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Aging SkinBeautyBest Drug Store ProductsMoisturizersNeutrogenaReviewsSkin Care

The Absolute Best Drug Store Anti Aging Moisturizer

by Melissa

I have written about skin care products for, well, years. The first post I ever wrote on this blog was my skin care routine, as it was way back in 2014 (and for all of the years before). Sure, read it, maybe you’ll get a good laugh, or maybe you’ll realize that my writing skills have not improved in 5 years.

Anyway… In that post I spoke of the moisturizer I had been using for years by Olay. Sorry Olay, there’s another product line, and it is bringing home the bacon! If you are a bit younger, and are not yet worrying about finding the best products for aging skin, you should still be moisturizing, and Olay Regenerist is a great product if you fit that category. It’s a great product all around, but it’s not our topic today.

The Following are Not Drug Store Moisturizers, but Deserve a Mention

I have written reviews on so many moisturizers that it’s hard to remember. I wrote about Origins Ginzing energy boosting gel moisturizer, which by the way, I no longer use. Not because there is anything wrong with it, it’s just that I have found other anti-aging moisturizers over the years that have served me with better results.

I have also written many posts on Cindy Crawford’s Meaningful Beauty skin care system. You would have to read the posts to get my full view on this line because it’s not something that is summed up with a yay or nay, know what I mean?

Out with the old, and in with the new!

This Drug Store Anti Aging Moisturizer Was Actually Recommended to Me By My Daughter’s Dermatologist

If you have been to a dermatologist lately, you know that they are all about Neutrogena products! Not only are they #1 for my favorite face moisturizer, they also won in the category of the best drug store face wash, at least by my vote!

Before we dive in, let me remind you that I quit smoking last September, and this was the first step to my skin care cleanup if you will. Since quitting, I have noticed my face looks smoother, and I have less redness around my nose, which has been a constant for, well, it’s just been constant. I don’t know how else to explain it. With that said, my now daily urge to light up is not however responsible for firming and reducing the fine lines on my forehead and around my eyes.

I don’t believe that there is any product on the market, at least over the counter, that is going to completely remove all signs of aging. If you’re out there, please call me at 1-800-HERESMYCARDNUMBER!

What I do believe, and in fact know, is that using products with specific ingredients can and do help your skin when used daily or as directed.

What Is The Best Anti-Aging Moisturizer That You Can Find In Stores?

The product I am getting ready to unveil has been a part of my skin care routine for about 6 months now, and I use it every day like clockwork. Sometimes twice a day if I’ve not had more than a glass of wine in the evening and actually feel like washing and moisturizing my face. Hey, what can I say? I could say I’m perfect like all of the other beauty bloggers out there, but you and I both know I’d be lying!

It has definitely reduced the look of the lines on my forehead. In fact, that is what inspired me to write this post. I looked in the mirror the other day, and I was like,

who in the hell stole my forehead wrinkles?

I’m not exaggerating. They are literally almost gone. If I’m being completely transparent, they were not deep wrinkles to start, but they were there and it bothered me.

The second thing that I can report is that the moisturizer has helped with the sleep lines that I get on the side of my nose from sleeping on my face every night. For these two reasons, it’s a win.

So, what’s it called?

The Best Drug Store Moisturizer For Aging Skin Is…

Neutrogena Rapid Wrinkle Repair. You can get it on Amazon for the best price compared to drug store prices, or, if you have a Sam’s Club membership, you can get a pack of two for an even better deal.


If you really want to step up your game, you can use other Neutrogena products along with the Rapid Wrinkle Repair moisturizer.

I will be writing a post soon about my “new” skin care routine. I mean, I guess it’s time to update my readers since I haven’t done so in nearly 5 years! For all you know, I’m still using Noxema!

Sign up for my email list to be notified of those moments where I’m not feeling lazy, and decide to write!

 

 

 

 

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best drugstore anti aging moisturizer
Best Drug Store ProductsMoisturizersSkin Care

The Best Drugstore Body Moisturizer

by Melissa

So, you turn to Google to research the best body moisturizer that you can buy at the drugstore (or Amazon ; ) ) and all you can find are these:

Top 10 Drugstore Moisturizers…

17 Best Lotions for Dry Skin…

13 Best Drug Store Body Lotions for 2019…

and so on, and so on.

STOP! All I Want to Know is… What Is THE Best Drug Store Body Moisturizer? Just ONE! PLEASE!

