Equate Walmart's Private Store Brand For Savings

The cost of skincare -- from cleansers to moisturizers to treatments and sunscreens -- can really add up! You save a ton of money by finding store house brands, which are nearly identical to the national brands we love. So low priced they are worth taking a risk to try them out.

Equate, Walmart's private store brand, has mirrowed many beauty remedies selling for half the price or less of their name brand counterparts. CVS has it's own version of Neutrogena's Rapid Wrinkle Repair, but I couldn't find an Equate equivalent, so readers if it exists, please let me know as Equate tends to cost less than the house brands of CVS, Walgreens or Target. Yet CVS, Walgreens and Target house brands are welcome fallbacks, giving us more choices. House brands go on sale too.

Posted are several awesome knockoffs for much less moola:

Compare the above to Olay: Regenerist; Moisturizing Lotion for Sensitive Skin with SPF 15 (also available in SPF 30); and Night of Olay Firming Cream.

Compare to Neutrogena: Oil-Free Facial Moistururer; Rapid Wrinkle Repair Cream; and Rapid Wrinkle Repair Lotion. (Beauty 360 is CVS' house brand.)

Compare to L'Oreal Collagen Moisture Filler; ROC Retinol Correxion Deep Wrinkle Serum; and Neutrogena Triple Age Repair.    

Compare to L'Oreal Revitalift Anti-Wrinkle + Firming Eye Cream; Olay Total Effects 7 in 1 Anti-Aging Daily Moisturizer; and Olay Eye Lifting For Firming Skin Serum.

Compare to Cetaphil Moisture Cream; CeraVe Moisture Cream; and Aquaphor Healing Ointment.

The knockoffs are so numerous I've only posted some of the available skin creams and treatments, and I didn't list the cleansing creams or toners. Ok, I'll list one cleansing cream below:

Frequently there's little to no difference between the name and store house brands, yet the savings are great. Finding and using the latter is an easy way to beat inflation or live on a budget without compromise! Paying much less counts when using products daily! I've linked you up to Walmart and CVS -- where I've pulled all these dupes -- so you can start comparing prices. You're welcome!

You may also enjoy:

POP Beauty

NARS Orgasm Dupes

Anti-Aging Skincare Update

Palmer's Cocoa Butter Formula Hemp Calming Relief And Lotion

Armani Beauty Lip Power Long Lasting Satin Lipstick

Let me share a portion of a conversation between Angie Smith who is always in the know about the latest makeup products and me:

Ang: If you want to indulge in any makeup in the upcoming weeks, I'd recommend investing in an Armani Lip Power Lipstick. They are an innovative formula. They stay on forever, do not dry and the colors are beautiful. It's pricey but worth it.

Me: Oh cool, just want we want in lipstick, but how can we bring the $49 price down?

Angie: The Armani Beauty private sale is coming up on March 23rd. 

Me: Fantastic timing! How can the public get in on the private sale?

Angie: They can go on the website and just sign up for access. Just register on the Armani Beauty site.

Me: That's great!

Angie: Yup, super easy.

Me: Exactly what we like.

Ang: And it's a great time to pick up Luminous Silk Foundation. It's such a splurge but oh goodness, it's such a beautiful foundation.

THE SAVVY SHOPPER is grateful to have Angie's brain to pick on makeup she has used before recommending it to others! Perhaps Armani is not a beauty brand on your radar, and because of the cost, we want to avoid having to buy it through trial and error, as well as, wait for special events to trim its expense, so a big thank you to our well-informed makeup aficionado, Angie Smith!

You may also enjoy:

New From Maybelline

Luxury Novelty Goods

Jewelry Lovers Come Play With Us

Charlotte Tilbury Limited Edition Bridal Lipstick Collection

Fat-Free Hot Zesty Cheerios

I won't lie. The above bags of salty savory snacks are what I crave. I eat them 10% of the time. I want them 100% of the time. I'm addicted, and sometimes I need a hit. I want to eat them daily, nightly, and not in moderation! 

