Recently I had a talk with an adorable friend who called me from the parking lot of an Ulta store, wondering whether to buy an expensive skin cream. And I told her what I tell everyone: there are good products in every price range, and there are plenty of amazing products are your local drugstore. Here are a few of my personal favorites:
EOS Lip Balm, $3.99: I love the tactile, spherical shape of this balm, how fun it is to apply, and the amazing formula, which soothes with shea butter and vitamin E and has none of the junky stuff. The Lemon Drop flavor is my favorite, and it has the added benefit of SPF15.
Queen Helene Cholesterol, $4.99: In spite of its unlikely name, this massive white tub of rich, intensely hydrating conditioner quenches dry hair on contact, and it lasts forever. Be careful, though – even on my thick dry hair, a very little goes a long way!
L’Oreal Voluminous Mascara, $7.29: Sure, makeup artists swear by Maybelline Great Lash, but that’s just because it’s cheap and they go through so much of it. I have never been impressed by the formula. Voluminous, on the other hand, is the kind of inexpensive mascara you buy again and again and not just because it’s cheap and it’s everywhere. It really delivers thick, lush, clump-free flashes in a single sweep.
Skin Effects Glycolic Day Cream SPF30, $13.59: Dr. Jeffrey Dover is the Massachusetts-based dermatologist who helped me get my skin in shape before my wedding, and this amazing line is his brainchild. Not only is the packaging chic and understated and not at all dime-store-y, the formulas are truly effective, innovative, and a pleasure to use. And you can’t beat the prices.
Physicians Formula Face Brightener, $13.99: You could spend a lot more money for a product that does the exact same thing, but why. This mineral-powder features a palette of muted colors and light-reflecting particles that gives your entire face a gorgeous, youthful glow.
Leave a Reply