This no-nonsense acne buster is packed with 10% benzoyl peroxide. Clearasil Ultra Rapid Action Treatment Cream promises to “visibly reduce spot size and redness in as little as 4 hours” – it says so right on the tube! While I haven’t necessarily timed my zit zapping, I can tell you that it does help reduce pimples in size and appearance overnight – which is my favorite time to apply. Careful not to apply too often, though. Over-application may banish zits but can leave you with a wicked dry patch in its place.

Ready to snag your own? Clearasil products are found at most drugstores and mass merchandisers. Check out clearasil.us for more info!

by Jessie Stocker

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Garnier Skin Renew Anti-Sun Damage Daily Moisture Lotion SPF 28 (what a mouthful!) promises to “help reverse signs of sun damage like fine lines, uneven skin tone, and sun spots”. While I haven’t used this product long enough to notice any major fine line reduction, I have noticed that my skin has been less red and a bit more even. Plus, I love that although this moisturizer packs a decent amount of SPF, it doesn’t have that thick, greasy sunscreen feel or smell. My only complaint, and it’s a small one at that, is that this baby packs a powerful scent. While it doesn’t bother my skin, it does sting my eyes quite a bit if I get it too close to the waterline. Overall, I think it’s a pretty good option.

Ready to snag your own? The entire line of Garnier skincare products are found at most drugstores and mass merchandisers. Check out www.garnierusa.com for more info!

by Jessie Stocker

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This affordable drugstore score comes in a super cute eco-friendly compact made with recycled paper. Despite being infused with “light-diffusing pigments”, I was pleasantly surprised to find that this pressed powder isn’t obnoxiously shimmery. Formulated with both oil-blocking (corn starch and kaolin) and hydrating ingredients (jojoba oil and aloe), this powder did a good job of mattifying and setting my foundation without drying out my skin or accentuating dry areas.

Let’s be real, though. While I appreciate the option of an included sponge applicator, I found it to be pretty useless. I couldn’t get a smooth application – there was either too little or too much powder. I much prefer using my own powder brush.

Ready to snag your own? Wet n Wild products are found at most drugstores. Check out wnwbeauty.com for more info!

by Jessie Stocker

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I’ve been obsessed with my Clarisonic Mia lately. It makes washing my face feel like much more of an accomplishment. I’m addicted to smooth feeling afterward! My skin does tend to be sensitive, though, so it’s important that I use a gentle cleanser with the brush. CeraVe Hydrating Cleanser is perfect for this. It’s super gentle and promises to remove dirt, oil, and make-up without disrupting skin’s natural protective barrier. Plus, it’s formulated with ceramides which are naturally occurring components of skin to help protect and keep it hydrated. I love that my skin never feels dry, tight, and stripped after using CeraVe. At the same time, it never leaves a gross filmy feeling either.

I must warn you, though. Since this isn’t a heavy duty cleanser, it won’t necessarily take off all your long-wearing, waterproof make-up. I typically take the bulk of my make-up off with a wipe before cleansing to lessen the likelihood of residue.

Ready to snag your own? CeraVe products are available at most mass merchandisers and drugstores. Check out www.cerave.com for more info!

by Jessie Stocker

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When I need a quick, polished and put together look without a lot of fuss, this is the product I reach for. I use the second and third color down for my lid, the fourth color for my crease, the fifth color for my outer “v” and the first color for my highlight. Add some of the bronzer to my cheeks, and a little on my lips under a clear gloss and I’m good to go. Instead of carrying multiple products in your purse, you can get away with carrying one of these and a mascara!

Now for the thing I love most about them… They are comparable in quality, texture and pigmentation to Bobbi Brown Shimmer Bricks, but at $14.99 they’re a lot more affordable! It’s expensive looking makeup without the expensive price tag!

For more information, check out www.physiciansformula.com

by Tracey Rosenblath

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The first test a potentially new lip balm must pass is the smell/taste test. I cannot stand artificial, sickeningly sweet flavors! I’ve yet to meet a vanilla balm that I like – though I’m definitely open to the challenge. This balm passes with flying colors as it’s tasteless and there’s nearly no smell. Next, application! I like a balm to glide on effortlessly and feel smooth. I hate when a balm is so hard that it drags, and I have to apply 2-3 hard swipes to feel any product. Check! Nivea glides on perfectly in one pass.
Last, the biggest test of all… the feeling and wear test. Does it feel good to wear? How long does it last? Does it make my lips feel better or worse? This Nivea balm sweeps them all with an A+. It feels silky and smooth, though some may not enjoy this “greasy” texture, I love it! It wears well, for a good few hours before I need to reapply. Most importantly, after it wears off, I don’t feel a desperate need to reapply. It leaves my lips feeling more moisturized and softer. Bonus: I love the fat packaging! I have full lips, and skinny lip balm tubes feel wimpy. This is absolutely a new staple in my stash.

Ready to snag your own? Nivea lip care products can be found at most mass merchandisers and drugstores. Check out www.nivea.com for more info!

by Jessie Stocker

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NYX eyeshadow‘s are very pigmented and vibrant. They go only smoothly, blend beautifully and last all day with no creasing or fading. NYX currently has over 160 different eyeshadow colors in their collection, which is more than enough to keep you busy for a while…lol Many of the NYX colors are good dupes and in some cases exact dupes for MAC eyeshadow colors.

Prestige eyeshadow’s are very silky and last all day with no creasing. Their Golden Retriever eyeshadow is the prettiest gold shade I’ve seen this season from any makeup brand whether drug store or high end. They have a wide selection of shimmer and matte shades, many of which are good dupes for MAC eyeshadow’s. If you’re in the market for a dramatic thickening and lengthening mascara, Prestige’s “My Biggest Lashes” won’t let you down. Prestige bronzers give you just the right amount of bronze and glow for a healthy look.

