Here are a few of mine, starting with this newish L’oreal mascara that I just discovered over the weekend, and am really impressed with: it curls and volumizes your lashes to an incredible degree, and I think it’s a pretty good dupe for my usual big-drama fave, Nars Climax (which it costs about half as much as).
I typically always have a Burt’s Bees tinted lip balm on my person—it keeps lips nicely hydrated, and comes in some really good barely-there hues, like this one, which is called Daisy. It also works and looks every bit as good as this pricey Tata Harper formulation I once splurged on.
I never want to wash my face and who knows why, but ever since I discovered this Bioderma micellar water (there are several versions and this one is for sensitive skin) that just doesn’t matter much anymore. I usually need to use two cotton pads soaked in it to remove all my makeup, but after that, skin feels deeply clean and so hydrated—the latter of which is something that cleansers almost never make your skin feel.
Skincare – Cerave is so good, I mix with it La Roche Posay, I can’t live without any of the Le Poche Rosay lines, the cleanser, the moisturizer, the serums, the entire line is top notch and for beauty Almay or Loreal Voluminous mascara, they are outstanding. And Drew Barrymore’s Flower Beauty ( select Krogers in Atlanta) line eyeshadows remind me of the Urban Decay shadows in simply amazing colors and they stay put for hours.
Your profile picture is an advertisement for whatever you’re using. Flower is also available in some CVS stores (just saw it today).
Jumping on the Cerave gentle train here! Face, hands and other delicate parts. I also ADORE Olay’s Sensitive skin moisturizer with SPF 30. It absorbs well, leaves a nice finish and protects!
I notice a lot of overlap in tastes here–if we ever have a slumber party, no worries if one of us forgets our favorite drugstore products! I live in horror of Cerave moisturizing cream ever being discontinued, which I combine with Avene, Hada Labo, and Sebamed products. I always have ELF Gotta Glow, Burt’s Bees lip balm in Rose and Sweet Violet, original Labello lip balm, Vaseline Rosy Lips (the European version), and Revlon lipsticks. I never see anyone mentioning The Ordinary’s Resveratrol and Ferulic Acid or COSRX Propolis Light Ampoule, both of which I frickin’ love. I had meant to try the Skinceuticals’ version, but at this point, I am so keen on the The Ordinary’s version that I wouldn’t consider it.
I’ve been interested in trying The Ordinary’s resveratrol +, and your comment just pushed me closer to the checkout line. (I envision the glorious “D” as having equally glorious skin!)
Aww, thank you, am blushing…
I’ve had luck with a few of the products in the Garnier Fructis line – the hold paste and the leave in conditioning cream. I have frizzy hair normally and summer humidity just wrecks it. I’ve tried a range of expensive products and dirt cheap Garnier are the ones I’ve re-bought over the years.
To your point, I was just reading a review of Garnier Fructis dry texture spray and the reviewer said it was better than Serge Normant and Bumble and Bumble. And it doesn’t cost $48!
Will have to give it a try, once I use up my jumbo-sized, flyaways-busting Elnett.
Love Garnier curly hair products. They work great and cost much less than salon products.
I’m loving Burt’s Bees tinted lip balm too — currently the rose. I usually wear untinted lip balm, so it’s been a nice treat. I want to try some other colors too.
I scoffed at the very concept of mascara primer, since I could barely stand to put on regular mascara in the first place. Changed my mind after trying L’Oréal Lash Paradise Mascara Primer. I’ve been asked whether I’ve had lash inserts, so two whole steps now seems worth it.
I only wash my face (and those nether lady parts) with Cetaphil Gentle Skin Cleanser ––NOT the facial wash which I do NOT recommend. And Aveeno Daily Moisture is the lotion I’ve used for years on my super dry skin.
I love Cerave Skin Renewing Night Cream. My skin is sensitive to so many things (especially Vitamin C). I have no reactions to any Cerave product. Burt’s Bees lip balm makes my skin breakout around my lips, as does various toothpaste brands!
Another favorite is The Ordinary brand of hyaluronic acid. Love that stuff.
Have you ever had a patch test for contact allergies? I ask because I found out about mine after I developed an awful rash on my lips that wouldn’t go away. The flavorings in toothpaste (which can be a lot of the same things that are in fragrance mixes, actually – I know it sounds weird!) are major allergy culprits. Lip balms, too (bee products are another common allergen). In my case the cause was probably an Aveda Lipsaver lip balm I’d been using for decades. Anyway, it might be worth looking into if you haven’t done it yet. Once you have one contact allergy you’re prone to developing others, which can make life really difficult, so, you know. Just a heads up!
Revlon Cherries in the Snow lipstick will forever be my signature color.
Jumping on the CeraVe bandwagon! I use the foaming face wash and the dry skin one depending on what I need atm, as well as the lotion in the annoying tub (but not on my face, I don’t need an intervention or anything). I have a cinnamate/fragrance allergy, so I have to be super careful of what I use on my skin or things get literally ugly really fast.
