8 Skincare Products I Use Daily And Highly Recommend

Photo: Adobe

Through experience, you inevitably learn about skin care products like which ingredients really work, and which knockoffs, identical to their more costly name-brand counterparts, to buy.

Here's what I now use every day in my skincare routine, as well as, for my senior mother whose skin still feels baby soft. I like to pamper her with mild, good clean ingredients to keep her skin healthy and moisturized. I've reviewed the following beauty items in prior blogs, so if you wish to know why they're good for your skin click on their links for a description and list of ingredients. Today's blog will try to save you a few bucks when purchasing them:

8 Skincare Products I Use Daily And Highly Recommend:

 

1) SheaMoisture Soap(s) - to wash with during a shower. T.J. Maxx often carries the bars at $3.99/bar.

2) Noxema Cleansing Cream - to wash my face before bed. I also use it to soothe my mom's dry skin where she needs it, such as her arms. Alternatively, I love the face washes from CeraVe and Cetaphil, as well as, their Walmart Equate knockoffs. Walmart also has a Noxema dupe only for in-store pickup. However, Noxema, the name brand, usually selling at under $5, is cheap enough.

3) Coconut Oil - I buy food-grade coconut oil often from Puritan's Pride, to use as after-bath oil to lock in moisture. The reason for the food-grade coconut oil is to simplify my life and not have to buy 2 different coconut oils. {The same applies to white vinegar for cleaning my home. I buy food-grade, not cleaning-grade white vinegar which lies in the cleaning products aisle of supermarkets. When cheap enough, reduce to one multi-tasking product you have to stock. Saves time! Looks like Puritan's Pride no longer sells what I use, so here's another good online retailer. Costs: $6 - $10 for 16 oz.

If I need extra moisturizers in the fall and winter to slatter on dry skin, I add the following to my skincare routine --

4) Equate Moisturizing Cream (a dupe for CeraVe) - Cost: $10

5) Equate Beauty Gentle Skin Cream with Long-Lasting Moisture (the dupe for Cetaphil). - Cost: $6.40. Cetaphil is a tad thicker than CeraVe. Both knockoffs are excellent, plus they work wonders in moisturizing your face, so mild, light, and absorbent that you can skip buying a separate face moisturizer.

6) Target's Up and Up or Walmart's Equate Baby Powder - We use it after bathing and I often apply a sprinkle with a makeup brush to my face to prevent a shiny complexion. Real face powder has a finer texture, than the cornstarch ingredient in baby powder, but baby powder with cornstarch is still a super substitute. Talic (a finer grain) in body power has been removed in the USA. Price: $2.99 for 22 ounces.

7) Daytime: I use Equate Beauty All Day Moisturizing Sunscreen Lotion for Skin, Broad Spectrum SPF 15. (the dupe for Olay Complete Daily Moisturizer for Sensitive Skin, SPF 15). I'll use whatever I can get, for normal or sensitive skin. You'll pay about $4

8) Nighttime: I apply Neutrogena Rapid Wrinkle Repair - I use the cream formula but have also tried the serum. If only buying one of these, get the cream. Cost: $16 at T.J. Maxx or $13 - $16 on eBay. $25 regular retail price.

By learning what's in skincare products, and focusing on key effective ingredients supported by science, you can find knockoffs for less. Look in health food stores, small batch-start-up companies, and drugstores that offer both name brands that go on sale, as well as, drugstore dupes to lower the costs of your everyday skincare. Toss in Equate (from Walmart) and Up and Up (Target's store brand).

We're talking about effective, clean, high-caliber skincare for less. Skincare without compromise you can afford to use 365 days of the year without going broke! You are welcome.

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Is Your Prime Membership A Waste Of Money?

Photo: Getty Images

Amazon rocks. I love it! Frequently the prices of goods are the same or better than at brick-and-mortar stores. At times stores lacking an item will direct me to Amazon, which ends up having it. Convenience is a given with purchases arriving at my door. Also, packages stuffed in the mailbox or left at the door can feel like gifts. Shopping on Amazon is addicting! And yet, after a couple of trials, I decided not to buy the $139 Prime Membership.

