What Beauty Buys Am I Using Right Now?

Over time I've tried to switch over to more natural or organic beauty products. I use the word "natural" skeptically. We must always read labels and research commodities carefully to make sure the word isn't just a marketing gimmack but truly reflects purer ingredients in the ointments we rub into our skin.

Another aim is to spend less money on the personal care items we use daily. If quality is nearly the same with similar results, cheaper is always better! Over time the savings really add up!  And it goes without saying, we want to focus on products that really work because they have the science behind them! Let's also strive to not layer on too many elixirs, another way of washing cash down the drain. The goal of keeping beauty routines simple to save time and get out of the bathroom faster is smart also!

Here are personal care items I'm using right now that meet the criteria: 

For the Face --

Day

1) The Ordinary Buffet - a mix of effective anti-aging peptides. 

2) The Ordinary Vitamin C Suspension 23% + HA Spheres 2% - a high potency antioxidant and skin brightener. 

3) Walgreens Baby Broad Spectrum SPF 50 Sunscreen - the #1 preventer of aging skin you can buy.

Night

4) Neutrogena Rapid Wrinkle Repair Regenerating Cream With Retinol Fragrance-Free

5) Azure Hemp & Retinol Sleep Mask - This I alternate with #4 whenever my face feels dry.

For the Body --

1) BuyBuy Baby Powder with pure cornstarch - A generic bath powder from Bed, Bath & Beyond. The cornstarch replaces talc because in the USA, you can't buy talc anymore. Since the pandemic, I apply baby powder on my face under my mask because I'm not wearing makeup. (Tinted face powder tints my mask which looks ugly!)

2) Puritan's Pride Coconut Oil - I use it after a shower to lock in moisture! The company makes coconut oil for the body, but I buy the food-grade coconut oil -- one oil to use in both the kitchen and bathroom. Done!

3) Botanical + Herbal Help Body Lotion - Containing tea tree and verbena oils, I use it as a hand or body cream. It's from T.J. Maxx and I buy their ever-changing array of lotions from Australia, New Zealand, Italy, Korea, and exotic California.🙂

For the Hair --

SheaMoisture and Renpure💕💥 all the way! I switch up the formulas regularly. Right now I'm using ...

1) Repure Extra Strength Coconut Cream Shampoo

2) SheaMoisture Manuka Honey & Mafura Oil Shampoo

3) SheaMoisture Kukui Nut & Grapeseed Oils Conditioner

4) SheaMoisture Manuka Honey & Mafura Oil Conditioner

Both brands are from long-time manufacturers of good, clean, organic ingredients for the hair at drugstore prices.

So these are the beauty buys in my bathroom right now. Simple, clean, inexpensive and they work! ✔✔✔✔

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SheaMoisture hair conditioners are the bomb! Truly, the entire line of soaps, skin moisturizers and beauty treatments are excellent. The whole line is 1) organic, 2) of the highest quality and 3) affordable. I first reviewed the sustainably produced goods here. Since then, I've tied even more of their personal care products.

Not one skin, body or hair item has disappointed me. At long last, I can say there is an organic hair conditioner that works, as well as, the ones loaded with a long list of unpronounceable chemicals. Right now, I'm using SheaMoisture Raw Shea Butter Restorative Conditioner with Sea Kelp and Argon Oil, and I love it. Unbeatable prices for such top-notch organic ingredients. Not to mention, a small squirt of conditioner goes a long way!

Furthermore, there are many different formulas of SheaMoisture shampoo and condition. Pick the one that is right for you. Mixtures of nature's bounty to clean, condition, tame and repair every hair type imaginable. Using my best cheesy line: Good clean ingredients that won't take a customer to the cleaners! Did I mention organic ingredients? Yes, yes ... organic!!! Why pay more when you get the best for less? 

SheaMoisture is conveniently sold at your local drugstore.


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T. J. Maxx Beauty Haul

T. J. Maxx, where I find top-notch beauty brands for less, spoils me. Pricey designer names arrive at the retailer greatly reduced! Steals let you experiment and take a risk. The following 5 items are bargains and happy discoveries, ones I will buy again:

1. Clarins Joli Rouge - (Above↑) Creamy moisturizing long-wearing lipstick in a sheer satin finish. I have it in soft berry - balm-like with subtle yet lasting color - Reduced to $6.