Physician’s Formula is one of the most overlooked makeup brands. Their Mineral Wear Loose Powder Foundation goes on beautifully, and provides medium to high coverage depending on how you apply it. With beautiful eyeshadow’s, and Shimmer Strip Custom blushes and bronzers you just can’t go wrong. If you want well defined, dramatic lashes be sure to try their Plump Potion Mascara… you definitely won’t regret it!

Wet ‘n Wild products were all the rage when I was a teenager, and as an adult I forgot about them for a while. I have recently come to love their products again… Their colors are amazing and many of their eyeshadow’s are good dupes for MAC eyeshadow’s. Wet n Wild’s gel eyeliner is an amazing product for the price.

Who can forget NYC or New York Color in a list like this? Their products are notoriously the least expensive of any drug store brand, and yet their colors are undeniably beautiful. NYC’s nail polishes are comparable to many higher end polishes.

Next time you’re in your local drugstore, take a moment to check out the makeup section. You may find that there are some amazing treasures waiting there for you. Beauty doesn’t have to be expensive if you take the time to look for the alternatives.

by Tracey Rosenblath

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Don’t you love when you try a product for the first time, perhaps by chance, and you wonder how you ever lived without it? This night cream was like that for me! It’s designed to “Bring fresh new skin to the surface for reduced fine lines and ultra-smooth texture.” I’ve been using this for a month now, and I can absolutely say that it has made a positive, most importantly a noticeable, difference in my skin. My skin is smoother, more clear, and I have noticed considerably less redness. The redness reduction was both a surprise and a blessing! I also love that it’s super gentle and moisturizing, but it’s never greasy or sticky.

Ready to snag your own? Garnier products are available at most drugstores and mass merchandisers. Check out www.garnierusa.com for more info!

By Jessie Stocker

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When you think about it though, as other products have changed and become more exciting over the years mascara has stayed the same. For more than 50 years, we have been using the tube and wand. Oh sure, there have been a few novelty items along the way like oscillating mascaras but you were still just dealing with the wand and the tube.

Until now, that is. About two years ago, an ingenious man from Montreal, Canada by the name of Dov Grossnass invented one-handed mascara. It is the biggest, most innovative and creative change to mascara in decades. With a sleek design, does this one handed mascara pass muster?

This mascara makes many promises on the box. It claims to lengthen, curl, and define the lashes as well as to nourish them and make them grow faster. Can it really do these things? Is it really the revolutionary product that it claims to be?

I first found this product at my local drugstore approximately six months ago. The price point of $25.00 was a little bit steep so I was hesitant to purchase it. Still, I found myself compelled to bring it home and try it out, so I bit the bullet and purchased it. At first glance, I noticed that the mascara had a slim, sleek design, which makes it very portable. The applicator has a slider, which you push up to expose the wand. The first time I pushed up the slider I was amazed that there was no clump of goo on the end of the mascara wand like most other mascaras have. Apparently, this mascara has a double wiper system so that when you push up the wand, all of the excess mascara is pushed back downwards and into the tube. Due to the nature of the double wiper system, very little air enters the mascara, which of course minimizes the introduction of air and bacteria. Therefore, your mascara stays fresher longer and lasts longer.

Upon applying it to my lashes, I was impressed with how well it separated and defined my lashes. I’ve never had a mascara fan them out like that before. I was equally impressed with the fact that my lashes weren’t clumped together and that my lashes looked amazing. This mascara separated and defined my lashes like no other mascara has ever done and definitely lived up to the promises on its package.

Now for the claim or conditioning your lashes and making them grow longer. After six months of use, I honestly can’t tell you if it lives up to this claim or not. My lashes do feel better and they do appear fuller, but I don’t really think they look any longer. So does it live up to the claim of conditioning your lashes? Definitely. Does it live up to the claim of making your lashes grow? I think that’s something that will vary from person to person. Mine are definitely fuller, but I don’t think I’d say that they are any longer.

What didn’t I like about this mascara? First, at the present time, it’s only available in black and I think it would be nice if they had a color selection. Additionally, I wish the formula thickened the lashes as well, although there is a work around for this. When I was thick dramatic lashes, I apply two coats of this mascara to lengthen and define, and then I apply two coats of thickening mascara. The combination looks amazing and creates a false eyelash look without the false lashes.

All in all, I would definitely recommend this product. Although it is a little bit on the pricey side it does what it says it will do, and products that live up to their promises are hard to come by. It’s definitely a revolutionary product that lived up to my expectations.

This mascara is currently being rolled out to spas, salons and stores in the U.K., United States and Canada. If you can’t find it at a store near you, they have an online store at www.belvada.com.

by Tracey Rosenblath

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Let’s talk sulfates, ladies! There’s much debate in the beauty community on if you should treat sulfates like acid and steer clear, or if they’re necessary to get your hair squeaky clean. Here’s the deal: sulfates can be harsh on your hair, especially if you’re washing daily. They’re known for stripping color-treated treated hair and making it look faded. But! If you’re a silicone lover, like me, or just a styling product junkie, sulfates are great for getting all the gunk off of your hair and removing buildup.

If your hair is prone to dryness or color-treated (like mine!), this low sulfate TRESemme shampoo offers a wonderful alternative to traditional sulfate ‘poos. It’s gentle, with added avocado and aloe, but it gets the job done. I love that my hair feels clean, not stripped after I wash it. Plus, this shampoo has never made my hair feel dry and tangled, which is a total peeve of mine – I feel like I have to use twice as much conditioner to untangle!

Ready to snag your own? The TRESemme Naturals line is available in most mass merchandises and drugstores. Check out www.tresemme.com for more info!

by Jessie Stocker

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