I think a Prime Membership is worth the cost if you: (1) order a lot of stuff; (2) live in a building where packages left in a common area get stolen; (3) need fast delivery, including same-day (with a $35 order), and 1 or 2-day delivery; or (4) use the other perks of the membership: Prime Video, Prime Music, Prime Photos, Prime Gaming and/or buy things marked down on Amazon Prime Day, Prime Early Access Sales or the Lightening Deals. Clearly, Prime Membership adds value non-members don't have.

Photo: Business Insider

But I found I didn't use any of these benefits with a 30-day trial, In fact, the items I ordered during my 30-day trial were excluded from the 1 or 2-day delivery and it still took a week or over for them to arrive. But it was ok with me. Almost always, I can handle the wait. I tend to be a planner, as opposed to, a last-minute shopper, and I also worry about Amazon workers who might have to kill themselves to rush items to customers because it's the business model. Let's remember human beings work in fulfillment centers (warehouses) to get our packages to us!

What's more, all orders $25 or more give you free shipping, and usually it's not a hardship for me to wait a beat until I bundle articles to reach $25. If your circumstances require you to order a ton of under $25 items monthly, then you'll save on shipping by paying for an Amazon Prime Membership at $139 per year (or $14.99 per month), and as a bonus, you'll enjoy all the Amazon Prime Member benefits. A bargain if you often order to run a business. You would spend more than $11.58 each month ($11.58 x 12 = $139) on shipping without a membership.

I adored binge-watching a season of The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel with my free trial membership, but frankly, there's not enough original content to make a Prime Membership worthwhile for Prime Video alone. Amazon offers Prime Video solo for $8.99 monthly or $107.88 a year, but IMHO you'll likely save by streaming your shows of interest.

Nonetheless, I need to jump back to emphasize how much I love Amazon! 

Photo: Business Insider

I advise anyone to check Amazon first before ordering a wheelchair, a senior shower bench, a safety bed rail, or anything you'd buy from a medical supply store as they're always far less on Amazon. Anything and everything is less on Amazon if you need it when a seller is listing it at a great price. Always worth a look!

Despite not having a Prime Membership, an Amazon customer rep called me a good customer since I buy a fair amount. Still, I never feel pressure or am tempted to order unnecessary things to justify annually spending $139 on a Prime Membership or because Lightening Deals are too good to pass up.

For some buyers, additional free shipping can lead to additional impulse buys. Make sure you don't overconsume to validate a membership for Amazon Prime, Walmart Plus, Costco Executive/Gold Star, or Sam's Club as it's not saving you money but costing you more than you'd normally spend. It's easy to do if we're not mindful. 

Finally, cancel any unused subscriptions and services that are costing you and not saving you money.

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IT For Ulta Velvet Luxe Goddess Kabuki Brush

Back in August 2019, I learned It Cosmetics had discontinued its amazing Velvet Luxe line of makeup brushes after visiting Ulta intent on buying a 2nd brush. This was a crazy business move as my review of the superior line of brushes describes:

This and all of the following photos relate to the last paragraph of the blog. :) Wow, I especially love the oval ring, post earrings, and matching necklace.

Here's a snippet of my review: "'Last year I bought a quality makeup brush from the IT For Ulta Velvet Luxe line. The brushes in this particular line, are plush, soft, firm, precise in the application; and never, ever shed. In other words, everything we want: It is hands down the best makeup brush I've ever used!'"

Fortunately, I found 4 of the coveted sizes of the brushes on eBay, paying bargain prices for them as it turns out! Unfortunately, the one that got away I still pine for, namely the Velvet Luxe Goddess Kabuki Brush. I can make do with the brushes I now own, but every now and then I still go online to see if somebody, somewhere, anywhere is selling my longed-for kabuki brush. Makeup brushes must be sold new-and-never-used for me to buy them, and as we get further and further away from 2019, there's little chance the kabuki brush will be listed on eBay or elsewhere. A makeup maven who buys closeouts would have to discover it stashed in her basement for us to see it listed for sale again, but if I ever find it, my set will be complete.😍

By becoming a more mindful shopper and an under buyer, I make fewer mistakes, avoid buyer's remorse and save a few bucks along the way. But the other side of the coin is, I also must accept losing out on a few desired articles. However, on balance, I think I come out ahead. 

Material things will come and go. Something new always replaces an old wish that vanishes.

