Mad Hippie Skincare and Cosmetics

cheek and lip tint - a favorite!

Mad Hippie's skincare, sunscreen, and makeup, which are available at Walmart, Ulta, iHerb, and Amazon, have top-notch ingredients. I wasn't as familiar with the retailer's motto but it's fabulous too: "From helping inspire people to make healthier choices, to raising awareness and support for the environment, Mad Hippie is committed to a brighter, better tomorrow."

Now let's discuss what the beauty brand's products offer consumers. Its skincare is transparent, clean, and lightweight and its makeup is natural and vegan with colors to create flattering, healthy, and polished looks. There are no parabens, phthalates, synthetic fragrances, dyes, petrochemicals, PEGs, or SLS in its beauty products.

Using the term organic is expensive for small business brands to go through the process to acquire the term for their products. Some small companies sell organic products but can't use the term. Instead, they use the word natural to describe their products. However, there is no definition, and the standard of what constitutes natural hasn't been established. So here on the blog, I tend to say clean by looking at the ingredient list and also seeing what's not in a formula.

The beauty editors at Marie Claire call Mad Hippie's skincare and cosmetics magic while THE SAVVY SHOPPER loves its value for quality price points! Mad Hippie is a brand that proves you don't have to empty your wallet to buy high-end skincare or makeup! Business models determine costs not the quality of products. Why not support your friends (who love you!) and avoid retailers who gouge (but don't love you back)!

Judging by what Mad Hippie puts in its beauty remedies coupled with what it charges its customers, this beauty line is one of our friends! Check them out.

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Cetaphil Launches Purified Peptides Anti-aging Skincare For Sensitive Skin

If you're a skincare enthusiast you know retin-A and its over-the-counter derivative retinol is the gold standard of anti-aging skincare. We hear it over and over. But they can be brutal on virgin or sensitive skin, leaving it red and raw. What gives this most medically studied anti-aging ingredient its effectiveness is how often you apply it to your face over how strong the dose is. The reason non-prescription retinol is more beneficial to virgin skin than jumping to prescription strength Retin-A is mainly because if you don't slowly build up a tolerance for the prescription strength, you'll have to stop using it after your skin quickly becomes red and raw.

Nowadays science has tested and also given its seal of approval to other less harsh products better tolerated by sensitive and virgin skin which can give you similar anti-aging benefits like retinol and retin-A, such as softening fine lines and wrinkles and stimulating the production of collagen. We're talking about immediate anti-aging improvements without the side effects of peeling and pain! {Bakuckiol is one such retinol alternative milder for sensitive skin. I've covered it in a prior blog.}

Cetaphil is launching new anti-aging skincare for all skin types including sensitive skin. The new line goes by the name Cetaphil Healthy Renew which aims to improve skin's firmness, texture, and tone, 3 benefits you also get by using retinols. The Cetaphil new product line is great for treating dry skin too. It keeps the skin barrier balanced with up to 24 hours of hydration.

The 4 beauty anti-aging elixirs in the launch are (1) a face serum, (2) an eye cream, (3) a day cream (with sunscreen), and (4) a night cream.

The key ingredients in the new products are anti-aging peptides (the brand calls them purified peptides, obviously, a marketing term😊) to help minimize fine lines and wrinkles; vitamins B3 (niacinamide) and B5 (panthenol) to hydrate, soothe, and repair the skin barrier; plus Rice Lees and Edelweiss (botanicals) to target dullness and uneven skin tone.

Cetaphil is developed by dermatologists and sold at drugstores. Universally, skin doctors do recognize the role of peptides in fighting some of the signs of aging. They endorse using peptides to erase fine lines and wrinkles as not a waste of money.

Note that you can improve your skin, taking years off your appearance, simply by hydrating and nourishing your skin barrier ... so moisturize your face with a good brand like Cetaphil (or CeraVe, both) available at drugstores! What's more, getting rid of old dead skin cells with botanicals like Rice Lees and Edelweiss encourages new skin cells to rise to the surface. Your skin will be more supple, elastic, and radiant in about 2 weeks. BTW, Retin-A takes about a year before you can tolerate using it every night.

The more brand and ingredient choices the better! For sensitive skin, I'll also link several blogs that detail other science-based, anti-aging ingredients below.👇

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Vichy Skincare Is Available At CVS

Vichy was developed in 1931 by Dr. Prosper Haller to treat sensitive skin. The French brand's formulas are created by skincare specialists and tested under strict dermatological control to confirm their efficacy. Many of the products contain Vichy (as in Vichy, France) Volcanic Water -- rich in 15 minerals -- to calm and support the skin.