Well, I would be happy to squeeze in there between Allure, Today, and Elle, and give you the only body moisturizer you need, whether you still have that young, beautiful, firm skin, or you have skin that needs a little more help to stay moist and firm. If you are looking for face moisturizers, click here.

Ready?

Set…

Moisturize!

It’s made by Nivea, and I can promise you that your legs have never felt this smooth after applying globs of drug store moisturizer, rubbing it in, and looking at the same skin you saw before, with the exception of a little less ashiness! Is that a word???

I buy mine on Amazon (because I’m lazy, and it’s cheaper), but most drug stores will have it. You may have to shop around a little, but I promise it’s worth it. If you have Amazon prime, that’s your best bet.

The Winner Is… Nivea Skin Firming Hydration Body Lotion

I have been using this lotion for over 2 years now (that’s a screenshot of my initial purchase in 2016). I will admit that I used to be really lazy about applying lotion in the winter, and I know how important it is to use it during that time of year, but I could not stand the thought of getting out of the shower and freezing to death long enough to apply the lotion.

Now, I can’t wait to put it on. It almost gives your legs a “glow”. Like a real glow, not just a fake one!

BONUS MOISTURIZER!

Now, I know I said that this post would give you the ONE drug store moisturizer that would give you the best results, and I feel I accomplished that, right?

But, I do want to add that I also use this concentrated serum (also by Nivea) on the top of my legs and my arms (because I’m getting old), and I can tell you that it has made a huge difference in the firmness of my skin. I use it every night before bed (because it does take a little longer to soak into your skin), but you could absolutely apply it in the morning if you plan on wearing shorts or tanks. DO NOT, and I repeat DO NOT try to put skinny jeans on after using the concentrated serum. Don’t ask me how I know, just take my word for it, OK?

I highly recommend adding this to your daily body moisturizing routine. You won’t regret it!

 

 

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best over the counter acne treatment brands
AcneBest Drug Store ProductsOTCSkin Care

Top 4 Prescription Acne Medication Alternatives Reviewed

by Melissa

There are a number of reasons that one may be looking for alternatives to prescription acne medications, and in our case, it may be different from yours.

My daughter had used many over-the-counter acne products over the years, including Proactiv and X Out, Neutrogena, and many others.

The thing about many of the non-prescription acne products is that while they do help to clear up current acne, many of them that we had tried in the past did not resolve the problem entirely. In other words, the acne would just keep coming back.

She was eventually prescribed an acne pill, and I can tell you for certain that it was worth the $75 per month that it cost me to get the prescription filled (insurance did not cover this particular Rx). Her face had never looked so clear. Unfortunately, it was not a long-term drug, meaning the dermatologist would only prescribe it for about 6 months, and as soon as the prescription ran out, her acne came back.

This led the dermatologist to recommending over-the-counter alternatives while she worked out another prescription that my daughter could use, as we had already exhausted several options.

Here are the Top 4 Prescription Acne Medication Alternatives

Product

Details

Check Price

differin adapalane gel review

Differin Adapalene

  • Rx Strength Retinoid
  • Reduces Inflammation
  • Prevents Breakouts
  • Dermatologist Recommended
Click For Best Price
neutrogena oil free fash wash review

Neutrogena Oil-Free Face Wash

  • Salicylic Acid
  • Cleans Pores
  • Treats Acne
  • # 1 Dermatologist Recommended Brand
Click For Best Price
proactiv acne treatment

Proactiv

  • Micro-Crystal Benzoyl Peroxide
  • Soothes Inflammation
  • Fights Redness
  • 3 Step System
Click For Best Price

Paula's Choice

  • 2% Salicylic Acid & 2.5% Benzoyl Peroxide
  • Facial Acne & Pores
  • Redness Relief
  • Thousands of great reviews
Click For Best Price

Product

differin adapalane gel review

Differin Adapalene

Details

  • Rx Strength Retinoid
  • Reduces Inflammation
  • Prevents Breakouts
  • Dermatologist Recommended

Check Price

Click For Best Price

Product

neutrogena oil free fash wash review

Neutrogena Oil-Free Face Wash

Details

  • Salicylic Acid
  • Cleans Pores
  • Treats Acne
  • # 1 Dermatologist Recommended Brand

Check Price

Click For Best Price

Product

proactiv acne treatment

Proactiv

Details

  • Micro-Crystal Benzoyl Peroxide
  • Soothes Inflammation
  • Fights Redness
  • 3 Step System

Check Price

Click For Best Price

Product

neutrogena light therapy acne mask

Neutrogena Light Therapy Face Mask

Details

  • Clears Breakouts
  • Heals Skin
  • Gentle on Skin
  • Light Therapy Technology

Check Price

Click For Best Price

Differin Adapalene Gel 0.1%

One of the prescription acne medications that was prescribed to my daughter was a gel with Adapalene, however, it was entirely too strong for her sensitive skin. Immediately after applying it, her face not only burned, but her eyelids turned bright red (no, she did not apply it to her eyelids). The dermatologist had her try it every few days hoping that her skin would gradually accept it, but that never happened.

