Our best-in-beauty this month includes Revlon lipstick, Mrs. Meyer's rose-scented hand soap and Shiseido's clear (and brilliant!) sunscreen stick. (Amazon)
I spend most of my days interviewing skin- and hair-care experts and testing dozens of products, which means I'm constantly learning things like the best ways to brighten and tighten skin, to keep an aging neck from melting and a dry scalp from developing flakes. I'm always uncovering new (to me!) beauty tricks, but my favorite thing I've been investigating in the last few months is how to find affordable products that work just as well as the expensive stuff. To that end, I've been scooping up some killer deals lately, including a $15 vitamin C serum that really works and an over-the-counter anti-aging retinoid that will only set you back 12 bucks (it's Differin and it's Ah-MAZ-ing).
From the viral $5 mascara that should be in everyone's makeup bag to the lip treatment that finally saved my chronically chapped pout and the worth-its-weight-in-gold sunscreen stick, the following finds are all well-made, obsession-worthy and, best of all, none will waste your precious time — or your hard-earned cash.
A quick Nutrafol review: I did not want to like this product. It's waaayy too expensive. And I don't like swallowing four horse pills every morning. BUT — and this is a big "but" — when taken consistently, Nutrafol really works for thinning hair, it helped stop my shedding and, after four months, I even saw new hair growth.
Right now is a good time to try it for yourself: a one month supply is currently 20% off.
Did you know your mouth gets drier as you age, and this includes your lips? Even though I literally wrote a guide to avoiding chapped lips this winter, last week, I somehow found myself with the most cracked, bone-dry pucker I've ever experienced — the kind where you get a gross, scabby, brownish line around your mouth that looks like you're Pamela Anderson lining your lips, circa 2001.
When I couldn't find my trusty Aquafor, I picked up this delightful salve at the grocery store, and I may never use another lip treatment again. It's made of chamomile, calendula and sunflower seed oil. It's rich, moisturizing, soothing and just plain ol' effective and pleasant on your mouth. I would pay three times as much for this balm but am happy to report that it's just 7 bucks.
Can 25,000 5-star reviewers be wrong? Maybe! But in this case, Essence's $5 in-the-know Lash Princess mascara happens to be worth the hype. The formula is super smooth and effectively lengthens and volumizes with minimal smudging and scant flaking. This is all due to the clever cylindrical wand design — it looks like a cone — which makes coating even the hardest-to-reach lashes a breeze.
I've been feeling retro lipsticks lately and have been on the hunt for a true, vixen-in-shoulder-pads '80s red. This one from Revlon certainly fits the bill. It's not only super pigmented and creamy but, unlike the actual lipsticks of the '80s (which I remember as waxy?) the formula contains vitamin E and avocado oil so it won't settle into fine lines.
Bonus: The convenient two-pack means you can stash one in your vanity and in your purse or car for color on the go.
I'm a longtime Mrs. Meyer's handsoap dabbler but, after picking up this new-to-me scent on a whim last month, I may just be a lifelong convert. It smells British-fancy, subtly expensive and slightly earthy, like the soap you imagine is in the powder room at Balmoral Castle for washing up after hunting but before afternoon tea; like something Princess Margaret used to quickly freshen herself after an evening row.
Rose scents can be tricky, but this one is well-balanced. Plus the addition of nourishing ingredients like olive oil means it's good for your hands and non-drying too.
When you are in my line of work (slathering pounds of products on your one God-given face, like a clown), you need a gentle, reliable, completely-non-irritating face wash. As the dozens of dermatologists who've recommended it to me will attest, no one beats Cetaphil's hydrating, hypoallergenic cleanser — and its equally impressive price.
Have you heard the news? All the cool girls are ditching pricey shampoos in favor of affordable, drugstore brands which, they (and I!) say work just as well. Of the budget bunch, I'm partial to OGX's silky-smooth formulas, especially this coconut milk set which smells like a tropical vacation in the best way and leaves strands soft as a cloud.
Here is a confession: I'm bad at hair. Like disastrously bad. This would be a problem no matter what my day job, but it's a particular issue since I'm a beauty editor who is supposed to be good at such things. But this all-in-one hair styling brush from Revlon that both my colleagues and thousands of reviewers can't stop raving about is totally upping my game. It's meant to make hair look as smooth and silky as it does after a salon blowout and it's honestly pretty much dummy-proof too. It's also currently on sale for 30% off.
OK, sure. This coconut oil moisturizer is no frills. It's also giant, filled with skin super hydrators like vitamin E and is good for most skin types. Despite the low price, the cream itself feels luxurious — emollient, but not too heavy. It's one of the best products I've found to quench parched winter-into-spring skin (without feeling sterile) and the hydrating effects really last.
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The reviews quoted above reflect the most recent versions at the time of publication.