YouTube dermatologists including Doctory, The Budget Demonologist, and Dr. Daniel Sugai, all board-certified and practicing physicians, like this drugstore brand which is sold at CVS. 

My nearby CVS often has Vichy product samples. The five items I've tried are ultra-moisturizing and gentle for sensitive or irritated skin, providing the tender loving care it needs. I used them after experiencing what looked and felt like a vitamin C burn on the eye area of my face. I guess that double vitamin C serum (of another brand) isn't right for me since it was the 1st time I've had a painful reaction from using vitamin C serum.

The Vicky samples I used to soothe the area are:

1) Vichy Liftactv Supreme Serum 10 - The chief ingredient is hyaluronic acid to plump up dry skin, which is how it reduces the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles.

2) Vichy Mineral 89 Fortifying & Hydrating Daily Skin Booster - It's a fast-absorbing, lightweight, thickish facial liquid for dry and sensitive skin. Unscented and non-sticky, apply it as step 1 followed by a moisturizer.

3) Vicky Aqualia Thermal Riche-Rich - Moistens the face with hyaluronic acid and Vichy Volcanic Water. Provides lasting 48-hour hydration for dry and sensitive skin.

4) Vichy Lifeactiv Supreme Jour - Day - With rhamnose (a type of sugar found in plants) and Vichy mineralizing water, it fights fine lines and wrinkles while smoothing, firming, and moisturizing the skin.

5) Vichy Liftactiv Supreme Nuit - Night - Targets wrinkles and the loss of firmness, it contains rhamnose, vitamin C, adenosine, and Vichy mineral water to fight the stubborn signs of aging.

Vichy formulas feel luxurious, are non-greasy, and definitely moisturize and plump up the skin as claimed. Although the ingredients in its moisturizers don't have as many anti-aging clinical studies behind them as retin-A (considered the gold standard), Vichy is a 90+-year-old skincare company that employs dermatologists and health experts to develop its salves. On the face, they do absorb well into the skin. Without burning or producing a bad reaction, you can feel some type of action going on after the application.

If you have dry, sensitive, or irritated skin that needs rest from retin-A, retinol, or vitamin C serums -- which at times can leave your face feeling raw and sensitive -- Vichy is a luxury drugstore brand that plumps up your skin with dermatologist-tested and approved moisturizers containing ingredients to soothe and help your skin recover, plus look younger via its hydration. 

Vichy is pricey, yet not out-of-reach. The next time you're at CVS, see if you can score some samples to try the brand.

New on the market at about the same price point and as "consciously clean" for sensitive skin is Scarlett Johansson's line called The Outset. The focus of the line is to nourish your skin barrier for hydration, beauty, and balance. Its aim is similar to Vichy's with the latter adding rhamnose to also firm the skin.

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5 Cheap Beauty Thrills And Steals

A splurge doesn't always have to cost an arm and a leg. At times finding a small item that serves a purpose, one that does a job well on the cheap can be as thrilling as acquiring expensive things. Scoring a cheap beauty item gives you a shot of endorphins without the pain of blowing your budget, or having a debt to pay off when charges are posted to your credit card. The following are 5 fabulous cheap beauty thrills and steals -- priced under $7, with certain colors within each product selling for under $5!:

1) NYX Professional Makeup Butter Gloss, Non-Sticky Lip Gloss - Lip color that is buttery soft and silky smooth, cheap, but not sticky. Sold! Great to carry in a handbag to moisten your lips with a pop of color throughout the day.

2) International Women's Travel Kit - a 10-piece oral, skin, and hair grooming kit. Contains: Herbal Essences Shampoo 1.4 oz., Herbal Essences Conditioner 1.4 oz., Styling Comb, Eucerin Lotion 1 oz., Secret A/P Deodorant .5 oz, Crest 3D Toothpaste .85 oz., Toothbrush, Dental Flossers 3 ct., Quart Sized Zip Top Bag in Reusable Zippered Cosmetic Travel Bag. It's worth paying for the convenience and compactness of fitting the toiletries we need into an overnight bag. (I'd have to add a sample packet of face wash and a hair tie inside to hold my hair back for wishing my face.) 

3) Goody Ouchless Women Polyband Elastic Hair Tie - 250 Count - For under $5 you get a ton of invisible hair ties that hold your hair in ponytails of all sizes without hair breakage. 

