Five Inexpensive Beauty Products for the Maintaining of Beautiful Skin!

With the overwhelming amount of beauty products out there today, many women don't know where to start when it comes to buying makeup - especially for women who have not used makeup very much in the past. It is also discouraging to see brands advertised for hefty fees - designer mascara for $23? Absolutely crazy!

The following products are great quality, inexpensive and can be used together each day in a 10-minute routine that will give you a fresh daytime look that's perfect for work, or even a simple trip to the grocery store!

St. Ives facial scrubs. There are various textures and consistencies of face wash in this line, and there is something for every skin type! These all go for under $8 USD and can be found in your local Walgreens, CVS, Walmart or Target. Washing your face twice a day is key when it comes to maintaining beautiful skin-a great first step to building confidence!

Cetaphil SPF 15 facial moisturizer. This is a great, light, non-greasy facial moisturizer that should be applied after washing your face to your face and neck. The SPF level isn't incredibly high, but it's enough to provide you with some extra protection from the sun which is great, especially if you have sensitive skin. Always apply a moisturizer before applying makeup, as makeup can sometimes dry out the skin, and not makeup includes SPF protection. Cetaphil SPF 15 facial moisturizer goes for about $10-$12 USD, and lasts quite a long time; one pump is usually enough to cover the entire face and neck.

Maybelline Mineral Power liquid foundation. Now, this product can be used as both a concealer and a foundation, depending upon the way that you apply it. This foundation also has an SPF level of 18, which is one of the reasons I like it. The reason I say that this can be used as a concealer or a foundation is this: depending upon how much coverage you need, you may need less of the product. For example, if you simply want to cover up dark circles under your eyes, dab a bit on your finger and blend beneath your eyes to take away the darkness. If your skin is unevenly colored, simply blend a bit more of the foundation into the darker or lighter parts of your face. However, this is also great if you've got skin problems like acne - this will cover pimples well without making your skin feel caked with makeup, and because it's a mineral product it is much better for your pores. Pick this up for under $6 USD at any CVS or related store.

For those with skin that might be a bit oily, simply use the powdered counterpart to this product, also available in the same mineral line from Maybelline for $6-$7 USD at any beauty supplies store.

Maybelline mascara. Yes, the ever-famous pink and green bottle still reigns over any expensive model! There is a reason that this mascara has been number one for decades - it's wonderful quality, inexpensive, and lasts! You can buy this for anywhere under $7 USD at any beauty supply/ drug store in whichever formula that suits you best - waterproof or non-waterproof. Simply dip the brush and wiggle it across your lashes from root to tip to draw just the right amount of attention to your eyes.

N.Y.C Blush. In whatever color suits your face the best, but orange-pinks look the best on any skin tone for a daytime look. What's great about N.Y.C products is that they're incredibly inexpensive - depending on what kind of blush you choose, you may only be spending $2-$4 which means that should you be unable to return it if you decide you don't like it, you can always pick out another one. A hint of blush brings life to a woman's face and helps give that healthy glow that we've hunted decades to perfect!