21 Drugstore Beauty Savers

By Colleen Dowd
DigitalVision
If the thought of buying cosmetics at a drugstore makes you cringe, get ready for some eye-opening finds. We teamed up with Carmindy, makeup artist on TLC's What Not to Wear and an expert at making over real women, to select the best beauty bargains.
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Easy Does It

Courtesy of Cetaphil

Wash your face daily with a thorough yet gentle cleanser. "Cetaphil Daily Facial Cleanser for normal to oily skin ($12) doesn't strip your skin of its natural oils," Carmindy says.

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Think Pink

Courtesy of Sally Hansen

Sally Hansen Natural Beauty Sheerest Cream Blush ($9) will bring out your natural flush. Carmindy suggests picking one from the universally flattering coral pink family.

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Wow-Worthy Brows

Courtesy of N.Y.C.

If you need to fill in brows, try N.Y.C. Browblender Brow & Liner pencils ($5). "They are thin, so you can use small strokes for a natural look," Carmindy notes.

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Beauty On-the-Go

Courtesy of Essence of Beauty

As for tools, we like the Essence of Beauty Face Travel Kit ($10). It has all the brushes you'll need in portable sizes.

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Give It a Curl

Courtesy of La Cross

Curling your lashes makes them appear longer. Use the La Cross Eyelash Curler ($5) prior to applying your mascara.

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Sleep Treat

Courtesy of Vaseline

Carmindy recommends putting a light coating of Vaseline ($3) or a cream with vitamin E around your eyes before bed to keep that delicate skin moisturized.

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First Step

Courtesy of Sally Hansen

One step that many women skip is applying a primer. "It is essential to even out your skin tone and keep your makeup in place," Carmindy says. Her pick is Sally Hansen Natural Beauty Luminizing Face Primer ($10).

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Can't Spot It

Courtesy of Revlon

For hiding spots, try Revlon ColorStay Blemish Concealer ($10), which provides lasting coverage.

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Smaller Is Better

Courtesy of Maybelline

When it comes to mascara, a bigger brush is not better. A small one, like Maybelline's Lash Discovery ($7.50), is easier to control. "The larger wands just end up making a mess and getting clumpy," Carmindy says.

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Cover It Up

Courtesy of Sally Hansen

After using primer, you want to cover discoloration. For the undereye zone, try Sally Hansen Fast Fix Concealer ($9 each). The yellow shade diminishes redness, while the pink (shown) adds lightness to dark areas.

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Tweezy Does It

Courtesy of La Cross

To keep brows looking good, tweeze them after showering, when your pores are more open. To maintain their shape, Carmindy recommends La Cross TiniTweeze Tweezers ($5), which grab stray hairs with ease.

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Bang for Your Buck

Courtesy of Rimmel

When choosing an eyeshadow, look for one with multiple shades in the same color family, like Rimmel Stir It Up cream shadow in Post Punk ($7.50). This way you can use the different tones to make your eyes pop. Carmindy likes how they blend in really well with your skin, while we love the rich color combinations.

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Just a Little Dab

Courtesy of Clean & Clear

Control oil and shine with blotting papers like Clean & Clear Oil Absorbing Sheets ($5). "They are thicker than other brands and don't fall apart while you're using them," Carmindy says. The sheets pop up easily from the container and won't smudge your makeup.

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A Strong Foundation

Courtesy of Sally Hansen

Foundation must glide onto skin smoothly. Carmindy recommends Sally Hansen Your Skin Makeup Foundation ($13), which is filled with antioxidants and comes in 12 shades. Pat it gently on your skin in a downward motion, and don't forget to blend it into your neck for a smooth look.

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Line Time

Courtesy of Styli-Style

Line your eyes to really make them stand out. "Pencil liners offer a more natural approach to eye definition and are easier to apply than liquid versions," Carmindy notes. Styli-Style's waterproof pencils ($5 each), in shades such as Twilight, Jade, Brown, and Tanzanite, last for hours without smudging.

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Bright and Bold

Courtesy of L'Oreal

If you want to use some bolder colors, try L'Oreal HIP Pure Pigment Shadow Sticks ($10 each). "They are like big crayons," Carmindy says. "I would suggest only playing up the eyes and then keeping the rest of your face pretty neutral."

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Be Sun Smart

Courtesy of Neutrogena

"It is best to get a face lotion with a built-in sunscreen, like Neutrogena Healthy Defense Daily Moisturizer SPF 45 ($13)," Carmindy notes. We like that this combination product saves you time in your morning routine.

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Sparkle and Shine

Courtesy of N.Y.C.

For eyeshadow, try N.Y.C. Sparkle Eye Dust in Champagne (shown, $4) and Opal Sparkle. "You can use them under your brows as a highlighter or on the inside corner of your eyes to brighten your face," Carmindy suggests.

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Get Glowing

Courtesy of Sally Hansen

For a real glow, go with a bronzer. Sally Hansen Natural Beauty Sheerest Cream Bronzer ($12) goes on smoothly. But avoid those with shimmer -- they don't look natural.

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Hip Lips

Courtesy of Milani

For an alternative to lipstick, choose a rich lip gloss. For something with staying power, try one of Milani's 10 shades of Glitzy lip glosses ($5.50). "I think these products are truly better than the high-end versions," Carmindy says.

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Natural Beauty

Courtesy of Maybelline

For natural-looking lips without the stickiness, try one of Maybelline's Shiny-licious lip glosses ($6 each).

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When to Replace Makeup

Douglas Smith

Old makeup and grimy tools can harbor bacteria that can lead to infections and breakouts. Follow these suggestions for when to clean and when to replace.

Brushes: wash weekly

Concealer: one year

Eyeliner: two years, but sharpen pencils frequently

Eyeshadow: one year

Face Powder: one year

Foundation: one year

Lipstick: two years

Liquid Eyeliner: six months

Mascara: six months

Sponges: wash weekly, replace monthly

Even after you follow these rules, do any of your products smell or look funky? Toss 'em. Found something you haven't used in a year? Ditch it. Maybe it's time to treat yourself to a few of the new products and modern shades featured on these pages!

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How to Save Your Makeup

DigitalVision

To extend the life of your favorite products and keep your beauty budget in line, consider some tricks from Carmindy.

* If you have favorite lipsticks that are whittled down, scoop out what's left and put each shade in a little plastic pillbox. This creates a great palette of lip colors to mix and match.

* If some of your pressed eyeshadows are broken, turn them into loose shadows by storing them in film canisters.

* To reliquify dried-out mascara, run the sealed tube under hot water for five minutes. However, stick to the three-month replacement rule on mascara; swollen, infected eyes are not hot.

Originally published in the October 2008 issue of American Baby magazine.

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