Originally Posted by Bleu (Post 726956)

TALON! My femme sister extraordinaire (and legionnaire)! Terrific thread!

>>*chuckle*...Thank you, Bleu-by-you..

I often get compliments on my skin and being 44 now I take great pride in keeping it looking good. But really, what I do is so simple and remarkably cheap! The key is consistency.
cheap cheap http://www.vegetarian-weight-loss-su...mals_chick.jpg cheap cheap

>>Yes, darling it certainly is.

Clear Pore. I love this stuff...it retails for between $5 - 8 and can be used as a daily cleanser or as a facial mask. The stuff lasts forever too. I buy maybe three to four tubes a year! I use it mostly as a daily cleanser scrubbing it in then rinsing immediately. As far as cleansing mask use, I do this on high wind days in the desert which cakes on an extra layer of dirt. I apply it to my face at the beginning of my shower, do everything else, then by the end of my shower I rinse it completely. That is the extent of how long I leave it on in "mask" mode.
Warning:
The active ingredient in Clear Pore is benzoyl peroxide. Be careful if you get a lot of exposure to the sun when using it. Also, I use cheap white face cloths so my pretty sage colored towels don't get spot bleached with any accidental leftover product on my face.
http://pics.drugstore.com/prodimg/76497/220.jpg

>>This *is* a great product..and comes highly recommended by Dermatologists. I have searched for this product, and thought that it had been discontinued. Where have you found it?

Every third or fourth day I skip the Clear Pore cleanser and scrub with the Neutrogena Microdermabrasion System.
http://www.pharmapacks.com/product_i...27914_zoom.jpg
This handy little item retails for between $15 - 20 and the extra pads are a couple bucks for a pack of 12. The little blue disks are pre-loaded with soap and I scrub my face for about 3 mins total. I do not use anything else that day to clean my face with as it tends to be a little tender. Next day - back to the Clear Pore.

>>I used to use the microdermabrasion system..it does work well for dull and lifeless skin..gives you a nice glow.

Umm...on a side note...this item can be used as an external vibrator when the exterior cap is removed. It's hard plastic and is completely washable so is easy and sanitary to use for either application. :blush:

>>Someone's a very naughty girl....go sit in the naughty chair.

Two birds, one inexpensive item, and noone suspects a darn thing...hell, yeah, bitches! ;)

>>>Gives new meaning to multi-tasking.

PS: It's important to follow with a good moisturizer. I use L'Occitane Immortelle, ($62- 4.4 oz) but that's not so cheap therefore does not belong in this thread...HOWEVER one little pot of this stuff lasts me 6 months!

>>>Yep...I do that w/creme de la mer.

I spend less than $200 a YEAR in cleansing and moisturizing products for my face and neck. ShiZam!

Originally Posted by Beloved (Post 726993)

Most of my make-up I get from Sephora, because I have a few favorites from Stila (mostly). I don't have a ton of it so it's not that expensive.

>>Sephora is addictive. But, if you buy certain staple products that you use often and really love, I think it's totally worth it. You can't really put a price on feeling good.

I use any over the counter facial moisturizer with SPF 30. I have tried Neutrogena, Aveeno, and Olay and have liked them all. I also sometimes buy mascara from the drugstore, too. I just bought a L'Oreal one today that I've never tried.

>>>All of these I like, too. I have never spent a lot on daily face lotions w/spf. There really is just no need to, in my opinion.

I am also a fan of Burt's Bees tinted lip gloss.

Originally Posted by IslandScout (Post 727004)

I've tried Lancome and other high-end mascaras, but keep returning to good old drugstore-sold, L'Oreal Voluminous waterproof mascara.

>>>This was my fav in high school...makes lashes look really full.

Also I've used humble Pond's cold cream since I was a girl, to remove eye makeup.

>> I use this all over my face to remove make-up before I cleanse, and my skin never feels tight or dry after.

I love wandering through huge drugstores on my lunch hour. You never know what deals you'll find.

Originally Posted by Girl_On_Fire (Post 727008)

My two favorite beauty products are baking soda and coconut oil. Baking soda is great to exfoliate with and coconut oil is a good natural moisturizer for skin and hair. Oh, and I love my French clay mask and mineral make-up. I'm all-natural kind of femme. ;)

Originally Posted by *Anya* (Post 727014)

I use Dove sensitive skin on my face.