2. Azure Hemp & Retinol Moisturizing Nourishing Sleep Mask - From Korea, a country with an ultra-advanced beauty market. This night cream is formulated from 100% organic hemp seed oil, retinol, hyaluronic acid, collagen, cucumber fruit extract, vitamin B3, Shea butter oil, and vitamin B5, the usual suspects in anti-aging skin creams, such as Olay Regenerist Retinol 24 Facial Moisturizer, selling for $25 - $30 a jar. At $5.99, Azure's anti-aging moisturizing cream is a must-buy!

3. SheaMoisture Green Coconut & Activated Charcoal Purifying & Hydrating In-Shower Styler - With green coconut, white tea, and lemon balm, it's an in-shower styler that infuses essential nutrients into my locks for the perfect wash-and-go style. As it happens I like to add a little extra conditioner to my hair during the winter months and with this one, perhaps I can forgo heat since it's created to give your hair body and texture without blow drying. Plus, it's made to treat oily roots and dry ends alike, thereby adding extra conditioning without a greasy look. Reduced to $3.

4. and 5. SheaMoisture Peace Rose Oil Complex Nourish & Silken Shampoo and Conditioner - The entire line of SheaMoisture products in every formula is brilliant. Peace Rose is a scent I love! This is a no-brainer... come home with me at $5.99 each. 

Extra hair tips: According to Energy Times here's how to winterize your hair: 1) Rub coconut oil into your hair and leave it wrapped in a towel for an hour; 2) Sleep on a satin pillowcase to stop breakage; 3) Message your scalp to increase blood flow; 4) Eat a healthy diet; and 5) Only wash your hair twice a week (not possible for straight hair like mine, but for curly!).

5. Laura Geller Iconic Baked Sculpting Lipstick - Creamy and moisturizing lipstick with lasting color. T. J. Maxx introduced me to Laura Geller, a brand I didn't previously know! The texture, and consistency of the makeup (lipstick, cover stick, powder) are fantastic! Lovely weighty packaging containing a generous amount of product to boot! Cost: $3.99.💖

I go to T. J. Maxx about once a week. These beauty items were bought on multiple, yet recent trips. (I tend to be an under buyer ... always good to be.🙂) The stock is ever-changing, useful, and cheap, compared to department stores and boutiques. If you don't need an item yesterday, it eventually lands on the retailer's shelves. Time and money well spent!


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5 Beauty & Style Finds For Holiday Gifts

Today's 5 beauty and style gift ideas are finds I bought for myself at various times and love so much I have no doubt others will love them too:

1) Anne Klein Women's Rose Gold-Tone Bracelet Watch↑ - I own this gorgeous watch. The rose gold is so pretty, and the watch looks ultra expensive, but it's not. It has Japanese quartz movement, and after over 2 years, it still wears shiny and new! Since the watch has been around for a while, the price has dropped, making it a sweet deal as well!

2) Pro Beauty Tools Professional Gold 1" Curling Iron - A find from T.J. Maxx, where I discover lots of stellar brands, I would otherise not know about. Reduced to a bargain price of $12! The curling iron heats up in 30 seconds flat; and the 1" barrel is the perfect size for most hair lengths. Finally, the curling iron is easy to hold and compact to tuck away. 

3) SheaMoisture Manuka Honey & Yogurt Hydrate + Repair Shampoo - Usually comes in 13 oz (but look for a special 19.5 oz size) - The beauty brand began in 1912 making personal care products like shampoos and conditions with nothing but clean, botanical ingredients. There is none better on the market! Plus this top-notch brand is sold in drugstores at drugstore prices! 

4) SheaMoisture Jamaican Black Castor Oil Strengthen & Restore Condition - Like the shampoo, this usually contains 13 oz (but luck into a special 19.5 oz size with 50% more free if you see it). SheaMoisture works beautifully on all hair types; and there are tons of different formulas to address individual needs. Every single one is terrific. (The 2 featured in today's blog are the latest formulas I'm trying over the winter.) Each leaves my hair feeling super soft and smelling terrific!

5)  Tinted Lip treatments - Any of the following are intensely moisturzing with a pop of flattering color:

a. Laura Merier Lip Balm - A pricey splurge, but it's a super thoughtful gift because it hydrates, prevents and smooths chapped winter tramatized lips.

b. Fresh - The retailer has special edition balm collections for a festive presentation.

c. Bite Beauty - Ditto, 
also available in special balm holiday editions.

d. Smith's Rosebud Salve - A personal favorite. I may buy a friend a $22 lip balm for Christmas, but I use a $6 - $8 salve for myself that has been around since the year 1892. Gladly would I make the introduction to others by gifting it to them! The lip salve comes in an assortment of flavors from the original to vanilla, strawberry, rose & mandarin and  minted rose. Housed in a practical tin container and sold at drugstores, Walmart, Target and Sephora. You can't go wrong! 

