Thursday, May 14, 2015

A Few New Beauty Bits (Cheap).



We were being very thrifty in the earlier part of the year which isn't a bad thing - it really is good to rein it in now and then and be aware of what you spend.  And now we are spending more *normally* we really appreciate what we do buy... 

I wasn't setting out to buy dupes when I recently allowed myself a little drugstore splurge
but it seems that I know what I like and whilst they may not be exactly the same I did manage to unconsciously pick up some things that were very similar to high end things I already own...

Boots Botanics Hot Cloth Cleansing Balm is something that I constantly hear good things about so I grabbed one to replace the pricey Sarah Chapman Skinesis Cleanser and Clinique TTDO Balm I recently finished up. And do you know what? If those two products got together and had a 'balm baby' appearance wise it would be just like this one! It feels more luxe than it is and has a nice refreshing smell - it even comes with it's own muslin cloth - but it wasn't as effective at dissolving/removing make up as I hoped - you definitely need to double cleanse with this...

Just as Boots always have those '2 for 3 deals' Duane Reade (NYC's answer to Boots) always seems to have a 'BOGO 1/2 off' on Boots items. 
I didn't really need anything else but I did pick up one of the Botanics Lip Balms as it was half price. It's one of those thick greasy lip balms in a tube and compares favourably to Bigelow's My Favorite Lip Balm. It did a very good job of soothing and healing my chapped lips but the tube burst open so I'm currently using globs of it that I decanted into a pot - nice. Far from ideal but I really like the formula (and the price) so I will pick this up again and hope the bad packaging was a one off.

 The Boots lady there also gave me two generous samples - one of the Botanics Ionic Clay Mask which I use already and one of the Botanics Age Defense Super Serum that I look forward to trying.

Nothing, and I mean nothing, will ever replace Dennis Gross Alpha Beta Peel Pads in my life - I love them so much and they work so well for me. In the spirit of economy I bought a tub of NIP +FAB Glycolic Fix Pads. However I see that they contain Benzyl Alcohol which can be an irritant and Denat Alcohol which is very drying. I don't want to risk drying out my skin so unfortunately these are a bust for me. I will leave them in my building's mail room incase anyone else here can use them.

NYX Soft Matte Lip Cream cost me 88 cents! It was one of those 'one day only specials' that drugstore CVS have from time to time - really I couldn't not take advantage - lol! When I got home I realized that the one I picked, Antwerp, is practically identical to the Shiseido Laquer Gloss shade 304 that I have - 88 cents well spent!

My By Terry Eclat De Teint highlighter is almost done so I picked up one of Maybelline's Dream Lumi Touch to try in its place. 
Whilst at the Maybelline stand I grabbed another Dream Bouncy Blush this one is the shade Orchid Blush. It's a really pretty mauve/pink great for a spring make up look . These really are amazing quality blushers for the price, they blend and last really well and I have a few of them already. 

Finally because I can never have too many Nivea Body Lotions I grabbed a huge bottle of their Express Hydration Body Lotion. With sea mineral extracts this is light and fresh and is a lovely summer body lotion... It's so nice I may have to go back to the drugstore to get more...  

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