Cheap Drugstore Finds For Winter Skin
I’m not purporting to be some kind of beauty “expert,” but here’s what I do know: 1) I am a girl; 2) I like feeling pampered; and 3) I like a beauty bargain. It’s safe to say, I think, that these three facts make me somewhat equipped to share my favorite cheap drugstore finds for dry and itchy winter skin.
Aquaphor Healing Skin Ointment, $6
If you have dry chapped skin anywhere — lips, knees, elbows, hands, or face — this stuff is, hand’s down, the way to heal. When I was in college in Minnesota, I would go into a panic if I realized I’d come to campus without it. This has a thick texture that creates what feels like an impenetrable moisture seal on your skin. It’s not glamorous, but it works.
Burt’s Bee’s Baby Tear Free Shampoo and Wash, $7
So this is technically for babies, but I think it’s also just good for when you feel like you need some babying. The ever-so-light coconut smell makes me think of precious, lightly fuzzy heads and soft skin.
Avalon Organics Facial Cleansing Milk, Lavender, $12
If you have dry, sensitive skin and don’t mind a cleansing milk that doesn’t suds up, this softly-scented cleanser is so gentle. It’s my go-to cleanser come winter.
Kneipp Herbal Bath, $5
This is my favorite cheap drugstore discovery ever. These herbal bath oils are magnificently fragrant so you can count on the aromatherapy to really work. The full-size bottles are almost $20, but the little travel sizes (which are good for several baths) cost about $3 at my pharmacy. If you can’t find them at your local drugstore, try a health food store beauty department.
Eucerin Calming Body Wash Daily Shower Oil, $8
I laughed when I read the reviews on Amazon complaining about the smell of this body wash because I have been obsessed with its neutral, lightly earthy smell since I opened it. The oil turns into a light lather on the skin in the shower, but I also love to use it as moisturizing bubble bath. And I really like that I don’t need to double up with lotion afterwards, cause that’s an area where I tend to splurge.
Burt’s Bees Lemon Butter Cuticle Cream, $6
Six bucks may seem a little pricey for cuticle cream, but this stuff lasts forever. I smear a little into my nail bed and then push back my newly-soft cuticles with an orange stick.
Neutrogena Lip Balm with SPF 15, $2
This lip balm has a smooth, non-greasy texture that I find so comforting. I keep one on my bedside table for a little pre-bedtime moisture.
Everyone’s got a few beauty bargain drugstore tricks up their sleeve — please share yours in the comments!
Sara Rose: Oh! Ooh!!! PICK ME! I’m queen of this department!
1. Cetaphil Daily Advance Ultra Hydrating Lotion (gawd, thats a mouthful) But anyways, its about $5 and it works, are you ready for this, AS WELL IF NOT BETTER THAN AQUAPHOR.
2. Aquaphor is such a duh to everyone but me, I just suffered without it until I had two kids with dry, sensitive skin, now I can’t live without it.
3. Sally Hansen Quick Dry No Chip Top Coat. (What is WITH these long names?) $3. It really works. It dries quickly and I have a lot less chipping than even with some of the spendier no chip top coats.
4. Vaseline Healthy Hand and Nail Lotion. $4, maybe, for a BIG BOTTLE.
5. Cetaphil Gentle Face Wash for All Skin Types.
6. “Generic Brand” (I’m not joking, thats the name) Acetone Nail Polish Remover. $2.50. Removes even the blackest of polishes in 2 seconds flat.
7. C.O. Bigelow Mentha Lip Tint in Pink Mint.
8. Nature’s Best Goat’s Milk Bar Soap. A savior for dry winter skin, and it smells nummy, weirdly.
9. Speaking of Burts Bees, their Coconut Foot Creme is simply divine.
10. Pure and simple Carmex. Cherry Flavored. In a tube. Costs .80 cents.2 years ago
Julia: Oooh I love this post. But Sarah, most of these products are either not available in the UK, or are twice the US price – boo (yes, Burt’s Bees and Carmex, I’m talking to you) And this seems as good a time as any to mention how much I miss Rite Aid in Whitehouse Station, NJ. Many a happy hour was spent in that place.