Sooooo I'm trying to find other healthier, fat-free, savory snacks to take the edge off ... and to eat the other 90% of the time when I don't let myself eat Cheetos or Doritos. Here's what I'm trying now ... you make the snack yourself, but it's mostly seasoning:

Fat-Free Hot and Zesty Cheerios

Ingredients:

1 egg white

1 teaspoon chili powder

1/2 teaspoon dried cumin

1 teaspoon garlic powder

1/4 teaspoon salt

1/4 teaspoon ground pepper

3 cups Cheerios (multi-grain or oat)

Directions:

1) Whisk the egg white into peaks. Mix in the spices and next add and coat the cheerios with the egg white mixture.

2) Transfer the spiced cheerios onto a cookie sheet lined with aluminum foil sprayed with cooking oil.

3) Bake in a preheated 350-degree F oven for 10 - 20 minutes. Check for doneness after 10 minutes.

Cool and eat.

Again I won't lie. Zesty Cheerios are not as addicting as Crunchy Cheetos or Nacho Doritos, but they are crunchy, zesty, and tasty. They'd also be delicious if made with butter. I like the hot spicy snack very much as a healthy alternative. 

Additionally in the recipe, you can substitute other unsweetened cereal such as Chex, or mini shredded wheat, plus add salted nuts or popcorn to make a party mix, as well as, experiment with the flavor by adding Worcestershire sauce or Parmesan or dried cheddar cheese (the one in a shaker you buy for popcorn). Creole seasoning or a dried Italian spice blend works too. Another idea is to mix the fat-free homemade snack with a bag of Cheetos and Doritos to at least cut your calories in half ... but that may be the addict talking.😁

You may also enjoy:

Let The Barbecues Begin

Maangchi's Homemade Kimchi

Irish Soda Bread: Sweet or Savory

Salmon Cakes With Spicy Rèmoulade Sauce

Why Get A Pneumonia Vaccine?

All photos: istock

Without a doubt, my family is a vaccine family. I got vaccinated as an infant ... before I could visit my Oma in Germany ... before I could start school ... and before I could visit Europe and Egypt as a university student. I'm grateful to have avoided common childhood diseases that killed previous generations. We do not remember the days when families often lost a child to measles or diphtheria.

I suspect everybody will eventually get Covid, but having been vaccinated and boosted lessens our fear of it as we now have immunities to fight the virus. My family will do everything in our power not to get Covid, and yet the virus seems to be here to stay.

My senior mother today was vaccinated against pneumonia (pneumococcal conjugate), and here's why this vaccination is a good idea, too, if you're over 65 years old or have any underlying conditions. With Covid-19 and the flu still around, this additional vaccine protects against lung-inflaming pneumonia. Seniors who get pneumonia often have a difficult time recovering from it. My mother's grandmother died of pneumonia after she fell and was bedridden.

As with other vaccines, the pneumonia vaccine can't prevent all cases, but it lessens both the chances of getting it and the severity of the disease if you do catch it.

Older adults will either be given 2 doses that give protection against different types of the infection or if you're lucky like my mom was today, you'll be given the newer single dose, the PCV20 vaccine, approved by the FDA in 2021. Studies are showing no boosters are needed for this newer vaccine. The newer PCV20 vaccine is based on the older PCV13 vaccine but lets you skip the 2nd PPSV23 dose that is needed one year after receiving the PCV13 dose. Depending on what's available in your area, expect to receive one or two shots. Be grateful for their development!

According to the CDC, the pneumonia vaccine is safe and not only effective in preventing seniors from getting pneumonia, but it [researchers followed patients given the PCV13 older shot] also protects them against other invasive pneumococcal diseases, such as meningitis (infection of the tissue covering the brain and spinal cord), bacteremia (infection of the blood), ear infections, and sinus infections. In CDC studies not only did vaccinated patients avoid pneumonia, but 75% of them also avoided meningitis and bacteremia, thus lowering their chances of being hospitalized.

Health insurance (including Medicare) covers pneumonia vaccines for seniors and people with medical conditions such as asthma. Pneumococcal diseases can be fatal, so if you are in the risk group, talk to your doctor about getting the vaccine.

