you wear regularly? Do you think you will try any of the brands I discuss?

Good bye, for now. Thanks for reading.

My Favorite Drug Store Finds: Eyes

"Beauty of style and harmony and grace and good rhythm depend on simplicity." — Plato

This is part 2 of my exploration of drug store products. Read "My Favorite Drug Store Finds: Hair Conditioners" to find out which low-cost conditioners I've fallen in love with. In this post, I discuss drug store mascara and eyeliner. I dispose of my mascara every 6 months whether I am wearing it regularly or not. Therefore, I thought mascara was another good place to experiment with money-saving products.
Mascara

I have fallen in love with Rimmel mascara. It works just as well, if not better, than the department store brands I swore by. My favorite mascara is the Lash Accelerator. This mascara does what it says. It makes my lashes look much longer. It does not do a lot for thickening so I usually add the Rimmel Scandaleyes with it. Scandaleyes is great for thickening. The brush is so big and soft. I love the way it feels on my lashes. Lash Accelerator and Scandaleyes together will make your lashes look like falsies. The only drawback with the Scandaleyes is that you have to let it dry. Do not watch sappy movies right after applying this mascara. I made that mistake and scared myself when I walked by the mirror. I usually put the Lash Accelerator on first and then add the Scandaleyes. I absolutely love this combination. I have not been able to achieve these results with any other mascara, including the higher end brands I tried from MAC and Sephora.
Eyeliner

There are two eyeliners that I really like. The first is Physicians Formula Eye Booster 2-in-1 Lash Boosting Eyeliner. I got it in ultra black. This liner goes on very smooth and will last all day. It is a serum and the applicator is a very thin brush. It is shaped like a pencil and it is easy to apply. If you like liquid eyeliner, you will love the Lash Booster. I use this to line the top of my eye before I apply mascara when I am going for a "night on the town" look. It is also supposed to condition the lashes. I can't speak to that claim though. I don't wear it enough.
If you are a pencil person, then try Jemma Kidd's i-conic eyes pencil liner. I picked this up at Target in black. This liner goes on very smooth also and although it does not run, it is easy to smudge if you so desire.
Here are my eyes with nothing and then after I applied both Rimmel mascaras and the Physicians Formula liner to my top lid:

 

What are your favorite mascara and/or eyeliner? I'd love to hear what you are using or if you plan to use one of the brands I discussed.

Good bye, for now. Thanks for reading.

My Favorite Drug Store Finds: Hair Conditioners

"Our life is frittered away by detail… Simplify, simplify." — Henry Thoreau

I decided to try drug store conditioners because I am always in Walmart or Target for one reason or another and I am a fan of economies of scale. I was a little apprehensive about trying low-cost conditioners because I have dry, kinky hair. If I use a lightweight conditioner, my hair will be a nightmare to detangle. I am pleasantly surprised by how well some of the lower-cost conditioners worked. If you rely on designer conditioners, I suggest you give these products a try. You may make the switch too. I don't think you will be disappointed and your budget will love you for it.

Herbal Essences Hello Hydration– this conditioner is the bomb. You can find it pretty much anywhere. It costs about $5 for 23 fl oz. It is one of my staple conditioners. It is very moisturizing and you get so much for so little. I am already on my third bottle.

TRESemmé Naturals Nourishing Moisture Conditioner– this conditioner is also wonderful. It is just as moisturizing as the Hello Hydration but it has organic ingredients. It costs about $4 for 25 fl oz. I just started adding this conditioner to my rotation and I am very pleased with its performance.
Trader Joe's nourish SPA conditioner – This is only available at Trader Joe's. Trader Joe's is not a drug store but this conditioner is so inexpensive, I had to add it. It is about $2 for 16.9 fl oz. I LOVE this conditioner. It also contains all organic ingredients. It is very moisturizing and if you have natural hair, it will make detangling a breeze. I have been using this conditioner for over four years now. I've been using it on my 3-yr-old's hair since he turned 1. Need I say more?

Giovanni Direct Leave-in and the Deeper Moisture Conditioner– These are great protein conditioners. You can get them at Target. For some reason, Target stocks them in the specialty aisle and not with the other conditioners. They cost more than the previous conditioners I discuss but they work very well. Sometimes protein treatments can leave the hair hard and dry. Not these conditioners. They leave my hair very soft and moisturized. They cost around $9.99 for 8.5 fl oz. The Direct Leave-in is my favorite leave-in conditioner and I find myself using it to the exclusion of all others.

Please comment and let me know if you have tried any of these conditioners and what your results were. If you haven't tried them, do you plan to?

Good bye, for now. Thanks for reading.