I like how it smells. My maternal grandmother always used Dove and it reminds me of her.

>>This is sweet. Isn't it funny how we'll use a certain product because it reminds us of a happy time in our lives? I am this way with certain scents...it truly has a transporting effect, at least for me it does...I go right back to the time and place.

I also use a little Clinique beige twist foundation (when I remember to), I curl my eyelashes and I finish with a little Clinique mascara.

>>I like their face washes...they never irritate.

I'm good to go.

Clinique is not cheap but it lasts forever and I always time my purchase for when they give those little sample size "gift with purchase" deals.

Originally Posted by Dominique (Post 727056)

http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_xJPlq9aRM3...00/brushes.jpg
I've been using these ELF (eyes, lips face) brushes priced from $1 to $3 and availabe at Target or on line. They have the best eye lash curler too, also $1.

>>These are a hidden gem. I really like their eyeshadows and their lip glosses. I didn't know about their eyelash curler, though..Thank you.

Another discovery is baby wipes. I fell in love with them when I worked for Fed Ex and couldn't stand my hands being dirty all of the time. Now, I use them to quickly remove my make up. Ultra cheap. No fuss, no ruining my hand towels. I also buy these at target.

Originally Posted by Sparkle (Post 727413)

I don't buy much in the way of cosmetics or hair products in the drug stores because I find their mark up ridiculous, as ridiculous as the mark up in department stores.

I do most of my shopping for high quality beauty and hair products on ebay and usually save 50-70% buying them there... my Pureology shampoo and conditioner will cost me $90 for two 33oz bottles which will last for at least 10months (that amounts to less than $10/mo on shampoo and conditioner).

Buying on ebay isn't convenient for a quick, easy fix - it requires patience and searching out the best deals but I've found it saves me a ton of money while still allowing me the indulgence of high-end products.

Similarly the Redken volumizing hair products I would pay $15-20 for in the salon or the drugstore, I can get for $10 or less on ebay...
YSL Touche Eclat, the best highlighter pen on the market costs over $40 in the department store, but I can find for $12-16 on ebay...
Urban Decay palettes that run $50+ I can find for $25, on average....
Benefit lipsticks cost $22 per tube, I can find them on ebay for $10 or less...

And if I do enough deal searching, I can buy most of these products with no shipping charges.

One drugstore item I LOVE is: Witch hazel, an all-natural astringent/toner. A bottle of Clinique's toner/clarifying lotion costs $35 or more, and contains mostly witch hazel. Thayers all natural remedies witch hazel costs $8 and IMO works better, and it can be found in most drug stores, grocery stores or places like walmart/target.

Oooh and Loreal does a wonderful line of eyeshadows called "HIP" High Intensity Pigments. I prefer the loose eyeshadow called "HIP Shocking Shadow Pigments" that comes in a small pot. This is "going out/dressing up" eyeshadow it has an intense bold concentration of colour. I love the two shades I have. I've found it on ebay and amazon for about $5, I think that is about half of what I've paid in a drug store. *great product and lasts forever!!!

Originally Posted by Talon (Post 727484)

>>I've only used the Badger Balm, the Lavender sleep balm, and the regular lip balm...but since I keep hearing about their tinted lip glosses, I will have to try. Thanks.

Originally Posted by blush (Post 727087)

I use baby wipes to remove eye makeup. Best idea ever! I also put a squirt of saline solution in my mascara to extend the life of it.

Originally Posted by TheMerryFairy (Post 727120)

I also frequently use Johnsons oatmeal & vanilla baby lotion on my skin. Smooth, not greasy, mild scent and a great moisturizer.

Originally Posted by Uniqueswtfemm (Post 727168)

Originally Posted by julieisafemme (Post 727518)

What a fun thread! I am very scent averse so I look for things that don't have perfume. I love Aveeno body wash and lotion. Kiehls makes the only body scrub that works for me. It is the soy one.

I recently tried some drug store mascara and still for me the only thing that works is Dior Show. My main gripe is sunscreen. I have tried every kind and they all make me greasy. I am in the market for a good foundation for oily skin. Right now I am using Laura Mercier Tinted Foundation. I like the Smashbox Primer.