4) Covergirl Clean Matte Pressed Powder - Nobody needs to be walking around with a shiny face, a forehead, nose, or chin. It's unbecoming! Good, clean, pressed matte powder to the rescue! Perfume-free, it comes with a powder pad and mirror and slides into a handbag.

5) NYX Professional Makeup Mechanical Eyeliner Pencil - These $4.99 eyeliner pencils are a marvel. Highly pigmented, soft, durable, plus available in a slew of flattering colors. Shows us how overpriced many other cosmetic lines are! With NYX, you get the same excellent quality for much less!

During my birthday, sometimes I celebrate all month long with a few big but mostly small splurges. Monetary cost is often irrelevant for articles to make us -- i.e. our lives happier, easier, or better. Blueberries can make you happy if you love blueberries, or $5 buttery, nonsticky lip gloss!

Do you need to treat yourself with a small yet worthy splurge today? One of these 5 cheap beauty thrills and steals should do the trick!

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Naomi Watts' Stripes Hydrating Serum

Photo: Oprah Daily

The talented and beautiful actress Naomi Watts has developed a skin and hair care line of products called Stripes which for now is exclusively sold at Sephora. Her hydrating serum is getting a lot of media buzz and customers with dry skin give it positive reviews for its effectiveness. But at $80 a pop, I'll spotlight 3 worthy alternatives for less moola. I always say it doesn't matter how good a product is if you go broke using it daily. 

So let's examine what ingredients are in the Stripes serum to
treat dry skin that also has some anti-aging benefits:

💥Ectoine - protects and moisturizes the skin sometimes it's an ingredient in sunscreen.

💥 Mushroom extract - a skin hydrator, it mimics hyaluronic acid, and the antioxidants in mushrooms (selenium and vitamin C) fight free radicals giving it anti-aging properties.

 💥 Hyaluronic acid - reduces the look of fine lines by locking in moisture.

When you are trying to substitute less pricey beauty products for expensive skincare, you may not be able to find the exact ingredient for ingredient matches and yet sometimes you can either come darn close or find products with ingredients that do much the same thing, i.e., give you similar benefits of the ingredients in the expensive product. 

Start by asking what is the main function of the expensive serum? In the case of the Stripe serum, it tells us in its name. The primary purpose isn't anti-aging, it's to hydrate the skin. {In fact, the holy grail of an anti-aging serum is retin-A or its non-prescription derivative retinol. Stripe has a retinol serum that also sells for $80. On THE SAVVY SHOPPER you'll find a ton of effective retinol serums for less with a search.}

Excellent Substitutes For Less include:

1) e.l.f. Superhydrate Gel Moisturizer  - is a moisturizing gel with mushroom extract, squalane, vitamins B3 and E, and cica (an herb rich in fatty acids, vitamins, and amino acids that is used in Ayurvedic and traditional Chinese medicines). It's the closest match if you're intent on using a cheaper beauty serum with mushroom extract. 

If you focus on only Stripe's main function to hydrate the skin other worthy substitutes are:

2) The Ordinary Natural Moisturer Factors + HA - Contains Sodium Hyaluronate, Arginine, Sodium PCA, PCA, Lactates, Lactic Acid, and Minerals. The Ordinary has an entire category of different hydrating serums and I'll name this one product but link you to the entire line so you can compare and contrast what's too numerous to list!

3) CeraVe face moisturizers - Developed by dermatologists and sold in drugstores. Frankly, all the CeraVe formulas for face and body are so mild and moisturizing that in winter I use both to hydrate my face without issues. CeraVe makes facial moisturizers for AM or PM, with the AM formula containing the addition of sunscreen, so you won't have to buy or apply sun protection separately. All contain hyaluronic acid and ceramides (lipids naturally found in the skin) and MEV (multivesicular emulsion) technology, a delivery system to make ingredients more hydrating and lasting. The CVS and Walmart store brands are identical. We are beyond fortunate to have skin doctor-created moisturizers in drugstore aisles!

Creating and marketing a skincare line isn't easy. It takes research, finding backers with deep pockets, and a ton of hard work to get it on the market, so I have nothing but respect for Naomi Watts for achieving it. Nonetheless, not everyone can afford $160 for 2 serums: a hydrator and retinol, the barebones of what you need for daytime and nighttime skincare.