No engagement is needed, I just love this ring.😀

All the lovely things posted today on this blog are on my Fairy Godmother Wish List but wisely I decided not to buy them. However, the kabuki brush I'll snatch up for a good price if ever, ever I see it again!

You can't always get what you want

But if you try sometimes well you might find

You get what you need.🎶  Mick Jagger

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Temu Is A Popular Free Shopping App

Travel Jewelry Box - $3.03

Temu is the most downloaded free app in America, according to TIME, beating out TikTok, YouTube, and Instagram. As a shopping app, the prices seem almost too good to be true, and although definitely not a scam website, customers have complained about long waits to receive their goods, or mistakes with items sent out or left out of their orders, as well as, disappointing cancellations and a lack of telephone customer service.

← $6.29 Temu, is a subsidiary of Pinduoduo Inc., just like Pinduoduo, its giant Chinese e-commerce sibling. Recently Temu opened a US office in Boston, Massachusetts. While the retailer has many unsatisfied customers, it also has its share of happy customers plus people who have taken advantage of its opportunities to get free stuff by using credits for getting their friends, family, and followers to sign up for Temu's free app. TIME interviewed consumers who had both good and bad experiences with Temu.

$4.49

TIME's article quotes Douglas Schmidt, a professor of computer science at Vanderbilt University who says “'It seems like they’re being subsidized to be a loss leader in order to gain market share, which is not unlike what Amazon did for a long time,'"

Temu sells too many categories of products to list. The e-company reminds me of a closeout trader, World Market, and dollar store all rolled into one. Not only are the below-market prices tempting but so are the free shipping and free returns!

← $8.88 Temu has relationships with a number of different merchants and its variety of goods are sent out from a myriad of warehouses in China directly to customers. I think this more than any aim to scam people explains why deliveries can go awry. It's a relatively new business and they are still working kinks out of their operations. Moreover, because articles originate from various factories, similar items on the website, for example, a 10 cm x 10 cm travel jewelry case, can vary in price by $2 -$3 dollars.

Amethyst beads $2.79

The takeaway is to (1) Never risk cash you can't afford to lose; (2) Buy do-or-die essentials from a 100% dependable source; and (3) Don't expect merchandise to arrive soon. Chances are very good you won't lose your money, but hey you may get something you didn't order or a cancelation.:)

So now let's figure out what kind of risk-taker to get something cheap you are, shall we? Due to Temu's alluring bargains, I'd likely risk ordering a few desired things -- despite its wobbly legs practices:) -- spending only $5 - $10 using Paypal to see how it goes. How about you? 

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Use SPF Face Cream All Year Around

Lumin (black) is sunscreen for men, so I've never tried it.

After my morning shower I apply face cream (or lotion) over a face serum every day of the year. Only in the month of August during those dog days of heat and humidity could I skip the step of hydrating my face if desired, however, I don't do so. The reason why is we need to use sunscreen every day of the year to prevent aging (lines, wrinkles and dark sun spots), plus more importantly, skin cancer. Therefore I use a multi-tasking face moisturizer with SPF 15 or higher. Without. Fail. Every. Day. Of. The. Year. 

As we've moved from summer into fall, you may have noticed your skin is getting dryer. I have, and if a dry face bothers you as it does me, you may need to add a face cream to your daily routine, so why not select one that also contains the sun protection you should be wearing daily? Kill two birds with one stone and done!

Allow me to highlight 6 SPF [Sun Protector Factor] face moisturizers whose light, non-greasy consistency I like, as well as, give you the pros and cons of the choices I don't buy:

1) Olay moisturizers come in broad spectrum SPF 15, 30, and 50. I've tried all the formulas but stick with the Olay Complete with SPF 15 -- the most generous size. The sun protection is zinc oxide and titanium dioxide, which I prefer to more questionable chemicals. All of the Olay formulas are creamy and greaseless, but the SPF 50 has a thicker consistency than the SPF 15. The Olay Complete 15 Sensitive formula works for me as it moisturizes while disappearing into my skin. With a lower SPF of 15, you simply need to reapply it every 2 hours if out and about in direct sunlight all day. SPF 30 or SPF 50 doesn't provide significantly more protection, but you can stretch the duration of reapplying them. There is none better than the Olay formulas and they are dirt cheap too!

