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| Photo: fashaddix.com |
I am a magazine junkie to the max. Keep your heroin! Keep your cocaine! Just let me have my Vogue and my Elle and my NYLON! My addiction really takes hold whenever I go on a trip; airports are my downfall. How else am I to survive four hours, crammed next to some fat man overflowing from the confines of his armrests and inevitably infected by that germ-y cough the lady behind me is spewing into the recycled air, if not by the vivid, glossy pages of this month's newest issue? The only real problem there is in buying eight magazines at the Hudson News newsstand (aside from the odd looks the cashier gives me as I drop $30 on my hefty stack) is the subsequent urge to spend even more money on all the ritzy beauty products I see inside! Every magazine has its "must-have" products of the season, but as much as I'd love that decadent ounce of velvety moisturizer, I don't have the $100 to spend on it! I already spent the money on the magazines, after all.... So I've done things my own way, and collected my absolute favorite beauty products, all of which can be found at most major drugstores. Consider it a cheat sheet for us bargain babies out there.
Emergen-C Super Orange: With airplanes on the brain, I had to mention this one. This drink mix is power-packed with Vitamin C to keep your immune system strong in the face of those yucky germs.
Jergen's Natural Glow Revitalizing Daily Moisturizer: This gradual sunless tanning lotion keeps your skin baby soft as it builds a believable streak-free glow. Plus it smells delicious! No fake-tanning-product odor here!
St. Ives Invigorating Apricot Scrub: I use this multi-tasker on my body to get rid of any rough patches of skin (like my heels or elbows). I also use a dab of it with a little bit of water on my face to scrub my pores clean.
Crest 3D White Mouthwash and Toothpaste: My teeth are naturally pretty white, so I have a hard time noticing the effects of most at-home whitening systems. This line, however, really works wonders if used daily. The flavor is a perfect minty clean, too. It doesn't burn, but it doesn't taste sweet as though you were cleaning your teeth with sugar.
Women's Degree Ultra Clear: This deodorant passes the dance class, yoga class, run-to-class test. And I can put it on before I get dressed and it still doesn't smear onto my shirt.
Coppertone Water Babies Sunscreen: SPF protection is the key, more than any face cream or anti-aging gimmick, to preventing wrinkles and signs of aging. NOW is the time to start protecting the face you will have when you're 40 and 50. Water Babies is always my favorite choice because it smells like beaches and childhood.
Goody Color Collection Blonde Bobby Pins: I lose bobby pins in my hair. I leave them lying around everywhere. So I love a new, full pack. I like the Goody Color Collection style because, unlike other brands with matte yellowy-blonde pins, Goody's are metallic, so they shimmer and blend into my highlights.
Scunci No-Slip Grip Headbands: These little black beauties save me on a bad hair day. They make a messy bun thrown on top of my head look instantly chic. Place the band about half an inch to an inch from your hairline. Pump up the volume and texture of the hair behind the band and into your bun for a quick bit of sex-kitten glamour.
John Frieda Frizz-Ease Hair Serum: All I can say is a blowout is not complete without shine serum to seal in the smoothness. Frizz-Ease Hair Serum is a classic, and it comes in different levels if your hair needs extra lovin'.
Finesse Curl Defining Mousse: The smell of this mousse always takes me back to the spring of my sophomore year in high school for some reason. The bottle looks a little different now, but the magic touch is still the same. I hate having to always blow-dry my hair, so I have tried out my fair share of mousses in search of the perfect one. I don't want frizz, but I don't want crispy crunchy curls. This product leaves hair touchable and amazingly well defined, whether you have tight kinky curls or soft loose waves.
Pssssst! Instant Dry Shampoo: It is a very taxing thing for your hair to be shampooed daily. Particularly if you have curly hair, which is naturally prone to dryness. This dry shampoo allows me to go a while between washings and style keep my style fresh. Some dry shampoos will leave your hair stiff and gross with powdery residues. This brand leaves hair manageable and doesn't have an overwhelming fragrance. Sometimes, I use it for a little extra texture even if I have just washed my hair!