With knowledge of anti-aging ingredients that really work and skincare brands, you can save $130 - $145 per purchase simply by selecting the right substitutions. My gosh ... inadvertently this entire week has become a skincare trilogy as I couldn't stop writing about it!😆 Linked below are the other 2 blogs if you wish to read all 3 blogs = the week of a skincare trilogy.🤣🤣🤣

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CeraVe vs Cetaphil Body Washes

Usually during a morning shower, I use SheaMosture soaps to wash from face to toe, and at night I use Noxema Cleansing Cream to wash my face. They both work for me so I've never bothered to buy separate cleansers. I buy all the varieties of SheaMoisture soap and they are all equally as moisturizing. Since I was 14 years old, Noxema has been (and will always be) a staple in my bathroom.

But, recently I received samples of CeraVe Hydrating Body Wash and Cetaphil's Gentle Skin Cleanser and was surprised by how much I like them! 

Photo: HealthJade

Both are super moisturizing and worth buying to treat dry or sensitive skin. If push comes to shove, I think CevaVe is the most moisturizing cleanser followed by Cetaphil although it's like asking who is the better Broadway singer, Kristin Chenoweth or Audra Mcdonald? Either one could be called THE VOICE on Broadway, so it really boils down to personal preference.

Both CeraVe and Cetaphil cleansing washes are formulated by dermatologists. CeraVe Hydrating Body Wash has the benefit of containing ceramides and hyaluronic acid which are moisturizers present in our skin while Cetaphil Gentle Skin Cleanser has humectant propylene glycol (a liquid added to increase water retention) to hydrate the stratum corneum (the outer layer of the skin). Also, both companies make formulas to wash just the face, but I think the majority of people can use the body cleansers for both face and body as they are super gentle and hydrating.

 Additionally, CeraVe and Cetaphil offer cleansers to treat specific skin issues like acne or bumpy skin. {Of course, each also has moisturizing creams, which I compared here.}

So the question is will I go out of my way to add a new cleanser to my skincare routine? NO, as long as what I already buy works. But if we have a harsh winter that dries out my skin, YES. For dry, flaky skin, I'll have my line-of-defense remedies ready for when I head to the drugstore. With drugstore brands like CereVe and Cetaphil, there's no reason to buy expensive alternatives. Two fabulous finds!!

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1) Qure is on the top of many dermatologists' lists including YouTube's Doctorly as a spectacular skin serum. The all-in-one serum is packed with clinically proven ingredients, such as Argireline® Peptides, Retinol, Bakuchiol, Niacinamide, Vitamin C, Vitamin E, and Ferulic Acid that does everything for the skin -- meaning it treats a bundle of anti-aging issues such as brightening the skin, increasing the production of collagen and softening lines and wrinkles. Cheap, it isn't, but perhaps you can justify paying more because it is an all-in-one formula so you won't have to buy the ingredients as separate serums. Despite its price point, Qure's multi-functional serum is so popular with skincare enthusiasts, it's often out of stock.

Qure is a 1st rate brand to know about but since it's hard to get plus relatively expensive (as opposed to plum crazy expensive) I've found a far more affordable option by Eclat Skincare, a small Australian beauty brand sold on Amazon with the highest quality and clean ingredients that although not identical, are on par with Qure's multi-purpose serum. So listen up ...

2) Ecalat's Retinol, Vitamin C, and Hyaluronic Acid serums each have the same leading clinical, dermatologist-approved ingredients as Qure and also contain those ingredients in science-based recommended amounts. Costing much less than Qure even if you buy all 3 Ecalat serums together. Missing in this brand's serums are the 2 newly praised ingredients in the skincare world, namely Argireline® and Bakuchiol ... and yet Ecalat's serums have retinol; one of the most effective forms of vitamin C; and other peptides that do much the same thing as Argireline® and Bakuchiol to brighten the skin, promote the growth of collagen and treat fine lines and wrinkles. IMHO, it's a budget-friendly compromise without sacrificing clean ingredients or their benefits. Interestingly enough, Argireline® and Matrizyl-3000 are peptides in the company's $12 Youth Cream.

3) The Inky List is a brand I previously featured here on THE SAVVY SHOPPER as an affordable and highly effective skincare line. Recently it was also recommended by the Budget Dermatologist on YouTube. A real and practicing skin doctor, she suggested using 4 products from the beauty manufacturer: (a) 1% Retinol Serum, (b) Retinol Eye Cream, (c) Bakuchiol {here in place of Vitamin C serum because it brightens the skin. Likewise, Bakuchiol has similar and gentler anti-aging benefits as retinol}, and (d) Collagen Peptide Serum.