The friends and family on your holiday list will absolutely love their gifts and thank you for opening their eyes to such wonderful tried and true products.


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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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The Minimalist Traveler's 28 Personal Care Essentials

I'm still away from home helping my elderly mother with the recovery of her fractured leg. (It explains why I'm blogging less often.) Essentially I'm living out of a suitcase! And yet when you find yourself in such circumstances, you have to continue to take good care of yourself.

In the effort, here are 12 minimalist traveler's skin and personal care products I'm using every day on my trip away from my home stash of skin and personal care toiletries:

For Skin Care:

Morning --

1) Noxema Cleansing Cream - I'm using it to wash my face and body, as well as moisturize my skin. Originally formulated by a doctor to soothe sunburns, it's cool and tingly upon use.

2) AN Artnature Vitamin C Advanced Moisture + Brightening Serum - Applying this serum to my face every morning as a multi-purpose anti-aging elixir. A vitamin C serum also gives you some protection against free radicals and the sun's harmful rays.

3) Olay Complete All Day Moisturizer For Sensitive Skin with SPF 15 - I use it every day of the year, plus as a greaseless suntan lotion in the summer.

Night, Noxema again, then --

4) Neutrogena Rapid Wrinkle Repair Retinol Oil - Applying it to my face at night, the oil came as a 2-item kit with the cream below. More like a serum than an oil, its purpose is to boost the power of the Retinol. Probably we could survive with the cream only.

5) Neutrogena Rapid Wrinkle Repair Retinol Regeneration
Cream - Applying it to my face at night on top of the serum (oil). Some consumers prefer Olay Retinol 24 Night Moisturizer since its consistency is lighter with more hyaluronic acid in the cream. I like and use both brands of anti-aging face creams and approve of Neutrogena's high potency and thickness. At times I'll add drops of water to the formula to make the cream a little thinner and sometimes not.

For Toothcare:

6) Philips Sonicare Toothbrush - It's well worth packing in the suitcase. You simply can't brush your teeth as thoroughly with a manual toothbrush. I'm happy my dentist's office advised me to buy it, as well as, told me to buy the basic model for about $40 without the extra bells and whistles. You don't need them.

7) Regular manual toothbrush - I use the sonic toothbrush twice a day, every morning and night, and a regular toothbrush for shorter cleaning sessions to clean my teeth if I eat any in-between sugary snacks.

8) Colgate Maximum Strength Whitening Sensitive Toothpaste - After years of drinking 2 cans of soda each workday at the Time, Inc consumer magazines, I now have sensitive teeth, so I've given up soda altogether and use sensitive toothpaste to try to "repair my enamel" as much as is possible. At mom's age of wear and tear of her teeth, we both use it.

9) Dental Floss - I miss my water pick, but felt I had to limit what to pack and left it at home. Frankly, I hate the necessary evil of teeth flossing!

10) Equate Anticavity Alcohol-Free Fluoride Mouthwash - Yeah, I buy the purple mouthwash, however, which one's really the best for our teeth and gums, only our dentist knows for sure. Probably adults don't benefit from the extra fluoride, who knows? The dentist!

For Body Care:

11) Crystal Body Deodrant Stick - The salt crystal seems to prevent wetness and underarm odor. I have the travel size with me and the thicker stick at home.

12) Cetaphil Body Moisturizing Cream For Very Dry Skin - I bought this one for my elderly mother's skin, but sometimes dip my hand into the jar as a hand and body cream. It has zero fragrance and is super moisturizing and non-greasy. Skin doctor recommended too. Now I prefer it to other brands.

For Hair Care

13) SheaMoisture Shampoo - Whatever formula is available at the drugstore.

14) SheaMoisture Conditioner - Ditto, whatever formula I find at the local drugstore has been terrific.

For Makeup: 

I've only used the 1st three items on the list below and only on Zoom calls. Since we still wear face masks in certain indoor places, I mostly don't wear makeup these days. Yet I brought the following along --

15) L'Oreal Revitalift Miracle Blur

16) Dermablend Quick-Fix Concealer

17) Bobbie Brown Pot Rouge For Lips and Cheeks - in Pink Raspberry #18

18) Milani Lipstick - in Dulce Caramelo #27

19) Milani Lip Gloss - in Delight Deluxe #01

20) Adrien Arpel Eye Crayon - in Forest Green

21) Sephora Brow Sculping Pencil - in Light Brown and it has a tiny brush on one end.

22) Lip Balm - Beeswax is the main ingredient.