2) Eucerin Daily Protection Moisturizing Face Lotion SPF 30 - It's much like Olay, as is the Aveeno Positively Radiant Daily Facial Moisturizer with Total Soy Complex and Broad Spectrum SPF 30 Sunscreen, and all 3 brands are inexpensive and conveniently available at your local drugstore. Olay was the earliest to appear on the market and for this reason, is usually the easiest brand to find, but all 3 are comparable, which lets you grab whichever brand goes on sale when you need one.

3) CeraVe 100% Mineral Sunscreen SPF 50 Face - Contains the usual suspects of zinc oxide and titanium dioxide along with the extra beneficial skincare ingredients of hyaluronic acid, niacinamide, and ceramides. Dermatologists like that CeraVe puts ceramides (a family of waxy lipid molecules) in it's skincare products to fortify our skin barrier.

4) Laroche Posay Anthelios Face 60 - The customer raves are for the European formula of Anthelios which contains Mexoryl, a patented UVA blocker that is highly stable and approved in Europe and Canada, but not approved by the FDA for use in the USA. The European version is light, thin, absorbent, and doesn't degrade after hours of sun exposure. Laroche is a skincare brand dermatologists universally recommend, but it's expensive. To be honest, I like the brand, but don't tend to buy it. IMHO you can find as good for less.

5) Paula's Choice Defense Essential Glow Moisturizer SPF 30 - Paula's Choice is very good skincare, not the most expensive on the list, and yet still pricey if using it every day. Repeated buys add up! With a bit of research, you can often find the same ingredients from less costly competitors. Nonetheless, P.C. is stellar skincare, not crazy expensive, and perhaps sometimes worth a splurge. You decide for yourself.

6. Neutrogena Age Shield Face Oil-Free Sunscreen 70 - Neutrogena has SPF 30, 50, or 70 face moisturizers galore in cream, lotion, or gel forms, and some with extra ingredients to benefit the skin. Personally, unless I need a particular ingredient to treat a skin issue, I buy the cheapest SPF moisturizer offered that I like. Since I use an anti-aging face serum under my moisturizer, it's the moisturizer with sunscreen I'm after. If our serum already has vitamin C or hyaluronic acid in it, we're covered. More isn't always better, so if the extra ingredient drives the price up, why pay more for it in a moisturizer?

Luckily I'm happy with Olay Complete 15 Sensitive as a moisturizer with sun protection since it's about as cheap as you can buy. Spend more when it matters, but you can save on the category of SPF face creams/lotions without compromise. There are a ton of quality selections for less in a drugstore aisle ... often under $10.🎀💙

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Lawless Beauty

My friend, Angie Smith, says, " I have loved every single product I've tried and it's clean. The One and Done Mascara is the best I've ever used. The Conseal The Deal Concealer is fabulous, and so are the lipglosses." 

She's talking about Lawless Beauty, a makeup brand created by Annie Lawless Jacobs, whose mission is to produce "highly pigmented, full coverage, and long-lasting" cosmetics with only safe ingredients, therefore face and lip paints, stains, and some treatments that are 100% free of carcinogens and hormone or endocrine-disrupting toxins. Every product in the line is free of all potential toxins, including parabens, talc, lead, PEGS, sulfates, mineral oil, carbon black, and siloxanes, in addition to, animal cruelty and synthetic fragrance.

Moreover, the brand is serious about formulating high-end cosmetics to make customers not only healthy but look and feel beautiful. The foundation, lip color, concealer, and mascara will not wimp out by midday but last all day long.

Lawless Beauty is sold at Sephora, as well as, on its own website, where loyal customers can earn reward points to save on future purchases.

Another fabulous discovery of yet another stellar brand with good clean ingredients! Thank you once again, Angie!

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40 Boxes Of Gifts

Longer-burning soy wax candles will not release harmful chemicals into the atmosphere.

Occasionally we need to get gifts without knowing a person's needs or tastes. That's when the giftee gets something I like if I'm the gifter. If I don't know what you want, you're going to get something I want.😁 A good online platform to peruse on such shopping occasions is called 40 Boxes. It was launched by Tory Johnson in March 2021, a professional shopper who frequently appears on Good Morning America's Deals and Steals segments.