Originally Posted by always2late (Post 727206)

Originally Posted by Novelafemme (Post 727222)

And in the winter when we get extra dry, try sugar instead of salt. :)

Originally Posted by cinnamongrrl563 (Post 727400)

I worked for a wonderful Italian lady while I was in SC...she had lovely skin and was in her 70s. She swore by Nivea in the blue jar. I have been using it ever since and I love it. I think I paid 4 something for the large jar at Walmart and its lasted me a long time. And I use it most every night.

>>Europeans still use Nivea. It's one of Europe's best selling lines.

I also use a daytime moisturizer (when I remember) with an SPF 15 at least. I get the store brand that is similar to Oil of Olay..same ingredients...much better price...

Originally Posted by Sparkle (Post 727413)

I don't buy much in the way of cosmetics or hair products in the drug stores because I find their mark up ridiculous, as ridiculous as the mark up in department stores.

I do most of my shopping for high quality beauty and hair products on ebay and usually save 50-70% buying them there... my Pureology shampoo and conditioner will cost me $90 for two 33oz bottles which will last for at least 10months (that amounts to less than $10/mo on shampoo and conditioner).

>>Ebay is great for finding hard-to-find, or not-available- in-your-area products...and it's much less expensive.

Buying on ebay isn't convenient for a quick, easy fix - it requires patience and searching out the best deals but I've found it saves me a ton of money while still allowing me the indulgence of high-end products.

>>I actually find it faster than other forms of shopping...but it's not always a better deal on ebay, I've found. So, you want to do your research locally, first.

Similarly the Redken volumizing hair products I would pay $15-20 for in the salon or the drugstore, I can get for $10 or less on ebay...
YSL Touche Eclat, the best highlighter pen on the market costs over $40 in the department store, but I can find for $12-16 on ebay...
Urban Decay palettes that run $50+ I can find for $25, on average....
Benefit lipsticks cost $22 per tube, I can find them on ebay for $10 or less...

And if I do enough deal searching, I can buy most of these products with no shipping charges.

One drugstore item I LOVE is: Witch hazel, an all-natural astringent/toner. A bottle of Clinique's toner/clarifying lotion costs $35 or more, and contains mostly witch hazel. Thayers all natural remedies witch hazel costs $8 and IMO works better, and it can be found in most drug stores, grocery stores or places like walmart/target.

Oooh and Loreal does a wonderful line of eyeshadows called "HIP" High Intensity Pigments. I prefer the loose eyeshadow called "HIP Shocking Shadow Pigments" that comes in a small pot. This is "going out/dressing up" eyeshadow it has an intense bold concentration of colour. I love the two shades I have. I've found it on ebay and amazon for about $5, I think that is about half of what I've paid in a drug store. *great product and lasts forever!!!

Originally Posted by ahk (Post 727514)

I'm not a femme-- but I love this thread too. Only because of my wife-- I purchase about .75 of her makeup -- so these tips are simply amazing. I would of never thought of ebay for make up. Sheesh.

>>>Lucky girl. Aren't they, though? These women are killing it!



I, too, love badger-- over Burts. I use to be a Burts fan but had noticed that their products changed, not sure how, but they did-- then later to find that Clorox bought them.

>>>Yowza...I didn't know that.
Isn't the badger balm *AMAZING* for your hands in the winter?

Since I'm a boy-- can I post here too? :fastdraq:

Originally Posted by julieisafemme (Post 727518)

What a fun thread! I am very scent averse so I look for things that don't have perfume. I love Aveeno body wash and lotion. Kiehls makes the only body scrub that works for me. It is the soy one.

>>I really like Kiehl's, also. I keep a ready stock of the lip balm #1...and the Silkgroom for hair styling. I like how they don't change their formulations..they're very consistent.

I recently tried some drug store mascara and still for me the only thing that works is Dior Show. My main gripe is sunscreen. I have tried every kind and they all make me greasy. I am in the market for a good foundation for oily skin. Right now I am using Laura Mercier Tinted Foundation. I like the Smashbox Primer.

Originally Posted by falloutmk (Post 727562)

Originally Posted by Talon (Post 727563)

>>You gotta do ultimately what works the best for you.
Have you thought about using a face-powder sunscreen? Don't quote me, but I believe that Phillip Thomas Roth has one that is a spf30, that you can get at Sephora. And Physicians Formula has a compact pressed powder as well as a bronzer, that's an spf50 at drugstores.