You may also enjoy:

Help For Crippling Migraines

Sleep Is Crucial To Good Health

Health Care Reform, A Doctor Weighs In

Remembering Prince Leopold, Duke of Albany

Jewelry Lovers Come Play With Us

I bought this pair from Italo last summer.

On today's THE SAVVY SHOPPER Angie Smith, who has made a few appearances on the blog is back! Both of us love jewelry and like the variety of styles, decent quality, and affordable price points of Italo Jewelry. All of the retailer's jewelry is 925 sterling silver and lab-grown white sapphires.

Here's our fantasy: We are playing the game of if Italo Jewelry offered us 6 free pairs of earrings which ones would each of us select. The following are our choices:

Debbie's picks:

In real life, all the earrings I possess are post earrings so I picked styles I don't already own which include loops and dangling earrings. I also think hearts would be fun to wear on Valentine's day and skulls on Halloween as I generally stick to the classic styles and don't have any themed styles of earrings. 

💎💍💎💍💎💌💎💎💍💎💍💎💌💎💍💎💍💎💌💎

Angie's picks:

Angie's picks are so smart with classic studs and pearls, a blingy pair for formal events, and she loves emerald-shaped stones. As it happens, I overlooked the gorgeous clover leaf drop earrings until Ang sent me her choices. Excellent tastes, Ang, my Glitter Twin never disappoints!!!

Here's an extra style Agie likes.

Know that this blog is written for fun and not sponsored. Last year I bought the pair of lab-grown white sapphire studs at the top of the blog. They are 4 carats in size and truly sparkle. I have such fun wearing them. Often people mistake them for diamonds, which would cost a fortune in comparison -- a 5-figure sum so over-the-top and perhaps for an average joe/jill not worth the expense. The alternative of lab-grown white sapphires and sterling silver allows us to buy the effect without breaking the bank. One caution though: If ordering from online jewelers including Italo jewelry, try to get your order right so you don't have the hassles or cost of returns. You get free shipping only, not free returns for your mistakes.

Angie, thanks for playing this fantasy game with me today! Fun, fun, fun!!!♥️

You may also enjoy:

Italo Jewelry Is An Exquisite Find

Macy's For Fine Jewelry ... Yes Or No?

About The Clarity Of Colored Gemstones 

Let's Talk Diamonds, White Sapphires, And Moissanites

My Favorite Oscar Dresses 2023

All Photo: Getty images. 1) Margo Robbie looks stunning in a black sequin Armani Prive dress.

Since I select my favorite Oscar dresses every year, there's no need for copy. Here they are as we're watching the show.

2) Malala Yousafza is wearing Ralph Lauren; 3) Hong Chau is in Prada: 4) Michelle Yeoh wears Dior Haute Couture 

5) Nichole Kidman is dressed in Giorgio Armani Prive; 6) Michelle Williams is in custom Chanel: 7) Angela Bassette has on a Moschino dress.

8) Danai Gurira is in a Jason Wu black suede gown.

I tend to pick gowns non-showbiz people dream of wearing, so more glamorous than visionary. Most of us just want to look our pretty-best. Did any of mine make your list?

You may also enjoy:

My Favorite Oscar Dresses 2022

The Oscars 2021: Red Carpet Favorites

Best Dressed At The Oscars 2020

Healthy Oscar Night Munches

Lip Balms And Gels With Color

So yeah, like you, I use a lot of lip balm to moisturize my lips. Me: Pretty much all year around! Nowadays customers can move beyond shadeless lip balm to next-level lip balms and gels created with lipstick-like color only it's still a moisturizing lip balm. Below are 3 fun and effective brands to know about, one with the superman ability to transform itself into a skin tone matching color after meeting the warmth of your lips. Let's call the folowing Lip Balm 2.0:

1) Pep! Balm - From Japan, a 2-in-1 multi-use lip paint + liquid blush. Highly pigmented with buildable color. The tints and their tins are inspired by artist's pigment paint. Shea butter is the main ingredient. 

