The 5 Best Drugstore Beauty Products

With the recession and the economy the way it is, everyone's trying to cut costs where they can. My family included. When I took a look at what I was spending on beauty products, I was rather surprised. So I decided to replace my favorite beauty products that I typically bought at Sephora and Nordstrom with items I could find at our local Target, CVS or other drugstore. Here are five drugstore beauty products that I have found work as well, if not better, than their high dollar counterparts.

Drugstore Beauty Product #1 - CoverGirl Lash Blast
I typically was buying Dior Show waterproof mascara at Sephora for $24. It worked well enough but the cost became prohibitive. I was first attracted to CoverGirl Lash Blast by its bright orange packaging. Then I saw that CoverGirl had a waterproof version and I was hooked. I love this mascara. It does a great job of lengthening my lashes and the rubber-bristle brush works well at separating, too. CoverGirl has a patented volumizing formula that promises to max out your lashes. It does a nice job at giving the lashes a full look while not clumping or flaking. This is one of the best waterproof mascaras I've ever used. Target sells CoverGirl Lash Blast for $7.29 but I can usually find it on sale for around $6.99.

Drugstore Beauty Product #2 - Lubriderm Skin Nourishing Moisturizing Lotion with Shea and Cocoa Butters
I absolutely love L'Occitane's Shea Butter Hand Cream but I was buying the mini size (1 ounce) at $10 because I couldn't bring myself to buy the large size (5.2 ounces) at $26. But on a trip to the drugstore I stumbled upon Lubriderm's lotion and saw that it contained shea and cocoa butters. I thought why not? It was only $7.99 and it came in a large bottle (16 ounces). This lotion is amazing! My hands are soft and smooth. It's just as good if not better than the L'Occitane hand lotion I was buying. At such a low price, I was able to buy two of the Lubriderm lotions, one for home and one for my desk at work. I put lotion on every time after I wash my hands and they've never looked or felt better.

Drugstore Beauty Product #3 - Dove Shampoo and Condition
My favorite shampoo and conditioner has been Frederic Ferkkai after I was given some as a gift years ago. I love the way it makes my hair feel and never weighs it down. I had previously been buying Pureology which is great at helping your color last longer. I usually would purchase Pureology when Planet Beauty would have a special and buy the large bottles. But that was until I received a coupon in the mail for Dove Shampoo and Conditioner. There are many products in the Dove Shampoo and Conditioner line-the newest is for heat defense therapy. I've tried several and they all left my hair feeling soft and manageable. The cost difference from my previous products is quite substantial so I'll be sticking with Dove for a long time.

Drugstore Beauty Find #4 - Almay Oil-Free Eye Make-Up Remover
This is a wonderful product and retails for only $6. It works great at removing waterproof mascara without irritating my eyes. I had previously used Clinique's Take The Day Off Makeup Remover For Lids, Lashes & Lips which retails for $17.50. Almay's product works just as well and is recommended by dermatologists as well as ophthalmologists. The Almay beauty product contains a blend of aloe, green tea and cucumber.

Drugstore Beauty Find #5 - Burt's Bees Radiance Lip Shimmer
I love Burt's Bees Lip Shimmer. It's light, has great color options, and best of all it's made from all natural ingredients of vitamin E, coconut and sunflower oils. What I love about this product: it lasts a long time and looks just as good if not better than the $17 MAC lipstick I was previously wearing. It's a fraction of the cost and I don't have to go to the mall to pick up a new one. Burt's Bees Lip Shimmers sell for $4.95 at most Target stores as well other drugstores.

If you're trying to cut back on your most frequently purchased items, take a look in your make-up bag. I bet there are beauty products you can replace with any one of these great low price drugstore beauty alternatives.