The online shopping venture introduces you to new brands and old favorites in 8 categories of goods: Beauty & Skincare, Fashion & Accessories, Food, Health & Wellness, Home & Kitchen, Jewelry, Solutions, and Tech. It's a wide assortment of gift options, therefore offering something for nearly everyone. 40 Boxes reminds me of a well-stocked department store, and yet you can select a gift from the convenience of your living room, not to mention, decide where your gifts should be shipped, either to you or the recipient.

Just like in brick-and-mortar department stores, variety at various price points is the name of the game. There's an ever-changing inventory of quality items offered at reasonable prices. The towels look plush, the jewelry is sterling silver, and the merchandise makes winning gifts without breaking the bank.

What's more, you save time, running around, and the cost of gas. It's fabulous to have online, as well as, brick-and-mortar shopping choices. Thoughtfulness just got more convenient.🎁

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Dove Hair Therapy Collection

eBay sellers are offering the entire collection. Also sold at Walmart and Target.

The CVS Pharmacy near my home always has free samples. I applaud the beauty manager at this location for offering us free samples consistently, as other locations are not as diligent.

On Saturday I walked into the drugstore, and there they were in the beauty aisle: Sample packs of Dove Hair Therapy shampoo and conditioner. It's a multi-formula collection ... the Hydration Spa option, I did not try. What I grabbed was the formula marked Breakage Remedy. Though I gravitate towards hair products that strengthen or tame locks, I'll try whatever freebies are offered. The Dove Hair Therapy Collection includes a leave-in condition which I also didn't try.

Today I used the shampoo and conditioner and love the fresh, clean, pleasant scent. The formula feels luxurious and leaves the hair clean, tame, and free of tangles. The new Dove Therapy Collection, according to the company, is created to strengthen the hair at its cellular level to achieve 97% less breakage. It's free of sulfates and safe for all hair types.

For sure, it smells magnificent; washes out clean; and leaves a consumer with a soft head of hair. Dove is better known for its soap, now we know the shampoo and condition is good too. Costing under $7 for 13.5 oz, the going rate, CVS offers a $3 coupon + the usual future promotions, making the brand affordable. Definitely, as the price is right I'll stock up with a pair and a spare to continue using it.

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The Beauty Advent Calendars Are Out

Beauty Advent Calendars are always sold in limited quantities, and they launch in autumn 3 months prior to Christmas. Liberty London, the Holy Grail of calendars, comes out in October, selling out within days. So hyped is the Liberty Beauty Advent Calendar, after it's gone some customers sell their empty Liberty boxes on eBay ... yes, an empty box!

Frankly, I don't have the patience, nor wish to pay the piper for such Limited Luxe Editions marketed by high-end retailers to create demand and company buzz. Instead of joining the flock, I can find equally winning splurges for less moola and be happy! Still, they make nice gifts!

The following are 5 lovely 2021 Advent Calendars already out. They, too, will sell out by December, so wannabe buyers must grab them now:

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1) Elemis No. 25 Beauty Advent Calendar  - Skincare and pampering items. Contains:

- Pro-Collagen Marine Cream 50ml – Full Size
- Pro-Collagen Cleansing Balm 20g
- Pro-Collagen Rose Facial Oil 5ml
- Pro-Collagen Overnight Matrix 15ml
- Pro-Collagen Energising Marine Cleanser 30ml
- Pro-Collagen Eye Renewal 5ml
- Pro-Collagen Eye Revive Mask 4ml
- Superfood AHA Glow Cleansing Butter 20ml
- Superfood Glow Priming Moisturiser 20ml
- Superfood Facial Wash 30ml
-Superfood Day Cream 20ml

- Superfood Night Cream 20ml
- Superfood Cica Calm Hydration Juice 20ml
- Peptide4 Plumping Pillow Facial 15ml
- Dynamic Resurfacing Gel Mask 15ml
- Dynamic Resurfacing Skin Smoothing Essence 28ml
- Dynamic Resurfacing Facial Pads 14 pads
- Dynamic Resurfacing Facial Wash 30ml
- Papaya Enzyme Peel 15ml
- Herbal Lavender Repair Mask 15ml
- Balancing Lavender Toner 50ml
- Frangipani Monoi Body Cream 50ml
- Skin Nourishing Shower Cream 100ml
- Sea Lavender & Samphire Body Cream 50ml
- Sea Lavender & Samphire Bath & Shower Milk 100ml