Finally, the dermatologist recommended the Differen Gel, as it had the same ingredient as the prescription (Adapalene), just at a lower dosage. This is an over-the-counter acne medication that she described as being the same as the prescription, only with a lower dosage.

It seemed to be the perfect strength, as her skin would no longer turn fire red after applying it. It did take a week or so of slight dryness, but eventually, her face accepted the product, and it did a pretty good job of helping to clear up her acne.

With that said, it did not give the same results as the acne pill.

Neutrogena Oil-Free Face Wash For Acne

Neutrogena has come a long way over the years. They are a trusted brand with trusted products that work. This cheap drug store face wash was also recommended by a dermatologist. You can find it here on Amazon, or buy it in the drug store.

As the name states, it is oil-free. It is gentle for your face, and allows the acne fighting ingredients to work without drying out the skin. Always make sure to use a moisturizer with any product, whether for acne or not.

The moisturizer that my daughter uses, because of course, her dermatologist told her to, is also a Neutrogena product, and it is dye free, and specifically made for sensitive skin. It comes from the same line as my favorite face cleanser from Neutrogena.

Proactiv

So, you’re not living under a rock, and that means that you have heard of Proactiv. You may even know someone who has used it. This is definitely a product that everyone should try first, even before going to the dermatologist if you are trying to clear up mild acne.

I have done a complete review on the Proactiv 3-Step Acne Treatment, so I will not go on about it here. Read the post, as it discusses Proactiv as well as X Out.

Paula's Choice CLEAR Regular Strength Acne Kit

Finally! After years of trying out acne products, going to the dermatologist, washing, scrubbing, using masks, etc, my daughter finally found a product that actually cleared up her acne. 

Paula's Choice is now my #1 recommendation for anyone suffering with mild to moderate acne. Similar to Proactiv, it is a 3-step system consisting of a cleanser, exfoliate, and treatment cream. 


Until next time, Stay Happy, Stay Healthy, Stay Beautiful!

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skin care after 40 at home
Aging SkinBest Drug Store ProductsCleansersMeaningful BeautyNeutrogenaSkin Care

New and Improved Skin Care Routine 2019

by Melissa

I recently reviewed what I think is the best drug store moisturizer, and in that post, I promised you that I would update my skin care routine. Let’s face it, things change, products change, and our faces change, so in order to keep up with the times, we have to keep up with the skin care products that actually work. As if aging isn’t hard enough, let’s add the hoops we have to jump through just to find out what products really work vs. products that take our money and run.

I spend a lot of time (and money) testing out new skin care products because I want to be your trusted source for what works and what doesn’t. OK, really, I just want to keep my skin looking as young as possible, but it sounded good, right? All kidding aside, I really do enjoy sharing my reviews of many of the products that I try because we’re all in this together. Even if I was a supermodel with my own skin care line, I would want to make sure that what I was selling actually worked.

My original skin care routine was written over four years ago. You can read it here if you really want to, but I decided that it was time to provide an update for my readers because I think that almost everything that I used in that post has since been replaced with something better.

What Is My Morning Skin Care Routine?

  1. I wash my face in the shower with my favorite Neutrogena face wash.
  2. About twice a week I exfoliate with one of the Meaningful Beauty products that is actually worth the price, you can read about that review here (don’t get the whole kit, you will regret it).
  3. As soon as I get out of the shower, I apply an eye cream made by Crepe Erase (this is a new product that I have not reviewed yet, but I can say that I absolutely love it) and let it dry!
  4. UPDATE: My Crepe Erase Review is in!
  5. Once my eye cream has dried, I apply a hydrating serum made by, yes, you guessed it, Neutrogena!
  6. The hydrating serum dries almost instantly, and I then apply my absolute favorite face moisturizer! Of all the expensive face creams I have tried, this is my go-to drug store face moisturizer, and I’m proud of it.

This my friends is my skin care routine accomplished in under a minute (if you don’t include the shower)!

