Friday, January 16, 2009

Cutting back on beauty products

Hello fellow beauty junkies:

Last month I lost my job. The upside is that I already look a little better now that I don't have work stress making my skin break out. However, there are some beauty problems that only a great product can solve. Unfortunately, given the lack of a paycheck, I know I am going to have to cut back on my beauty spending. Not so uncommon these days so maybe many of you can relate.

Here's how my beauty shopping used to work. I'd go troll the aisles of Bloomies or Sephora or if I were feeling really ritzy Neiman's. I'd go from counter to counter looking at all the gorgeous jars and bottles until some salesperson noticed that I was an easy (very easy) sell. Then I'd let them try anything on me and would end up spending anywhere from $50 to $300 for products that promised to erase wrinkes, diminish brown spots or add glow to my lackluster skin. Ahh, those were the days!

But fear not, beauty junkies, hope can also be found in the aisle of Walgreen's and CVS! It had only been about two weeks since I had lost my job when I felt the old familiar urge to buy some new product. Given the austerity program by which my husband and I now must live, I decided to check out what was available at the drugstore right in my own neighborhood.

Lucky for me, and now lucky for you, I found two great products from Aveeno. The first is Positively Ageless Daily Moisturizer with SPF 30. This is a great day creme: it smells nice, goes on smoothly and easily and it seems to be working on my skin! The SPF 30 is key! My dermatologist told me never to leave the house without a minimum of SPF 30...even if it is raining! That is what keeps the wrinkles and brown spots away! I got this product on sale for $14.99.

The second product from Aveeno is for night. It is called Positively Ageless Lifting and Firming Cream. It comes in a nice little jar and smells divine! Just a little bit goes along way. You will wake up in the morning looking like a new woman! The night creme was $19.99 but seems to be working just as well as any of those $100+ night cremes I used to buy at the department stores.

Try them and let me know what you think!!
Stay tuned for more beauty on the cheap.

Best in beauty,
HP Girl

5 comments:

  1. Kathy, I'm with ya! My current (cheap) addiction is CARMEX. a tube is $1.29 -- the price is printed on the tube (how retro)! Application of your more pricey lipstick is much nicer on a smooth & moisturized kisser!
    Pick some up on your next drugstore run. Oh, and check out their FUN website at www.mycarmex.com

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  2. beware of carmex addiction! I hear it is a real thing. I've heard this from a few sources. I do love it but now am more wary of using all the time since I think there is something in the (marketing and scientific) formula that makes it addicting, so you buy more since it over time dries out you lips quicker......or maybe it is the -5 degree temperatures here in Chicago : )
    -Karen

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  3. P.S. Kathy---I never knew you were a beauty junkie like me. Now that I"m no longer a conde nasty I too will have to trim my beauty product budget. I got a awful lizard like rash on my upper chest (attractive right? certainly doesn't contribute to a youthful look) and my derm. suggested it was the prevage MD that I had grown to love over the years. seemed odd to all of a sudden get this rash a) in an area where I wasn't putting it and b) after years of successful use! She told me another patient came in with the same thing. I have discontinued use and rash is gone! One more reason not to spend $175 for a small bottle. Bring on the Aveeno!

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  4. Hey! Great blog! And good point about that 30 spf... I recall seeing a commercial a little while ago (it may have even been Aveeno) that said going for one year without daily sunscreen is the equivalent of going one week at the beach without it! Yikes! :-)

    Will snag some of the Lifting and Firming Cream next time I'm in Walgreens (that is to say, tomorrow)! ;-)

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  5. I too am a product junkie. Funny how we all get our start with the same thing. Bonne Bell Lip Smackers - Wild Raspberry. The scent stil brings me back to 7th grade! And "Gee Your Hair Smells Teriffic" was available here in town a few years ago. I ran out and bought the night cream---love it!!!!! Looking forward to more suggestions for things to pick up on my trips to Walgreens.

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