Comparable Beauty Products for LESS!

[somethingshiny]

So, I thought we'd all like a thread where we can share our Beauty Product Steals. Please post your experiences and see if we can all save a little mula!

I've used BedHead After Party for years to tame fly-aways and to use for blow-drying. Recently I purchased Pantene Medium Thick Creme and I like it better than the BedHead. (BedHead $20, Pantene $6)

Another product I've taken a liking to is Chi Silk Infusion over Redken's Glass. I've been getting it at Marshalls for $6 compared to Redken's $14.

I also prefer the Mary Kay Mineral Makeup over the Bare Escentuals. The consistency is finer and it blends more easily. (Bare Minerals $30, Mary Kay $22 and a bigger container)

 

[VRBeauty]

Thanks for the Mary Kay suggestion. I gave up the Bare Minerals powder once I realized how much it was costing me as compared to other alternatives. Those litte jars start out pricey and seem to run out pretty quickly!

I don't have specific swaps to offer, but I'd second Marshall's as a place to look for hair and skin care bargains.

 

[luv2sparkle]

I love LaMer eye concentrate. $169.00. Recently, I tried a new eye cream called Neocutis Lumiere Bio Restorative eye cream with PSP,
from skinmedix.com for $56. It is pretty amazing.

Also, my kids go to a dermotologist that is big into beauty treatments. She sells Prevage MD, which is about $40 cheaper than the
less effective version by Elizabeth Arden-$150 for the EA with half the amount of the antioxident, dermo sells the MD version for
$110.-Skinmedix.com sells the MD version for $79. I can buy both products for the price of the La Mer.

La Mer is smooth and creamy and feels great on your skin. The Lumiere feels a little stingy, but I didn't have a single bit of redness or
irritation. Under my eyes is really sensitive. I thought the results were pretty amazing.

 

[Miss Sparkly]

This one's not for less, but well worth the money - Chi hair dryer

My favorite makeup:

Wet and Wild waterproof liquid eyeliner. Stays in place all day (I have oily eyelids) and is near makeup removerproof too!

Wet and Wild regular black mascara - see above

Wet and Wild brown eyeliner pencil (I use this for my eyebrows - chill in freezer before you sharpen)

Makeup forever pressed powder and Clinique liquid foundation - both worth the extra money

Sally Beauty Supply carries a generic brand that works just as well as Aveda but for 1/3 the price

Palmers Cocoa butter hand lotion - you'll smell like a cocoa puff but this stuff works great!

Vaseline for lip balm. Very inexpensive and I never have dry lips anymore

 

[Matata]

Before I buy anything, I check reviews at http://www.cosmeticscop.com/ I've found her info to be pretty reliable.

 

[Brown.Eyed.Girl]

Recent discovery:

Fresh Sugar - $20

Recently discovered Badger Balm chapstick - $2.50

I like BB WAY better too - I ended up buying five of them to put in various purses and jackets (and it still costs less than one Fresh Sugar)

 

[MichelleCarmen]

For reviews, I always go to makeupalley.com to get an idea of what a product is like.

Often I find great deals at Nordstrom Rack. I LOVE Bliss and Philosophy and always find great deals. One cream I love was 60% off! It is hit-or-miss there, but it's worth a quick stop if I'm in the neighborhood.

ETA - another is finding the smaller GWP sizes of creams/products I love on eBay. The sizes are smaller and by calculating out cost per fl. oz, have found that I'm paying less even if I include shipping b/c I also have to pay sales tax if I shop at the mall.

I'm not a fan of generics. My standard face wash Cetaphil is sold at stores in generic form and those ALWAYS burn my eyes, whereas the brand name doesn't. Not sure why as the ingredients are the same!

 

[lovebug1031]

This one's not for less, but well worth the money - Chi hair dryer

My favorite makeup:

Wet and Wild waterproof liquid eyeliner. Stays in place all day (I have oily eyelids) and is near makeup removerproof too!

Wet and Wild regular black mascara - see above

Wet and Wild brown eyeliner pencil (I use this for my eyebrows - chill in freezer before you sharpen)

Makeup forever pressed powder and Clinique liquid foundation - both worth the extra money

Sally Beauty Supply carries a generic brand that works just as well as Aveda but for 1/3 the price

Palmers Cocoa butter hand lotion - you'll smell like a cocoa puff but this stuff works great!

Vaseline for lip balm. Very inexpensive and I never have dry lips anymore

I found mine at Marshalls for $25! So for less, and VERY AWESOME!

ELF's HD powder is AWESOME!! It's $6 and Target usually has it - much cheaper compared to Make Up Forever HD Powder ($34)

ELF makes a decent eye primer, it's good in a pinch - I still like my UDPP better...but it's a decent sub and for $2 too!

