Refresh for Spring: Drugstore Beauty Essentials

I used to be the girl that would walk out of the house without any makeup and still feel quite pleased with myself. As I age though, there are a few things that need a little extra patching and thus there are now  quite a few products in my vanity that I canNOT live without.

What’s more is that when I was young, insouciante and without the need for much cover-up, I had the time and the disposable cash to buy the chichi department store lines. Now? Not so much. Just as well, because I’m not swayed by the marketing hype and the fancy packaging. Plus, plenty of literature proves that drugstore brands work just as well as the behind-the-glossy-counter ones. I love the fact that I can pick up my beauty products at the same place where I buy my household cleaning products (read Alice.com & Target). So, here are some of my wouldn’t-leave-home-without-it products:

If you have not tried Blistex Deep Renewal you are missing out. It is an anti-aging lip treatment with Coenzyme Q-10 and SPF 15 that has been clinically proven to reduce visible signs of aging – like all those darned little vertical wrinkles around the lips.  I put it on every night before bed. I love the feel of it on my lips as mine tend to get dry while I sleep. After using it for almost a year I can tell the difference with those fine lines.

Garnier Nutritioniste Anti-Puff Eye Roller is amazing. I know that reviews are mixed but for me, it gets rid of the puffiness that accumulates under my eyes in the morning.  I put it on every morning after my shower. By the time I am getting ready to take the girls to school the puffiness is gone.

Aveeno has a great daily moisturizer with SPF 30 called Positively Ageless. As I have aged my moisturizer has changed but it has always have been an Aveeno product. My face does not feel dry and does not leave that unwanted sheen unlike other moisturizers with SPF. Find it here at Target, among other places.

For makeup, I simply love the E.L.F. makeup line because all products are $1.00 (though they do now have a minerals line for $3.00). At $1.00 a pop, I can afford to play around and experiment with color. I have at least one each of their lip products and the brightening eye liner tucked inside every purse I own. I find they wear as well as the more expensive makeup brands and for a buck, what do you have to lose? You can buy online at eyeslipsface.com or, like all the other products they are available at Target and various grocery and drugstore chains.

This succulent wife and mom doesn’t have much time for fancy manicures but still believes that just as the eyes are the windows to the soul, the hands are the very symbol of one’s measure of personal care. As I was shopping for a very basic clear coat to keep things simple, I stumbled upon the Complete Salon Manicure nail polish by Sally Hansen. I was curious by the 5-steps-in-1 claim: base coat, strengthener, growth treatment, color and top coat. At $7.49 at Walgreens, I decided to give it a whirl and am coming back to claim this as my new favorite polish. My nails felt strong and the polish stayed on nicely for over a week. I chose a very subtle blush pink color (Shall We Dance) for a natural look. Love it.

Speaking of manicures, I want to mention my glass nail file that I’ve had for over 5 years now. If I manage never to drop it on the tiled bathroom floor, it will last forever. I bought mine at the local drugstore chain in Canada but have only found them online here in the U.S. Here is an OPI glass nail file on Amazon.  Just rinse to clean. For natural nails, in the long run, these are definitely cheaper, have more filing power and are more sustainable than regular emery boards.

Instant Age Rewind Eraser Foundationby Maybelline. To my great regret, for a fresher look, age dictates that I now need to add a foundation layer to my makeup routine. I discovered the Age Rewind Eraser just before the holidays and love the way that it covers spots and blemishes, evens out skin tone AND seems to have the foundation primer qualities included as well. I couldn’t care less for the goji berry and collagen claims (don’t believe in those in a makeup application) but love the natural finish that the Eraser provides. Only thing is that the finish is a wee bit slippery and I need to apply a bit of loose powder to correct that. Otherwise, quite glorious.

Last by not least, a Succulent Wife’s favorite for over 10 years is L’Oreal’s Voluminous Mascara. We wrote about this way back when and I still stand behind every word.

Note: please know that no company has approached us to feature any these products. These are all products that we have bought, liked, have been using and are excited to recommend.