2 years ago
My top (international) budget beauty buy is Vaseline – works for EVERYTHING!
Thanks for cheering up a cold Wednesday
Karen: Great list. Many of the products I use already and the others I am sure to try soon (especially the lavender cleansing milk, I love lavender!).
I have a favorite inexpensive hand cream that I have been using for awhile. A little (and I mean a tiny dab) goes a long way. It is Glysomed fragrance-free hand cream. I think I purchased it at Rite-Aid, but drugstore.com carries this cream too.2 years ago
gidget: Gotta love Burts Bees!!!2 years ago
nanaofnc: Oh, they don’t call me the *lotions ‘n potions* gal for nothing. This is right up my alley. Love Burts Bees, too, but my greatest find this winter is Jergens All Purpose Face Cream. I just happened upon it and love it and its price. Great for cleansing your face, a moisturizing cream, and even removes eye makeup with my contact lenses in! Very gentle:
http://www.walgreens.com/store/catalog/Lotions-and-Creams/All-Purpose-Face-Cream/ID=prod7186&navCount=1&navAction=push-product?V=G&ec=frgl_725157&ci_src=14110944&ci_sku=sku3071862 years ago
Jess E: We use Aquaphor to heal tattoos. It helps them stay moisturized, heals the skin, and doesn’t affect color like neosporin (and other antiseptic ointments) do!2 years ago
Christine S.: Eucerin is my daughter’s go-to during the winter months. My newest $2.97 discovery (at least, at Wal-Mart) is Nivea’s moisturing lip balm…oh, it does make for kissably smooth lips without a waxy feel – love it!
With the blizzard going on outside my window, both of those products will be put to good use in the near future, I’m sure.
Almost forgot, one more, Neutrogena’s sesame oil lotion…great for those of us with oily-er skin…doesn’t build up but does moisturize!2 years ago
Sara Rose, LOVE the CO Bigelow minty lip tints. LOVE!
Julia, But you have all your own glamorous British pharmacy finds, right? And I bet you have all the French drugstore lines (like Avene + Vichy). I am jealous. Also, I share your love of drugstore wandering. I can easily kill an hour in there.
Karen, Thanks for the hand cream rec. My favorite hand cream is not a cheapie, but I do love it: http://www.aveda.com/templates/products/sp.tmpl?ngextredir=1&CATEGORY_ID=CATEGORY10691&PRODUCT_ID=PROD5908
gidget, I am positively nuts about that body wash! but i recently tried a cleanser from them (the cream willowbark cleanser) that i wasn’t so crazy about.
nana, lotions and potions! i’m going to start calling one of my friends that.
Jess, Who knew?! That stuff can do everything.
Christine, I love Nivea, too. I’m kind of a sucker for their vaguely-European packaging. Also, I am loving this snowstorm!2 years ago
Suzy: I already use the Burts Bees cuticle stuff, and the Neutrogena lip moisturizer is the only lip balm I’ll use (too bad it’s $4.49 here in Canada). I use Cetaphil cleanser every day. I find it is the only cleanser I can use morning AND night in winter without sucking every trace of moisture out of my skin. And it works well for my sensitive, rosacea-prone skin. I also really like Glysomed. I wash my hands dozens of times a day (don’t have OCD–my job involves getting my hands dirty) and without major moisturizer intervention they crack and really hurt. And listen up: the ONLY thing that cures crusty old calloused feet is Flexitol Heel Balm. The magic ingredient is….urea. It’s “chemically synthesized” however, so I’m hoping that means it isn’t straight from a cow’s bladder. But even if it does, you should use it, despite costing $10-15 for a small tube. It’s the only thing that works–well, besides a razor blade.2 years ago
Kelly: I second the Cetaphil moisturizing lotion! It comes in a big pump container, and I use it constantly. It is my one true love. It’s creamy and non-greasy, and it’s one of only two facial moisturizers that doesn’t make me break out. The other is Purpose facial moisturizer by Johnson and Johnson. The Cetaphil is scent-free, so you can mix in good-smelling oils to make it more luxurious.