A good tip, if you don't want to shell out $$$ for really good makeup brushes, go to an art store and grab some nice paint brushes - same quality, less expensive!

Some of the drugstore brands are getting better in terms of color saturation/pigmentation with their eyeshadows; but i still have yet to find any that are comparable to Urban Decay or Bobbi Brown etc...

 

[kenny]

You can save even more if you do what I do.
I don't spend a dime on beauty stuff.

I just accept how I naturally look.

 

[monarch64]

This is a really old thread! I sure miss SomethingShiny...

Kenny, I wish we were all so self-accepting, but we're not. I admire your ability to eschew popular and conventional beauty ideals. It must be very peaceful!

I have purchased far fewer "beauty" products the past few years. I only wear makeup when y husband and I go out (which isn't often), or when we have company which is maybe twice a week (invited company, at least

I do buy a certain kind of lotion that really helps my skin, and a nail polish here and there. Otherwise, I use a lot of natural products like olive oil for dry cuticles or callouses, a salt and sugar scrub I concoct myself for sloughing off dead skin, and that's about it.

 

[kenny]

Kenny, I wish we were all so self-accepting, but we're not. I admire your ability to eschew popular and conventional beauty ideals. It must be very peaceful!

It is.

I get it.
People vary.
I just wanted to throw out an option, available to everyone, that saves tons of money over a lifetime.

A lifetime of brainwashing by companies who make beauty products makes you think you need them.
You can ignore their corrupt messages and think for yourself.

 

[missy]

I have purchased far fewer "beauty" products the past few years. I only wear makeup when y husband and I go out (which isn't often), or when we have company which is maybe twice a week (invited company, at least

I do buy a certain kind of lotion that really helps my skin, and a nail polish here and there. Otherwise, I use a lot of natural products like olive oil for dry cuticles or callouses, a salt and sugar scrub I concoct myself for sloughing off dead skin, and that's about it.

Me too. I only wear minimal makeup when I go out with the addition of mascara and eyeliner when I go to work. And I definitely do not wear any makeup when I am at home (I never wore makeup when I was just hanging around home though) or running errands. It's very freeing.

My main beauty staple is sunscreen which I always wear when I go out. I love CotZ face 40 (untinted). And I always moisturize throughout the day as my skin is dry. I love Eucerin original moisturizing creme in the white tub.

 

[Gypsy]

I just bought all new makeup.

I recommend ELF makeup brushes (eyeshadow) and the Sonia K. brand (lipstick brush and loose powder) from Target if you are looking for cheap brushes. I used to buy MAC brushes but... honestly, these work great. the ELF ones are 3.00 and under!

I usually splurge on Channel lipsticks (30+) but I just bought a MAC lipstick (color: Retro) for 15.00 and it's fabulous. Great pigment, not drying and stays on as long as my Channel lipsticks.

Also, I am very happy with my Clinique High Impact Mascara at 16.00, and highly recommend it.

And my BEST purchase is Stila "In the Light" shadow palette. 10 FABULOUS eyeshadows, plus an eyeliner, for $40. Very little fall out (I've even worn them without primer because I forgot and they've been fine), great pigment and the colors are perfect for every day or dress up as there are matte and shimmer shades.

 

[MichelleCarmen]

You can save even more if you do what I do.
I don't spend a dime on beauty stuff.

I just accept how I naturally look.

Ugh, you're a guy!!! Guys need to realize ladies LIKE to have beauty products. They're fun! If my dh said what you did, I'd bonk him on the head! Ugh...men!

 

[MichelleCarmen]

This is a really old thread that was bumped up...I still do the same. I find the GWP sizes on ebay for less. My fav face cream is $42 plus tax, however, there are gwp sizes on ebay so I pay half price even w/shipping.

 

[kenny]

You can save even more if you do what I do.
I don't spend a dime on beauty stuff.

I just accept how I naturally look.

Ugh, you're a guy!!! Guys need to realize ladies LIKE to have beauty products. They're fun! If my dh said what you did, I'd bonk him on the head! Ugh...men!

You can 'bonk' me any time MC.
Your place or mine?

 

[chrono]

I don't wear make up, not at home, at work or anywhere else. No concealer, no foundation, no lipstick, nothing at all except untinted sunscreen. Where is there so much pressure for women to wear make up in the US?

 

[MichelleCarmen]

You can save even more if you do what I do.
I don't spend a dime on beauty stuff.

I just accept how I naturally look.

Ugh, you're a guy!!! Guys need to realize ladies LIKE to have beauty products. They're fun! If my dh said what you did, I'd bonk him on the head! Ugh...men!

You can 'bonk' me any time MC.
Your place or mine?

lol Only if you promise we can do face masks and pedicures after.

