1. Philosophy’s The Microdelivery Exfoliating Wash
I have very sensitive dry skin. I’m allergic to Dove soap…that’s how bad it is. I love Philosophy products. This is a great cleanser that is light enough to be used daily but it exfoliates and gets rid of the dead skin cells. That’s a must if you want to have great skin. Like I said, I’m 40 years old so my face and skin speak for itself.
Available at Philosophy.com, $15 - $55
2. Crest 3D White Advanced Vivid Toothpaste
Second to my hair, my teeth are pretty important. When I saw the commercial where Crest boasts that this toothpaste can whiten your teeth in 14 days, I said “Yeah, right!”. But while at Walmart, I'm looking at the box and this woman comes up to me and tells me how great the toothpaste is. That it really did whiten her husband’s teeth in 2 weeks. So whether or not, Miss Thang was a secret Crest employee, I was sold. I paid $3.27 on sale at Walmart. And I am still using it to this day. It does work and I love it. Coffee drinkers rejoice!
Available at Walmart, Target and various drugstores, $3 - $4
3. Nivea A Kiss of Smoothness Hydrating Lip Care, SPF 4
I don’t wear a lot of makeup and I hate having dry lips so lip care with SPF is key for me. For years, I swore by Vaseline Lip Therapy (cherry flavor). I used to get it at the $1 store by the sack, lol. Then one day, I was in the checkout line at Walmart and saw this on the counter next to the candy. I picked one up and have been using it ever since. It’s costs a little more than Vaseline Lip Therapy but I am so in love with it that I am willing to pay an extra $1-$2. It goes on smooth and has no taste. I hate those lip balms that leave a bad taste in your mouth, yuck. I also came across a Buy 1, Get 1 Free coupon in the magazine All For You. So keep your eye out for coupons in All For You, First, Woman's Day and etc.
Available at Walmart: $2.87, Walgreens, CVS: $2.99
4. Carol’s Daughter Almond Cookie Shea Soufflé
This stuff smells soooo good and it moisturizes so well. This works especially well on my hands, which gets so dry especially in the winter. I love the fact that it’s made from all natural ingredients…shea butter, cocoa butter, sweet almond oil, and jojoba oil. It’s a bit pricey for me but I signed up for their emails and when they have coupons available, I’m on it. I stocked up last month when they did a 40% off their entire site promo.
Available at Carol's Daughter: 4oz, $13
5. Neutrogena Make-up Remover Cleansing Towelettes
I do wear light makeup occasionally and I am obsessed with keeping my skin clean. So I love these towelettes when removing my makeup at the end of the day. They’re gentle so I don’t breakout and they moisturize too. Secret save tip: CVS and Walmart sell their version/brand of these towelettes for about $2-3 cheaper.
Available at CVS: $7.99 (CVS brand: $5.99)
6. Philosophy The Supernatural Poreless, Flawless SPF Tinted Primer
I have pale skin and I tend to burn so I always wear sunblock. I came upon this product on Philosophy and decided to give it a try. It’s a moisturizer, has SPF and is tinted. It’s great to wear under my foundation or sometimes I wear it alone. It goes on light and I just love how it evens out my skin tone. I sometimes have red patchy areas so this makes my skin look great. It’s kind of pricey so I usually stock up when I have a coupon. Plus, despite the tube being small, it lasts a long time because you don’t have to use too much to cover your face.
Available at Philosophy.com: $30
7. GVP Products
I was turned on to the GVP line at Sally Beauty by my hairdresser. GVP stands for Generic Version Product and basically they are the generic versions of expensive products. It’s basically beauty knockoffs and I love it! For example, there’s a GVP version of Nexxus Humectress Conditioner (GVP is $5.99, Nexxus is $22). When you look at the ingredients, it’s the same. You’re really just paying more for the Nexxus name. They even have a GVP flat iron that is comparable to a CHI. I’m a recessionista so I have no problem buying GVP items. And from what I heard, these products are used in beauty salons. Yes, Girl. And you probably didn’t even know the difference!
There are two GVP items that I swear by. First, I love the GVP Leave-in Treatment, which is the generic version of Sebastian Potion 9. This is a great leave-in conditioner that I put in my hair right after I wash it. I blow-dry my hair straight so this makes my hair silky and bouncy. The other item is the GVP Mega Shaping Spray, which is the generic version of Sebastian Shaper Mega Hair Spray. I swear by this hair spray because while it gives your hair some hold, it does not make it stiff so you can continue to style your hair and it stays in place. You can buy these products online or in your nearest Sally Beauty store. And secret tip, if you know a hairdresser, they get a 10% discount. Shhhh…. ;)
Available at Sally Beauty:
GVP Leave-in Treatment 6.8oz: $5.00 (compare to Sebastian Potion 9, 5.1oz $13)
GVP Mega Shaping Spray 10 fl oz: $9.49 (compare to Sebastian Shaper Mega Hair Spray, 10.6 fl oz $17 - 20)
8. Vaseline Cocoa Butter Deep Conditioning line
I love the products in this line from Vaseline. The lotion is great…very light and moisturizing. The body oil is great. It’s all great, lol. AND very affordable. You can find them at Walmart, Target, CVS, and even on Amazon.com.
Cocoa Butter Extra Care Deep Conditioning Cream, $4.29, Drugstore.com
Cocoa Butter Deep Conditioning Lotion, $5.24 on sale, CVS.com
Cocoa Butter Vitalizing Gel Body Oil, $5.62 on sale, CVS.com
Cocoa Butter Soothing Body Butter, $12.19, Amazon.com
9. PedEgg Pro Pedicure Foot File
I usually don’t do many infomercial products (Pajama Jeans, really?) but I love my PedEgg. It really works. I also use a pumice stone in the shower but not all the time. The PedEgg makes a whole world of difference. I mean, who wants rough feet. ‘Nuff said.
I have the old one without a handle but I have heard the new one is great too.
Available at Drugstore.com:
Without the handle: $6.99
With the handle: $12.99
10. Bath & Body Works PocketBac Sanitizing Gel
I live in NYC and use the subway often. There are so many germs from touching the poles, doors, etc. Also, just being out and about, you forget what you’re touching and then you touch your face or other areas and don’t realize it (yikes). So I am become a fan of anti-bacterial gel. Bath & Body Works has this great product that is not only anti-bacterial gel but also moisturizes and smells good. I buy the travel sizes (usually they’re 5 for $5) and always have one in my purse while I’m on the go. I love the Peach Bellini and Fresh Market Apple scents. So you are killing germs and making your hands smell good and feel soft at the same time. Love it!
Available at Bath & Body Works (online and in-store): $1.50 for 1 or 5 for $5
So what are your beauty must-haves?
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