>>I use Laura Mercier wooden make-up brushes...expensive, but they last.
I also like her Secret Camoflauge concealer. I've also found that you can find really high-quality brushes at art-supply stores...for a fraction of the cost. They also carry small paint pallets for colour-mixing foundation, concealer, lip colour..ect.

Originally Posted by julieisafemme (Post 727577)

I did try the powdered sunscreen and it was a bust. It was too drying. I have melasma leftover from pregnancy on my driving side of my cheek and so bronzer sometimes looks funny. What I really need are laser treatments but there is no budget for that!

Originally Posted by Sparkle (Post 727413)

Urban Decay palettes that run $50+ I can find for $25, on average....

Originally Posted by julieisafemme (Post 727518)

I recently tried some drug store mascara and still for me the only thing that works is Dior Show. My main gripe is sunscreen. I have tried every kind and they all make me greasy. I am in the market for a good foundation for oily skin. Right now I am using Laura Mercier Tinted Foundation. I like the Smashbox Primer.

Originally Posted by Femminator (Post 727594)

I love to stop by the Drug Store and find makeup deals. My wife always asks me what makeup I am getting now when I say I have to stop at Walgreens or CVS! LOL LOL

>>>It's okay..they just don't understand>>*chuckle*

I love Loreal Volumnous mascara, Carbon Black, my absolute favorite. I have used just about everything else in between, but I return time and time again to Loreal.(my fav expensive brand is Benefit Bad Gal lashes)

>>Does this one get under your eyes at the end of the day? Just curious.

Mabeline Drama Eyes Gel Eyeliner in Aubergine. Not too many gel liners make this color, and I love that it goes on like a dream, with their tiny brush and does not pull at all on my eyelid.

>>I like this one too, I wear the "Saphire" shade.

I use all ELF makeup brushes, they work great and are cheap!

>>Haven't tried those...where do you get them? I'm thinking those would be great for travel, instead of taking the expensive ones..hmmm.

Wet and Wild lip glosses, very affordable and they come in so many colors. They stay on for a while and they don't test on animals, or use lead in their red colors like many of the higher end lipsticks and glosses do.

>>>They carry a lipliner pencil (#666) that I stock up on...for 99 cents a pop, you really can't go wrong...it's a beigy-pink color, that's really versatile with many shades of lipcolour...or even used alone to line and fill-in lips, and then just add some lip balm or gloss.

Garnier Beauty Balm, it is not greasy, or thick and lasts all day long.

Originally Posted by LaneyDoll (Post 727854)

Originally Posted by Talon (Post 728475)

>>>I love these new BB creams! They've been using these in Asia for a long time. I've yet to try this one...how do you thing it would layer over a sheer sunscreen?

Originally Posted by IslandScout (Post 727109)

Two people say they use baby wipes to remove makeup. I'm gonna try that! It wouldn't be as greasy as Pond's...

Originally Posted by julieisafemme (Post 727577)

I did try the powdered sunscreen and it was a bust. It was too drying. I have melasma leftover from pregnancy on my driving side of my cheek and so bronzer sometimes looks funny. What I really need are laser treatments but there is no budget for that!

Originally Posted by Talon (Post 726906)

I'm a self-confessed drugstore beauty product junkie.
Don't get me wrong, there are certain things that you can only get in a dept. store, professional beauty supplier, or online..But there's not much else that can compare to the great deals, lack of saleslady pressure, and the lazy-dayz clothing that you can wear to the drugstore/chemist.

So, I'm curious..what are your fav beauty finds from your local drugstore..and why do you love them?

Originally Posted by Femminator (Post 728702)

This one has Sunscreen in it, but I usually use a light one anyhow under it for extra protection. It works really well for me. I have oily skin, so finding something that does not add to it, is a bonus for me. You have to read lables because several of the BBs do not have sunscreen in them, like the Loreal one. Garnier does so that is the one I stay with.

>>This is so true...I love the Loreal one..but I won't buy it because it doesn't contain sufficient spf.


I also just went to Walmarts, and picked up some Hard Candy lash Primer. It is suppost to build your lashes so they are thicker and longer, before you put on Mascara. I will give it a try tomarrow and let everyone know if it is worth it!

