Cheap Thrills: 8 Drugstore Beauty Bargains - Beauty Addict

Wednesday, June 17, 2009

Cheap Thrills: 8 Drugstore Beauty Bargains

Wallet feeling the strain these days? Check out some of my favorite drugstore beauty bargains, most for $10 and under:

1. Vaseline Cocoa Butter Vitalizing Gel Body Oil ($7.49) is an amazing body moisturizer, and smells deliciously of cocoa butter and almond. In the winter, it's perfect for combating super dry skin, and for hot summer nights, it adds a rather fetching sheen to legs and shoulders.

2. Suave Vibrant Shine Shampoo and Conditioner ($3.50) The Vibrant Shine line is a knockoff of the Sebastian Laminates range, and I have to say, it's an awesome bargain that really delivers. Both the shampoo and the conditioner feel and smell much more expensive than they are. This is my go-to shampoo and conditioner combo for everyday use (although I swap out the conditioner for the slightly more expensive Bumble & bumble Creme de Coco Masque a couple of times a week).

3. Clean & Clear Soft STEAM In-Shower Facial ($6.99) works in two ways to exfoliate your skin. First, glycolic acid, clay and fruit acids eat away at dead, dull skin. After letting it sit on your face for about a minute, start scrubbing, and the tiny exfoliating grains will do the rest. I LOVE this product; it makes my skin feel incredibly soft and smooth, and it's a great budget alternative to its pricier cousin, Prescriptives Instant Gratification.

4. Bonne Bell Skin Musk Oil ($10) is one of the best cheap thrills ever in fragrance. Word is that it's a favorite of Sarah Jessica Parker's and was part of the inspiration for Lovely. Light and clean, but with a bit of warmth, it works well on its own or for layering.

5. Olay Quench Body Lotion for Extra Dry Skin ($10) is pretty much the only non-oil body moisturizer that keeps my crocodile skin at bay during the dry winter months (or really, anytime when the weather and humidity are fluctuating). It really delivers on the claim of 24-hour moisturization, and absorbs easily.

6. Original Nivea Creme ($4) does it all; try it on hands, feet, elbows, knees, cuticles, and even your face. It smells and feels eerily similar to Creme de la Mer, and contains basically the ame ingredients, minus CDLM's "miracle broth." Nivea's a heavy-duty moisturizer and creates a barrier on your skin, preventing moisture from escaping. NB, if you're anti-mineral oil, skip this one for your face.

7. L'Oreal Sublime Glow Daily Moisturizer ($11) is probably the best gradual tanner you'll find at the drugstore, and is easily my favorite of the category. It delivers a believable tan in 1-3 applications, smells like tea, and gives your skin a bit of shimmer. Buy it in Medium for faster results.

8. Eboline Coconut Oil Hair Dressing ($3) is basically a tub of grease, but does an amazing job as a deep conditioner. My favorite way to use it is to slather it all over my hair, pin or clip it up, slap on a hat and then go for a run or any other serious workout. The heat generated by your workout will stay trapped under the hat and help spread the conditioner. Coconut oil's the best, since it's one of the few oils that can actually penetrate the hair shaft.


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