 

[VRBeauty]

I almost never venture away from home without mascara, and rarely without brow color and a bit of eye shadow.

So sue me!

 

[mrs jam]

I love coconut oil for my hair. On weekends, I slather my hair with it, twist it up into a bun, and plop an old baseball cap over it. When I wash it out, my hair is soft and shiny. I have yet to find a better treatment for dry hair than good old coconut oil. I love how it melts in your hands after you scoop it out. The only negative is that my Great Dane is very attracted to the coconut scent and tries to EAT, not just lick, my hair.

I also like to add a pinch of baking soda to my face wash (Herbal Mint shower gel from Whole Foods) for a very fine and gentle exfoliation.

 

[monarch64]

Ha! I really MISS wearing makeup! I used to have a whole name-brand pretty black bag FULL OF IT! I loved nothing more than to sit in front of a big mirror, half-dressed, putting on makeup while my hair was done up in hot rollers. Sexiest thing ever! I have fond memories of trips to Vegas or NYC or Chicago, before going out o a show, getting ready in beautiful hotel bathrooms.

And of course I remember watching my mother get ready for dates with my dad in their master bath with its double sinks and huge mirror. My mother was the absolute picture of a lady, powdering her face and dabbing her perfume on, ankles crossed at the bottom of her vanity stool.

There is an art to a lady preparing herself for a date, or a party, or work, or just the public. It's a very personal and private part of a woman that isn't often seen.

 

[mrs jam]

Ha! I really MISS wearing makeup! I used to have a whole name-brand pretty black bag FULL OF IT! I loved nothing more than to sit in front of a big mirror, half-dressed, putting on makeup while my hair was done up in hot rollers. Sexiest thing ever! I have fond memories of trips to Vegas or NYC or Chicago, before going out o a show, getting ready in beautiful hotel bathrooms.

And of course I remember watching my mother get ready for dates with my dad in their master bath with its double sinks and huge mirror. My mother was the absolute picture of a lady, powdering her face and dabbing her perfume on, ankles crossed at the bottom of her vanity stool.

There is an art to a lady preparing herself for a date, or a party, or work, or just the public. It's a very personal and private part of a woman that isn't often seen.

Reading this brought back memories of watching my own mom get ready to go out on the town with my dad. I used to sit on the edge of their tub and watch her get ready.

My grandmother used to have a really beautiful compact case. I think the top was inlaid with mother of pearl, and it was shaped like a lily pad. She would pull it out to "freshen up," and she would always let me play with it before she put it back in her bag. I would love to know what happened to it; it would have been a very sentimental keepsake.

 

[ksinger]

Kenny, I wish we were all so self-accepting, but we're not. I admire your ability to eschew popular and conventional beauty ideals. It must be very peaceful!

It is.

I get it.
People vary.
I just wanted to throw out an option, available to everyone, that saves tons of money over a lifetime.

A lifetime of brainwashing by companies who make beauty products makes you think you need them.
You can ignore their corrupt messages and think for yourself.

So anyone who uses makeup and doesn't just accept how she actually looks, is a brainwashed victim of marketing and can't think for herself.

Right.

 

[ksinger]

I use cheapie drugstore brand Alpha Hydrox 10% AHA Cream. Around 10 bucks, keeps my skin really turned over for a fraction of the cost of some of the others.

I don't use primer anymore, but when I did, I used (and don't freak out here) Monistat Chafing Cream. Kid you not. The same stuff (with less fillers) that is in something like a Smashbox primer, but again, around 9 bucks versus 30. Got great reviews on Makeup Alley as I recall.

Maybelline Eye Studio gel liner. A terrible range of colors - only the basics of black, dark purple, charcoal, and (maybe) brown? But every bit as good as Bobbi Brown's gel liners, at around 10 bucks.

 

[ksinger]

I almost never venture away from home without mascara, and rarely without brow color and a bit of eye shadow.

So sue me!

Ha! I never had thick eyebrows, and now (unlike my waistline) they are thinning even more. I would no more leave the house without brows on, than I would go out naked. My husband teases me about how he can't tell what I'm thinking (when I'm not wearing my makeup) because I have no expression. I slap him of course, but he's pretty much right.

So, stranded on a desert island with single makeup item? Eyebrow pencil, definitely. All else is surplusage.

 

[lovebug1031]

I don't wear make up, not at home, at work or anywhere else. No concealer, no foundation, no lipstick, nothing at all except untinted sunscreen. Where is there so much pressure for women to wear make up in the US?

i don't think it's always pressure--- i love makeup! it's fun to me, i like researching the newest and latest ...i also like what you can do with makeup, you can totally change the way your face/skin appears! My face is a canvas that I get to change each day if I choose! Aside from that, to ME i look tired and washed out without mascara, blush, and eyebrows done...!