Loreal Paris Elnett Satin Hairspray: Maybe it's because I was born in Texas, but hairspray is a necessity for me. I like my hair to be full and voluminous with flowing flips and waves, not flat to my head and pin straight. This hairspray lets me achieve all this during the day, and then brush it out at night. There's no buildup of stiff, sticky ends that get brittle and look like straw. Another perk of this hairspray? It has a UV-shielding ingredient that protects your luscious locks from the damaging, drying, color-stripping effects of the sun.
Loreal Paris Voluminous Mascara Original: I know that a lot of people consider Maybelline Great Lash Mascara to be the best drugstore mascara. I have to firmly disagree and throw this option into the running. The formula is thick so you don't have to pile on coat after coat to get even the tiniest bit of volume. I like my lashes full and thick and this does the trick. Plus it offers fantastic length and curl too!
Ardell Fashion Lashes #120 Demi: False eyelashes can be freaky and showgirl-esque, or they can be of the alluring and come-hither bombshell sort. Find some that are wispy and feathery and not too terribly long, and they will add a great deal of seductive sex appeal to your party outfit. Or, if you can really pull it off, glamourize your daywear with muted and toned down makeup and style elsewhere. Let your eyes do the talking. And just a hint- apply them looking down into a mirror placed flat on a table instead of looking straight ahead. It'll be easier!
Physician's Formula Summer Eclipse Bronzer: To say that I am fair-skinned is an understatement. I give Casper a run for his money! It is hard to find a bronzer that doesn't look like I am wearing dirt on my face. This bronzer has a mix of darker golden and lighter champagne shades that blend together perfectly. It brightens up my skin just enough to stomp out any sickly, pasty paleness.
Loreal Paris Colour Riche Lipstick in Mauved: This lip color is creamy and smooth. It goes on slick but stays on nice and rich. If you dab the first coat with a tissue and then reapply, it lasts forever! The color "Mauved" is more pink than mauve, but it's subtle and easy to wear with everything.
Bonne Bell Lip Smacker in Dr. Pepper: Oh man! I have been swiping this bad boy across my lips since I was in the single digits. It tastes nothing like Dr. Pepper, but it is yummy nonetheless. Best of all though, it has a perfectly sheer blushy red tint to it and is as easy as ChapStick to apply! You will never find me without a stick of this in my bag.
Revlon Super Lustrous Lipstick in Porcelain Pink: This lipstick is exactly what it's name says it is. It is lustrous. Super lustrous. I am a big fan of super pale pinks (a la Nars lip gloss in Turkish Delight). They're like a nude lip only you run less of a risk of looking washed out. This pink is the perfect shade for thick black lashes and wind-blushed cheeks. It's delicate and sweet but sexy all the same.
Q-tips Cotton Swabs: How can anyone have a makeup bag without Q-tips??? They are absolutely essential! I use Q-tips to clean up mascara smears and to smudge in kohl eyeliner for that perfect smoky eye look. And even though I know you're not supposed to use them this way, they still make the best post-shower ear cleaners.
Biore Ultra Deep Clean Pore Strips: I had never used these until recently, but now I'm hooked. They're like the beauty version of that mouthwash made for kids that shows them what was in their mouth when they spit. Here's a little tip with these though: After you've cleared out your pores, douse your face with icy cold water. It will cause your pores to constrict and close up so they don't just fill up with oil and dirt all over again.
Olay Regenerist Micro-sculpting Cream: This face cream is absolutely decadent. It glides onto your face like buttery velvet. I always tend to get dry skin during the winter when the heaters suck the moisture out of the air. This cream replenishes the softness to my skin and leaves it smooth and supple. I swear it works better than any cream you could get in Sephora or a department store!
Milani Power Lash Mascara: If you want lush, look-at-me lashes, this is your best bet. It is a shiny, glossy black but still packs a powerful blast to your lashes oomph factor. The brush is massive and coats every tiny lash with a thick, never watery, dose of mascara heaven. Just be sure to keep your Q-tips on hand to clean up the smudges afterwards! ;)
So hit up your neighborhood Walgreens or CVS and keep an eye out for these goodies! I'm sure they'll find a regular spot in your beauty repertoire as well! Bon nuit, my lovelies.
-S.