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2) NYX Gimme Super Stars Advent Calendar -  Not as upscale or costly as the others, yet fun eyeshadows and lip glosses fit for younger customers, especially early teens. Contains:

- NYX Professional Makeup Pore Filler Mini 11ml
- NYX Professional Makeup Born To Glow Liquid Illuminator Mini 2 x 13ml
- NYX Professional Makeup HD Finishing Powder Mini 3.3g
- NYX Professional Makeup Eyeshadow Base Mini 4.7ml
- NYX Professional Makeup Eyeshadow Singles 6 x 1.7g
- NYX Professional Makeup Soft Matte Lip Cream 6 x 4.7ml
- NYX Professional Makeup Butter Gloss Mini 6 x 4.7ml
- NYX Professional Makeup #thisiseverything Lip Oil Mini 4.7ml

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3) L'Occitane Signature Advent Calendar - My kind of skincare, everything needed to lube up with moisturizers in our upcoming battle with Old Man Winter. Contains:

- Immortelle Precious Cream Net Wt. 0.17 oz.
- Shea Butter Ultra Rich Lip Balm Net Wt. 0.13 oz.
- Rose Hand Cream Net Wt. 0.34 oz.
- Almond Shower Oil 1.6 fl. oz.
- Shea Light Comforting Cream Net Wt. 0.17 oz.
- Almond Body Milk 1.6 fl. oz.

- Cherry Blossom Hand Cream Net Wt. 0.35 oz.
- Aromachologie 5 Essentials Oils Shampoo 1.1 fl. oz.
- Aqua Reotier Ultra Thirst-Quenching Cream Net Wt. 0.17 oz.
- Shea Butter Hand Cream Net Wt. 0.34 oz.
- Shea Butter Extra Gentle Soap - Milk Net Wt. 0.8 oz.
- Shea Butter Intensive Hand Balm Net Wt. 0.35 oz.
- Soap with Verbena Leaves Net Wt. 0.8 oz.
- Aromachologie 5 Essentials Oils Conditioner 1.1 fl. oz.
- Verbena Cooling Hand Cream Gel Net Wt. 0.3 oz.
- Verbena Shower Gel 1 fl. oz.
- Shea Butter Foot Cream Net Wt. 0.3 oz.
- Shea Butter Ultra Rich Body Cream Net Wt. 0.6 oz.
- Almond Delicious Hands Net Wt. 0.3 oz.
- Lustrous Hair Treatment - SOS Shine Net Wt. 0.6 oz.
- Gel Cream Hair Treatment- SOS Moisture Net Wt. 0.6 oz.
- Aromachologie Gentle & Balance Micellar Shampoo 1.1 fl. oz.
- Shea Honey Hand Cream Net Wt. 0.34 oz.

- Immortelle Overnight Reset Oil-in-Serum 0.17 fl. oz.

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4) Rituals Advent Calendar - Another personal care option I like. Formulated with botanicals, it contains:

- The Ritual Of Ayurveda Foaming Shower Gel, 50 ml
- Océan Infini, 15 ml
- Amsterdam Collection Body Mist, 20 ml
- The Ritual Of Samurai Ice Shower, 70 ml
- The Ritual Of Jing Sleep Pillow & Body Mist, 20 ml
- The Ritual Of Karma Body Shimmer Oil, 30 ml
- Fortune Balms - Repair, 4.8 g

- Serendipity Foaming Shower Gel, 50 ml
- The Ritual Of Sakura Shampoo, 50 ml              

- The Ritual Of Sakura Conditioner, 50 ml
- The Ritual Of Ayurveda Hand Lotion, 70 ml
- The Ritual Of Jing Foaming Shower Gel, 50 ml
- The Ritual Of Ayurveda Scrub Glove
- The Ritual Of Ayurveda Hair & Body Mist, 20 ml
- The Ritual Of Karma Mild Body Scrub Clay, 70 ml

- Advent Mini Candle Private Collection - Imperial Rose, 25 g
- Advent Mini Candle Private Collection - Jade Vine, 25 g
- Advent Mini Candle Private Collection - Orris Mimosa, 25 g
- Advent Mini Candle Private Collection - Sweet Jasmine, 25 g
- The Ritual Of Oudh Foaming Shower Gel, 50 ml
- The Ritual Of Jing Mini Fragrance Sticks, 50 ml
- The Ritual Of Namaste Anti-Aging Serum, 10 ml
- The Ritual Of Sakura Body Cream, 100 ml