Originally Posted by G Snap! (Post 728721)

Great stuff! There are a few things I gotta try now...

My criteria for most of my cosmetics & personal care stuff is it is 1) readily available (i.e. drugstore) 2) fragrance-free and 3) under $20. This narrows down the choices... And if I have a coupon, I am most happy!

>>I've saved $30 just in cupons alone at the drugstore, before.

I am a big Cetaphil fan, so most days it's their gentle face wash and moisturizing cream. I use Olay's regenerist serum (fragrance free) as a treatment to make sure I'm putting something good on my face.

>>Love the Cetaphil...great for sensitive skin and dermatologist recommended. I love their face moisturizer..it never irritates me or breaks me out.

I am not a big makeup wearer, and will break out the little bit of Clinique I have for a special occasion, but will not leave the house without concealer. My favorite is the Covergirl & olay simply ageless concealer. You either love of hate it...
My most expensive makeup item is Smashbox Halo. I will cry when it is gone. It is like $60 but my skin is super dry and I love how it wears. I want to try drugstore powder foundations that are supposed to be for dry skin but I have had a hard time getting the right shade as you can't try anything, so I end up not getting any. Any suggestions out there?

>>Foundation is hard, the best way that I've found for picking the right shade is going into the store with none on your face, trying the closest shades on your cheek, and then going outside in natural light and comparing them. The shade that "disappears" into your skin, that's the one. It also helps to bring a friend with you to help. Unfortunately, this only works for the lines that have tester shades. A good one to try is "Loreal True Match". They have the largest selection of shades, and also usually have testers, as well.
Good luck!

I have a bad habit of getting bored with what I'm using and switching around to other stuff, but I'm getting better about that. I always try to get stuff on sale with a coupon, or if it's mall store (like clinique) get stuff when they have gifts.

>>I also like to switch up..I think it's a good thing, actually. The only item that I don't switch is my face wash (Purpose) and my sunscreen (Nuetrogena).

I am still searching for a daily facial sunscreen. I want the above (readily available, fragrance free, reasonably priced) for dry skin and no chemical sunscreen. And doesn't make my skin all shiny or feeling like I have a mask on. The few I have found are either super expensive, too drying, or water-resistant and wear horribly.

Originally Posted by Angeltoes (Post 729406)

I agree 100%...there are times you just have to bite the bullet and go to a dept. store or Sephora, but I would rather avoid the pressure. I think the prices and quality aren't much different.

Today at Whole Foods I bought Persian Rose solid perfume by Pacifica, because it's a small little tin that you can store in your purse and it smells...intoxicating. Gabriel Color blush in Rose...that's the color for my skin tone and Minerals Fusion eye shadow because the colors were crazy beautiful golds that I hardly ever see, Burt's Bee lipgloss in Desert Sunrise....I don't wear a lot of make up normally, but I like to have it on hand. Day to day, I wear lipglosss and mascara, maybe eyeliner.


>>I used to buy the "Bare Minerals" mineral eyeshadows..because the shades
were just so gorgeous. The only thing was that they didn't wear very long. I'd like to try them again with an eyelid primer, to see if that helps the staying power.


>>Aren't the solid perfumes great! I actually have made my own before from my favorite essential oils. One of my favorites is the lavender, for when I'm feeling stessed. I just apply at my temples and behind my ears..it instantly relaxes me.

It used to be that drugstore stuff was crap, but I don't think that's true anymore. It's basically the same as dept store makeup. I don't remember exactly how much it all came to, but I know it was less than Macy's.

Originally Posted by stepfordfemme (Post 729518)

I have incredibly sensitive skin -- allergies/rosacea/you name it....

I love the physicians formula brand and most Almay products.

I also am a sucker for avene anti redness.

>>Avene, sold at CVS, right?

The best finds on the cheap are the end of the year discounted stuff. If you are okay with not finding your exact shade but can accept a range, big scores to be had. I just bought nice (revlon) lip liners for about $1 each when normally those suckers are 8$!

>>Nice discount, there!

Aside from those I am a sephora junkie. I'd rather pay up for products I love (smash box & urban decay) than waste it on products I don't love.

>>For sure...why throw your money away on items you don't love and will never use? Some things are definitely worth the extra cash.

Buy what works best rather than volume.