How to Buy Beauty Products from the Drugstore and Look like a Million Bucks, Part 1

Rising gas prices and an uncertain economy have Americans tightening their budgets and eliminating unnecessary expenses wherever possible. Non-essential items are usually the first to get the cut -- cable TV is downgraded to the basic tier, cell phone plans are trimmed down, eating out becomes a rare event, etc.

A good place to make budget cuts is the beauty category -- skin care, hair care, and makeup. This article focuses on skin care.

How to use this guide: First, look at your current skin care regimen. Determine the bare minimum products you need to use daily. Ask yourself if there are any high dollar products you cannot live without -- unless money is really tight, it's OK to splurge on a product or two. This article gives examples of good products in each category -- but there are other great products out there I did not list.

Before purchasing: Ask friends what they use, go to websites to find reviews on products, look through beauty magazines to see which products are recommended, and so forth. Don't wait until you run out of product before figuring out what to buy next! Ask your store if they will exchange or return a product you do not like before buying. See if the store has samples (many of them do). Write the company before buying to see if they can send you free samples. Look in beauty magazines for free samples and coupons.

What to do if you buy a product you don't like: See if the store will let you exchange or return it (hopefully you asked before buying). Write the company to let them know -- often they will send you coupons or offer a refund if you mail them the UPC.

Face cleansers:
Oily -- Clean and Clear Oil Free Foaming Facial Cleanser, $4.49
Normal -- Neutrogena Extra Gentle Cleanser, $6.99
Sensitive -- Cetaphil Gentle Skin Cleanser, $7.99
Dry -- Olay Moisture Rich Cream Cleanser, $5.99

Makeup Removers:
Nivea Visage Eye Makeup Remover, $5.79

Acne Creams:
Clearasil Daily Acne Control Vanishing Acne Treatment Cream, $4.99
Clean and Clear Persa-Gel 10, $4.67

AHAs (Alpha Hydroxy Acid):
Alpha Hydrox AHA Exfoliating Cream, $8.29

BHAs (Beta Hydroxy Acid):
Aveeno Clear Complexion Daily Moisturizer, $12.91

Daytime Moisturizer:
Oily skin -- Almay Regimen Moisturizer for Oily Skin, $12.99
Normal skin -- Olay Regenerist Perfecting Cream, $16.14
Dry skin -- L'Oreal Dermo-Expertise Futur-e Moisturizer, $10.99

Nighttime Moisturizer:
Oily skin -- Reviva Oily Skin Night Cream, $9.00
Normal skin -- Night of Olay Firming Cream, $6.99
Dry skin -- Boots No. 7 Moisture Quench Night Cream, $12.99

Eye Cream:
Neutrogena Radiance Boost Eye Cream, $12.99

Wrinkle Cream:
Alpha Hydrox Retinol ResQ, $14.99

Serum:
Sonia Kashuk Repair Vitamin Enriched Serum, $19.49

Moisturizer with SPF:
Oily -- Neutrogena Ultra Sheer Dry-Touch Sunblock SPF 30, $9.99
Normal -- Neutrogena Healthy Skin Visibly Even Daily SPF 15 Moisturizer, $13.49
Dry -- Kiss My Face Face Factor Face and Neck SPF 30, $7.42

Self-Tanners:
L'Oreal Sublime Bronze Self-Tanning Towelettes, $7.49

Skin-Lighteners:
Alpha Hydrox Spot LIght Targeted Skin LIghtener, $9.99

Lip Balm:
Kiss My Face Certified Organic Lip Balm (many flavors), $2.62