**********************************************************

5) Charotte's Beauty Dreams & Secrets Beauty Advent Calendar - Every year I'm on the fence about recommending the Charlotte Tilbury advent calendar. Love the makeup, but is the calendar worth it? Or should you just splurge on lipstick and/or favorite full-sized items? Definitely a luxe gift, but for the price, why only 12 products and travel sizes? Not the best value, readers, compared to its competitors. Nonetheless, just like many luxe advent calendars, it will sell out by December. It contains:

- Hollywood Beauty Light Wand Spotlight FULL SIZE

- Chameleon Eyeshadow Pencil in Pillow Talk FULL SIZE

- Matte Revolution Lipstick – Medium Pillow Talk FULL SIZE
- Multi Miracle Glow 15ml TRAVEL SIZE

- Goddess Skin Clay Mask 15ml TRAVEL SIZE
- Charlotte’s Magic Serum Crystal Elixir 8ml TRAVEL SIZE
- Charlotte’s Magic Cream 15ml TRAVEL SIZE
- Wonderglow 15ml TRAVEL SIZE
- Walk of No Shame Eyeliner TRAVEL SIZE
- Legendary Lashes Volume 2 Mascara TRAVEL SIZE
- Lip Cheat Pillow Talk Medium TRAVEL SIZE
- Airbrush Flawless Setting Spray TRAVEL SIZE

How crazy to think about buying Christmas gifts in September, yet every year Advent Calendars sell out months before Christmas, so it's never too early to peruse them. (Newscasters warn in 2021 there will be shortages of goods across categories, so do your holiday shopping early.) Just for fun, look for the Liberty Beauty Advent Calendar in early October ... said to be the company's fastest-selling product in its 145-year history. For the luxe price, at least they don't skimp you on products! The following are niche beauty brands customers will find inside this year's festive box:

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UOMA BEAUTY DRAMA BOMB EXTREME VOLUME MASCARA MINI IN BLACK | LE LABOANOTHER 13 EAU DE PARFUM 15ML | OLAPLEX NO.3 HAIR PERFECTOR 100ML | VOTARY BRIGHTENING HYALURONIC SERUM 50ML | DAVINES MOMO CONDITIONER 75ML | AUGUSTINUS BADER THE RICH CREAM VEGAN 15ML | QMS MEDI COSMETICS INTENSIVE EYE CARE CREAM 15ML | DR SEBAGH SERUM REPAIR 20ML | AROMATHERAPY ASSOCIATES CLEAR MIND ROLLER BALL 10ML | (MALIN+GOETZ) LIP MOISTURISER 10ML | REN CLEAN SKINCARE READY STEADY GLOW DAILY AHA TONIC 100ML | DERMALOGICA MULTIVITAMIN POWER FIRM 15ML | SURRATT EXPRESSIONISTE BROW POMADE | LIXIRSKIN UNIVERSAL EMULSION 30ML | LIBERTY £15 GIFT VOUCHER | OMOROVICZA PERFECTING LIP BALM 10ML | SUSANNE KAUFMANN MALLOW BLOSSOM BATH 30ML | HAIR BY SAM MCKNIGHT HAPPY ENDINGS NOURISHING BALM 30ML | TRISH MCEVOY BEAUTY BOOSTER® MOISTURE STICK | FRANK BODY CHARCOAL FACE CLEANSER 35ML | VILHELM PARFUMERIE DEAR POLLY, MORNING CHESS + MANGO SKIN EAU DE PARFUM 3 X 2ML | OLVERUM BATH OIL 15ML | 111SKINHYALURONIC ACID AQUA BOOSTER 20ML | DECREE SOS REVITALISING EYE MASK | LIBERTY STARBURST PRINT SMALL WASH BAG

Update: The Liberty London calendar is available when the clock strikes midnight on October 6th. Here.

Extra tips: Sometimes Beauty Advent Calendars in the $24 range end up at T.J. Maxx. Not Liberty London, but I see Crabtree & Evelyn, The Body Shop, and Ole Henrikson. Also at a great value, Macy's Beauty Advent Calendar is spectacular. Staller skincare or makeup at budget-friendly price points!

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Beauty Advent Calendars 2018

Beauty Advent Calendars For Less