Finally, I brought my stash of samples packets that I save for overnight trips. In a pinch, I'll find a product I need (face cream, shampoo, or conditioner) to tie me over until I can get to a Walmart, Target, or drugstore. 

Moreover, the Tool Makeup Bag contains:

23) Tweezers

24) Hair ties

25) Nail clippers

26) Nail files

27) Nail buffer

28) Mini Nail Brush

The only three tools I've used are tweezers, nail clippers, and hair ties. 

I'm functioning just fine with three small organizing makeup bags of basics. Makes me think minimalism of toiletries is all we ever really need! A less is more mindset saves us tons of time and money. Why not pare down to a simple approach both at home and away from home?

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4U By Tia Is Created For Curly Hair

Although all hair textures are biologically the same, made mostly of protein, namely keratin, curly hair forms deep in the scalp from a curved bulb and takes its spiral shape from irregularly distributed keratin.

Curls are naturally drier and more porous than straight hair. They are more fragile plus tend to take more abuse from daily styling; and finally due to their shape, conditioners have a tougher time migrating from the root to the end of curly hair.

4U by Tia is a brand founded by actress Tia Mowry offering a line of natural hair care products based on science for curly hair. 

Although not dirt cheap, it is created with good clean ingredients and sold at Walmart and Target so regular people on a budget can afford high-performance haircare to "elevate their curls." 

4U By Tia has lavish products to clean and condition your naturally curly hair; nourish and treat it; or tame and style it.

Because products designed for curly-and-people-of-color are made to be mild for hair that tends to be drier and more delicate, I think nearly every head can use it. 

Surprised? Here's why: Clean, natural ingredients made to stop stripping your scalp of its natural oils can benefit every hair type. I've had no issues using gentle formulas on my straight Caucasian hair.

Wishing a Happy Juneteenth to my fellow Americans and a few other countries who observe it!

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Philosophy Fragrance: The Pure Graces

To be honest fragrance is a beauty item I rarely buy. Skin care and makeup are more my scope. Perfume and eau de toilette, not so much. To me, it's an extra step to mess with ... and jeez don't I do enough already? I mean as a shower obsessed American, daily I lather up with SheaMoisture soap, shampoo and conditioner; use coconut oil, underarm deodorant, baby power; and apply makeup. As needed, I slather on skin serums, lotions and creams. How many more smells do I need? I'd like to leave my house!

That said, I do like the clean, fresh, subtle scents found in Philosophy's Pure and Amazing Grace eau de toilettes. I sometimes try them on at Ulta, or Sephora. Frangrances that smell good to others are personal preferences, and Philosophy has many scents. I like one of their clean, crisp sprays called, Pure Grace, as well as, the floral scent, Amazing Grace Ballet Rose.

Ulta, the beauty retailer, makes Philosophy's Grace scents more affordable with coupons and rewards, so it's a tempting place to browse and experiment. In deciding on a favorite, spray the samples on, then wait about 20 minutes to see how they will react with your unique body chemistry. 

For me, buying a fragrance is a once in a blue moon splurge. How about you? Do you wear fragrance daily? Many women must as there's such a proliferation of scents on the market, and companies spend millions of dollars on advertizing. What is your favorite scent?


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Viori Beauty Developed By The Yao Tribe of Southern China

Viori shampoo and conditioner bars have over 6,300 mainly 5-star Amazon reviews. There's a bar for every hair/scalp type -- oily, normal, and dry. 

Handcrafted with Longsheng rice water and natural ingredients (the term natural is unregulated so check ingredients), the formulas are developed by the Yao Tribe, who for 2,000 years lived secluded in the Longsheng mountains of Southern China. The tribe women are known for their thick, long, healthy hair traditionally washed with a blend of Longsheng rice water. 

The bars are infused with various essential oils to smell clean and amazing. They are made to moisturize, strengthen, rejuvenate, volumize, increase the natural shine, repair, as well as, gently clean the hair and scalp. What's more, they are 100% vegan, sulfate-free, paraben-free, cruelty-free, and plastic-free.

Some of the profits (5%) from sales go back to helping the Yao Tribe who provide the Longsheng rice used to make the rice water for the shampoos and conditioners. Viori also works directly with the Red Yao villagers to develop projects they believe will help their communities thrive, economically, culturally, and environmentally. The company claims to have a lifetime commitment to supporting the well-being of the tribe.

The shampoos and conditions are fun gifts to give and get. Without plastic containers, they are not only easy to pack for trips but easy on the environment. One bar lasts 4-6 months, making paying for its rich botanical ingredients easier on the wallet.

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