Monday, September 10, 2012

Drugstore Faves

As much as I love a good Sephora haul, I always find myself going back to (and recommending) some drugstore makeup and skin care finds that work great and rival their pricier counterparts.  When taking clients shopping for makeup and skin care, we almost always start somewhere like Ulta or Target for some of these products before venturing into a department store.  Here are some of my favorite products, found at any local drugstore, that work amazingly well and create a look that dupes many pricier department store products.

Skin Care:


 
This cooling cleansing cream by Pond's has a higher water-to-oil ratio than its "classic" cold cream counterpart, meaning it rinses off clean without the need to tissue off.  Using the same idea as oil cleansers, this cold cream dissolves all makeup - even long-wearing/waterproof formulas - for a clean complexion that isn't left dried out.  I've been using this on and off for years, and always find myself reaching for it when nothing else is working.


I only wash my face with a foaming cleanser in the shower, with my Clarisonic (which there definitely is not a drugstore dupe for!).  This pH balanced face wash by Phisoderm is super gentle, and is formulated without sulfates or dyes, so it won't irritate even sensitive skins.  With the added benefit of salicylic and lactic acids, this cleanser helps keep pores clean and acne at bay, all without stripping the skin of natural oils or throwing off pH balance.  What else could you want in a cleanser?


 
I LOVE this toner.  I'm kind of a toner addict, having tried at least a hundred others from all kinds of brands, and I always come back to this one.  It contains so much goodness: vitamin e, witch hazel, aloe, glycerine, and rose water - and doesn't contain alcohol!  This toner always leaves skin soft, toned and never dry or stripped.  While many people don't consider toners a necessary step, I deem this a staple in my routine for removing anything my cleanser may have missed, and for adding an extra little dose of moisture to the skin.  Also, I may be addicted to the heavenly rose scent.

read on for my makeup faves!