I love upscale beauty products, but like most people I’m on a budget that doesn’t allow for me to use them all the time. I still don’t want to sacrifice quality when I’m sacrificing cost, and there are some really great products found at drugstore prices. Here are a few of my favorites:
Hair Care
Suave Almond & Shea Butter Conditioner
If you have talked to me about hair products before, I’ve likely told you not to use Suave shampoo or conditioner. They used to have all the cheapest ingredients imaginable and would completely destroy your hair if you used it. However, I tried this conditioner when I was travelling and it was not bad. It’s only $3.99 for a whole bottle, and they do use cheap silicone ingredients to add shine instead of actually sealing the hair cuticle and healing the hair, but it’s a great budget option. I like to use this conditioner every third wash to stretch out my Moroccan Oil conditioner so I have to buy it less often.
More about silicone in hair: http://coveteur.com/2017/08/10/silicone-hair-products/
Dove Dry Shampoo
I only buy this dry shampoo now because of cost. I like to shampoo every other day unless I’m doing something that makes me sweat. I purchase the unscented because scented dry shampoos often have overwhelming fragrances, and I feel like if my hair smells, I should wash it. There are plenty of other great upscale options, but why bother with them when there are so many great options at a lower price point?
This dry shampoo won Allure Best of Beauty Award in 2014
Skincare
Cetaphil Daily Facial Cleanser
Cetaphil is a classic recommended by dermatologists for patients with acne on harsh acne treatments because it is a gentle cleanser suitable for everyday use. This face wash doesn’t have anti-acne chemicals in it, so if you need an anti-acne wash this is not for you. This also has parabens in it, and many people are trying to avoid parabens in their skincare routines recently. Basically, if you need a cheap face wash to just clean your skin and you’re using other specialty products for your specific skin type, this is a great neutral cleanser.
Eucerin Q10 Anti-Wrinkle Face Crème
I wanted a face cream that I could put on at night that has a heavier consistency and will help prevent wrinkles and this fulfills those needs for me. Nothing else to say about it, I can’t tell if it actually prevents wrinkles because there’s no way for me to measure that.
This crème won Allure’s Best of Beauty 2011
Garnier Micellar Water
I use this water every day to take off my makeup – even waterproof mascara. It’s amazing and I don’t know what I’d do without it.
Read more on Style Caster “What Micellar Water Is & How It Transformed My Skin”
Read more on Huffington Post “What The Heck Is Micellar Water, And Should You Use It?”
Yes to Tomatoes Detoxifying Mud Mask
I like using this as a cheaper version of the Origins charcoal mask. I have always dealt with hormonal acne and using charcoal masks like this one helps keep it in check.
Makeup
L’Oreal Voluminous Primer
This mascara primer makes my mascara last longer and helps build volume and length prior to mascara application. I love it, and it’s a great price so I’ll never wear mascara without it again.
L’Oreal Voluminous Lash Paradise
I LOVE this mascara. I really love the Better Than Sex mascara and Lash Paradise is almost an exact dupe so I’ll never have to spend $23 for the name brand ever again. I cannot give enough praises for this mascara – the brush is great, the application is smooth, and it lasts all day (with my primer, haven’t tried it without primer). Everyone should be using this mascara.
L’Oreal Infallible Pro-Matte Foundation
This is a definite trend with my drugstore makeup suggestions; L’Oreal makes great drugstore products. I assume that L’Oreal has great drugstore products because L’Oreal USA owns brands from the drugstore level all the way up to professional brands like Urban Decay, Redken, Kiehls, etc. This foundation is very long-lasting (even with my oily skin) and with a beauty blender it goes on evenly. I switch between this foundation and IT Cosmetic’s CC Cream and the IT Cosmetics CC Cream is only marginally better.