I also have to mention L’Oreal True Match makeup. What a fantastic product. It makes my skin glowy, even when I’m breaking out.2 years ago
MaryLeigh Bishop: Wet ‘n Wild eyeliner is AMAZING and 99 cents. The charcoal and black are fabulous.
Also, UltraBrite toothpaste is sooo cheap and actually whitens better than whitestrips.
I love your product threads, by the way!
2 years ago
lindsey clare: that lavender cleanser looks so lovely. a beautician once told me that i should be using milky/creamy cleansers, not sudsy/gel cleansers, but i must admit i’m a bit of a fan of the suds!
anyway, i’m in Australia so i don’t know if these products are available elsewhere but my votes for cheapy beauty products are:
Lucas Paw Paw ointment (similar to your Aquaphor, or Vaseline… so cheap and great for sore lips, hands, etc)
Baby wipes for removing makeup instead of expensive cleanser wipes
Nivea lip balms2 years ago
rhonda35: Note to self: DON’T leave the fabulous concoction called Burt’s Bees Cuticle Cream in the cup holder of your car. Sadly, it just makes for a big, beeswaxy mess when you least feel like dealing with it. Sure does give you something to do at long traffic lights, however!2 years ago
Julie: My favorite drug store product is VaniCream! It’s sold behind the pharmacy counter, but you don’t need a prescription. For $5, you get a big tube of it. Perfect for dry, super-duper sensitive skin. I use it on my face and neck, but my sister swears it’s perfect for just shaved legs, too!2 years ago
Maria: Coconut oil! It’s solid at room temperature and very inexpensive… I use it as shaving cream, a rich moisturizer, deep-conditioning hair mask and slather my feet in it before I put on socks for bed. A blob under the tap mixed with essential oils or bubbles also makes for a luxurious bath…2 years ago
Megan: My favorite is J.R. Watkins Lemon Cream Shea Butter Hand Repair Moisturizer, found at Target. Similar to some other products on here, I don’t think the price is super low (maybe like $9) but you only need a tiny bit so it lasts forever. And the smell is sooo good. Like lemon pie.
I also love makeup-applicator Q-Tips. Not sure who makes them, and finding them is hit-or-miss, but my eye is always out. One end of the Q-tip is flat like an eyeshadow wand and one end is pointy (perfect for running under your eye if eyeliner is too thick or mascara smudges). Much cheaper than fancy makeup brushes and you don’t have to wash them, you just throw them away when you’re done!
I also second the Carmex comments. It’s tingly, moisturizing and awesome!2 years ago
Amy C: Maria, I will second the coconut oil. I love that stuff…especially on my legs!2 years ago
Miss Petite Treat: I’m with Julie! VaniCream works wonders! If only the packaging were a little cuter…
2 years ago
joe: Great display of products.I’m a little confused on the oils used.But never the less I ordered. We use goat milk soap here at the homestead.2 years ago
Sarah Jane: Sarah you just saved my life…or at least my hands! I’m a student nurse and between washing constantly and hand sanitizer my hands were terrible- cracking and dry.
I went out last night and bought some Aquaphor and used it overnight with gloves. I’m telling all my nursing school buddies! Miraculous!2 years ago
Wow! That is terrific! Sounds like you should try the VaniCream everyone’s raving about, too!1 year ago
Janet: I like to use simple products that don’t create health concerns. My shampoo choices have changed considerably since researching them on the Skin Deep website:
http://www.cosmeticsdatabase.com/index.php1 year ago
Lesley: I just read in People magazine this weekend (guilty airport reading) that Beyonce uses Aquaphor, too. Just thought I’d share.1 year ago
Margaret Roach: Doctor got my sister onto Aquaphor years back and she got me started, too…tiny tubes in every pocket for years here, and big ones strategically placed around the house, in the car, gardening bag, you name it. Love.1 year ago
Diva: Kiehl’s Creme de Corps
The richest most luxurious INEXPENSIVE moisturizer.
Warning: hihgly addictive!4 weeks ago