2) Nooni Appleseed Lip Oil - This Korean beauty product contains cherry extract. Its lightweight formula hydrates, comforts, and leaves lips looking smooth and naturally glossy with a pop of lasting and flattering color. 

3) YouthForia - The gloss goes on as a green liquid and then exposed to your body's chemistry and temperature changes into a durable dewy, shiny, lip color or cheek tint. The formula is vegan, paragon, silicon, and fragrance-free, and the ingredients are so clean you can sleep without washing the tint off your face, as the makeup is created with ingredients that won't harm your skin. The most expensive of the 3 products, it may be worth the splurge if you regularly fall asleep without removing your makeup -- a real dermatologist no, no in promoting healthy skin!

Japan and Korea have a ton of innovative and winning beauty products! The Oriental beauty market is well worth exploring and trying as it's a top-notch industry!

You may also enjoy:

T. J. Maxx Beauty Haul

Weleda Offers A Century Of Skin Care

I Can't Watch Mel In Melbourne Anymore

BB Cream: The Secret Of Korean Actresses

Exfoliation In Skincare

The Ordinary has a wealth of skincare information on its website, as well as, inexpensive skincare products to help fight acne and the effects of aging along with helpful tips on how to keep skin healthy. One of the things I neglect to do is exfoliate my skin. I rarely do so, but multiple dermatologists recommend it as having a beneficial role in our skincare routines. So let's discuss exfoliation in today's blog. My source of knowledge begins with The Ordinary:

"Exfoliation is the process of removing dead skin cells from the surface layer of the skin. Physical exfoliation uses a product or tool to buff away dead skin cells," while "chemical exfoliation uses direct acids (AHAs and BHAs) which have the ability to weaken bonds between surface skin components, allowing the acids to slough away dead skin cells at the surface." Exfoliation helps to unclog pores, promote even tone and texture, and bring new skin cells to the surface.

AHAs are alpha hydroxy acids a/k/a fruit acids. BHAs are beta-hydroxy acids, which are also organic acids. Both act to dissolve the bonds that hold dead skin cells to the face. BHAs such as salicylic acid mildly loosen the glue that holds skin cells together. Salicylic acid is often in formulas targeting acne, rough, and bumpy skin.

Many dermatologists [like the creators of Doctorly] recommend chemical exfoliation over physical exfoliation because the tools we buy in retail shops are subpar to what dermatologists use in their offices, plus we lack the medical training to use them like doctors. Physical exfoliation can therefore do more damage to the skin, making chemical exfoliation safer, an awareness that may surprise you! Scrubbing gloves, cleansing brushes, exfoliation salts, and home microdermabrasion devices can be too abrasive harming instead of helping our skin, or in the case of devices just not strong enough to be effective. Also, the gloves and brushes might become a breeding ground for bacteria.

The Ordinary’s Direct Acid family offers both AHAs and BHAs of varying strengths and formats making it simple to find the right one for you. You will rarely find a cheaper, backed-by-science brand. Here are 5 choices:

1) Glycolic Acid 7% Toning Solution - An exfoliating toner for targeting dullness, texture, and signs of aging.

2) Latic Acid 5% + HA - A milder exfoliator that works to reveal smoother skin. (A stronger strength is available.)

3) Mandelic Acid 10% + HA - A leave-on serum that helps improve skin clarity, balance uneven skin tone, and correct skin texture gently yet effectively.

4) Salicylic Acid 2% Anhydrous Solution - A gentler water-free solution for blemish-prone skin and uneven texture. (A stronger strength is available.)

5) AHA 30% + BHA 2% Peeling Solution - An advanced-level exfoliating peel.

So now we know a bit more about the role of exfoliation in skincare, plus several types and strengths offered by a super affordable brand! The next step is to put our knowledge into practice.😉 Because readers, I'm not perfect either.

You may also enjoy:

Know The Minimalist Skincare

ArtNaturals Beauty Serums Plus

IMGN By IMAGINE Dermatology

The Barebones Anti-aging Skincare Products You Need