I’ve tried tons of pricier department store moisturizers, but none are as good as Olay Regenerist. That and Cetaphil Gentle Cleanser (don’t use the regular – it will burn your face) are all I use with a little Differin at night. I’m 46 and my skin is even toned and wrinkle-free so far.
This is apropos of nothing mentioned here, but I have a number of friends in the Pacific Northwest who have lived there their whole lives and are having difficulty dealing with the horrid heat wave…a couple of “tricks”…dampen a top sheet right before you go to bed and sleep under that damp sheet––if you have a fan place it so the breeze from the fan goes over the sheet––put a damp/wet washcloth in a baggie and put it in the freezer to cool quickly (you don’t have to freeze it, just get it really cold) then wrap it around your neck. If you are lacking a wading pool, dig out that roasting pan you only use for the turkey at Thanksgiving––add water and some ice cubes and stick your feet in preferably whilst drinking a cold glass of water.
Those little red Maybelline eyebrow pencils that come two in a pack and cost like $2 are the absolute best brow pencils ever.
That’s really thoughtful, cw. I finally caved and bought an air conditioner last week, so mainly climate anxiety is my problem — record-setting fires, ice storms and now heat in one year is tough. Hope your friends are hanging in there.
I use Garnier’s Micellar Water, and even though it doesn’t do a great job of mascara removal, at least I feel that my face is clean on too “tired to care” nights. I’m a big fan of Garnier Hair Care Whole Blends in the coconut version. I love trying new hair products and Id put this up against any of the high-end brands I use. CeraVe moisturizing cream is my year-round body cream go-to. It keeps my eczema in-check.
Ponds Cold Cream to remove eye makeup. It’s amazing – it doesn’t sting, it gets everything off (I smear some around my eyes and then wipe off with a tissue before washing my face with cleanser ), it leaves the eye area moisturized, and it is so cheap (price is low plus a jar lasts a long time since a little goes a long way). I first tried it when I was a kid for removal of dance recital makeup (my mom’s since she used it to remove her eye makeup) and I’ve used it my entire adult-makeup-wearing-life. I never see it mentioned in blogs, magazines, etc., which surprises me because it is so good.
I’m an Albolene user myself (fragrance-free for my rosacea) for my face, but let me add, the various Ponds are great hand creams. So, if you’re ever short of hand cream, give your Ponds a try.
I will try that, thanks!
I’m a big fan of the St. Ive’s body washes: sea salt and also the rosewater and aloe. Really good formulas for under $4 a bottle, and I love the scents. I picked up some mascara at the Boots in Heathrow years ago that I loved, but I can’t find it in the U.S. – Target does carry the Full 360 formula, for around $7.
I love the Cetaphil foaming face wash—it’s unscented with a pump thing that makes it foamy. My skin feels so soft and smooth, never dried out, and it removes my makeup. I’m phasing it out bc trying to go cruelty free, but damn I can’t find anything as good, so I’m dealing with a sub par face wash now (any recs, would love to hear).
Not exactly drug store, but I like the coconut oil and jojoba oils from Trader Joe’s for body moisturizing.
I noted the Trader Joes below – their products are cruelty free (i’ve been trying to go all cf myself).
Well. Good for you for helping animals – I used Cetaphil for years, and I didn’t know they did that? – they should stop. Meanwhile, lately I use bronner’s on my face – I just get my face wet, put a couple drops in my hands and lather it up. (This only works if you are using the teeny sample-size bottles … which I re-use … otherwise, you’ll get too much at once.) … … … All I am taking off is sunscreen though – so, this works fine for me. I ignore the gratuitous religious sniping on the package. In my conception of the Divine, S/He doesn’t have time for petty nonsense. Plus, the type is so tiny you can barely read it. Does this make me spineless though? A question for another day. Now, should I worry about insect testing? Is that a thing at all? I had to get out the magnifyer to make sure it said “not animal tested” on the bottle. Really, I should have asked about it at the store. Because Caroline, you are right. There is no need for that testing anymore, I hope.
Maybe you’ve already tried this cruelty-free option, in which case, sorry to waste your time…have you tried any Vanicream products? Their gentle facial cleanser in a pump bottle might approximate the Cetaphil foaming cleanser in performance. I want to say it’s a little under $9 and is innocuous enough you can repurpose it as a mild body wash or hand wash if it doesn’t work for your face.
This post and these comments are exactly the sort of pep talk I need. I would say I’ve gone feral, except frankly I was kinda bad before, too. I do bathe … but really, probably not often enough! Ha.
I really like the Trader Joe’s face wash and face lotion with SPF, as well as the coconut body butter (I use it as a nighttime hand and foot cream as it’s a bit greasy).
Top three, not skin care related: Sally Hansen Insta-Dry polish (ASAP Apple or Cinna-Snap), Trader Joe’s Tea Tree Tingle shampoo and conditioner, and my fave – Revlon Colorstay lipstick in Stay Currant.
The Trader Joe’s Tea Tree is a great dupe for the Paul Mitchell brand!