4) CeraVe Resurfacing Retinol Serum is mentioned by every dermatologist named here, plus Dr. Daniel Sugai and others on YouTube as one of the best drugstore retinols to buy. It contains 0.3% retinol, the same as Paula's Choice which is also good at about the same price minus a drugstore sale. Drugstore brands go on sale, sometimes as 2 for 1!

There are two nearly identical formulas. The left has dipotassium glycyrrhizate, an ingredient from the licorice plant, which is an additional brightener. The right has cholesterol an ingredient in skincare that locks in moisture. Don't sweat the difference.

The more skincare brands on the market the merrier. Choice of products, ingredients, and price is a consumer's best friend to find deals and steals.

Zooey Deschanel is lovely to look at for the purpose of good skincare. :) 

Extra tip - How to use retinol: Start by applying retinol once a week, twice a week on week 2, 3 times a week on week 3, and 4 times a week on week 4. After your skin builds up a tolerance, you can use retinol every night of the week before bed, but never in the morning (unless an all-in-one serum with retinol is formulated for daytime use). The sun destroys retinol. What makes retinol effective is not its strength as much as using it consistently. You won't be able to use retinol that is too strong for your skin 7 nights a week.

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Milani Super Charged Cheek + Lip Multistick

Sold at Ulta and CVS, Milani is top-notch makeup, bar none, on par with high-end brands like NARS, Dior, Laura Mercier, and many others.

Its Super Charged Cheek + Lip Multistick is similar to NARS The Multiple Cheek and Lip Stick that I foolishly purchased years ago for $39. In my defense, once upon a time, consumers had to bite the bullet and pay luxe prices to get makeup colors that were unavailable in drugstore brands. But nowadays drugstore brands have really stepped up their game with formulas and hues that rival the expensive beauty brands we all know and love such as Charlotte Tilbury, Chanel, or Tom Ford.

Milani Super Charged Cheek + Lip Multistick is everything we covet, namely, it's pigment-rich, super creamy, and ultra-blendable to create a healthy natural look. It's a $10 gel multi-stick that glides onto cheeks and lips and melts into the skin. One buyer described it as "makeup on a non-makeup" day. The 8 lovely colors hydrate and are also buildable so you can go from daytime subtle to nighttime glamourous.

I find Milani's Multistick colors as durable as NARS and Charlotte Tilbury. A nude in all 3 brands must be reapplied every few hours. Typically, multi-sticks also leave a dewy finish.

Frankly, I'm a sucker for a fat cheek and lip multi-tasker. The single stick takes a while to use up! If you're willing to forgo the fancy rose metal cylinders of Charlotte Tilbury (I didn't even get that! NARS is plastic like Milani), then I highly recommend spending $10 for a Milani Super Charged Cheek + Lip Multistick.

💄💋💄💋💄💋💄💋💄💋💄💋

Use your $19 savings for Milani's powdered blush (Dolce Pink 01) and lip plumper (Luminoso #4 --> dupes). They are dupes for NARS' popular Orgasm shade. 

You'll be all set "with money in your pocket and a" tinted "smile on your face ... how happy can you get!"🎵

Milani Baked Blush and Full Lip Plumper, which are about $10 each depending on the retailer.

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Beautifect: The Beauty Box Gets Tech Savvy

Photo: InnovateDesign UK

Beautifect's makeup case, also called a beauty box is 21st century innovative. Not only does it organize all your makeup and beauty tools in one nifty place with deep, generous compartments, but its 5 lighting settings let you apply makeup accurately anytime and anywhere from a landing airplane to an evening hotel room. The box has an advanced luminous system to perfectly replicate daylight and evening light while eliminating shadows by evenly dispersing light over your face.

I love discovering new smartly designed organizers to house all my alike-things together, yet this step up from your ordinary portable cosmetic case will cost you about $300. Designed by dental surgeon, Dr. Tara Lalvani, it was launched during the pandemic and gifted to high-profile luxury influencers, so it's gotten a lot of internet buzz.

An undeniably beautiful sleek design with functional lights, I can see how a frequent business traveler who needs to show up looking polished and professional for work meetings might consider the beauty box worth buying. Made of lightweight yet sturdy molded acrylic polymer, it weighs 1.5 kg or 3.3 lbs. The box comes with a rechargeable built-in lithium-ion battery and a US B-C cable.

Offered in 4 colors ... I'd go for the rose gold. Beautifect's beauty box is luxurious and tech-savvy. With function and purpose, it looks expensive! Still, I bet if we wait a beat, other retailers will knock off budget-friendly (minus a few bells and whistles) inspired versions. 

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