My Evening Routine Is a Bit Different (When I’m Not Feeling Lazy)

  1. I was my face just as I do in step 1 above.
  2. I apply a Crepe Erase capsule
  3. I apply my moisturizer (step 5 above)

That’s it. 3 steps in the evening, because let’s face it, I’m lazy and I don’t want to spend an hour in the bathroom when I’m ready to go to bed. For the time it takes to properly care for your skin, it would be a crime not to take action before the aging process gets out of hand.

The routines above are simple, inexpensive, and work to keep our skin feeling clean, smooth, and radiant. You can find most of them on Amazon, and some in your local drug stores.

[amazon_link asins=’B01LETURZI,B075HQPLBH,B01HOHBS7K,B01HOHBS6G’ template=’ProductGrid’ store=’beelectrifying-20′ marketplace=’US’ link_id=’cb771502-2c4f-4a2a-b8b4-9b584a9f13ca’]

 

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Best Drug Store ProductsHairReviewsRoot Concealer

Best Root Concealer for Gray Hair

by Melissa

Suffering With Gray Hair? Me Too!

Let’s face it, we are all going to suffer from the plague of gray hair, some earlier than others, but the fact of the matter is, it’s a reality. I was blessed with my fathers genes when it comes to those blessed silver strands (but I also got his thick head of hair). I am not knocking gray hair for the population as a whole. I see women sporting silver strands that look absolutely fabulous, I am just not one of them. And men? In my opinion, men look so handsome with salt and pepper hair; just one more reason why men have it easy 

​Top Root Concealers

Product

​Details

​Check Price

gray away root concealer review

Gray Away

4.5 out of 5 

  • 3 Shades
  • Self Adjusting Color
  • 40 Applications
  • ​100% Coverage
​Click For Best Price
loreal root cover up review

Gray Away

4 out of 5 

  • ​8 Shades
  • ​Loreal Paris Color Match
  • ​100% Coverage
​Click For Best Price

So How Gray am I?

Honestly, I have no idea. What I do know is that about 5 weeks after my appointment at the salon, I begin to look 10 years older just from the gray roots that appear like clockwork.

I try not to go to the salon before 6 weeks. For one, it is down-right expensive, and for two, it makes me feel like I am giving my hair a break. I have been coloring and/or highlighting my hair for 20 years, and the older I get, the more brittle it becomes.

It’s almost funny some days when my hair is acting out, I look in the mirror and see one course hair sticking straight up from the top of my head. Ok, not so funny.

So, How Do I Cover My Gray Hair Between Salon Visits?

I have tried 2 different root concealers, and I will let you in on both of them, but there is one I prefer and I’ll explain why.

Why did I give Gray Away Root Concealer a better review?

Gray Away was the first product that I tried for concealing my roots. It matches my hair color exactly, and as long as it is applied as instructed, it is invisible to anyone regardless of how hard they may look. It dries better than Loreal’s Root Cover Up.

Loreal Root Concealer Is Runner Up

I bought the Loreal product one day when I was out shopping because the store I was in did not have Gray Away. It seems to be harder to find in stores these days.

​The Loreal root concealer matches my hair color, so that was not the problem. What I did not like was even hours later, if I ran my fingers through my hair, the dye would come off on my hands. It literally never fully dried.

For that reason, I would recommend Gray Away as the winner for the best root concealer.

There are many other products that are recommended for covering your roots. Here are a few more (disclaimer: we have only tried the ones reviewed in this post).

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maybelline dream matte full coverage foundation
Best Drug Store ProductsMakeUpReviews

The Best Full Coverage Drug Store Foundation

by Melissa

It is really hard to sift through all of the foundations available.

There are literally hundreds, if not thousands of different foundations to choose from, but who can afford to try them all? This is why we refer to online reviews to help us decide which ones are the best.

My favorite foundation to date is Bare Minerals foundation, but sometimes I feel like my face needs more coverage, especially my nose and inner cheeks, as they tend to have a little redness, and some days it does not want to cover.

I have always been picky about foundation. In fact, I used Clinique matte powder (click the link for my Clinique explanation) for years (and I mean years) until I finally grew out of breakouts. Looking back now, at least it was better than signs of aging. It made my face look great, and I would use it today if I did not have my Bare Minerals on hand.

So let’s move on to what I think is the best drug store foundation if you are looking for full coverage. It is actually a mousse type foundation, and I absolutely love how it makes my skin feel. I have never liked liquid foundation, so I have to look for products that have coverage but are not going to look “cakey” on my face.

So, What is The Best Drug Store Foundation?

Well, it turns out that Maybelline takes the crown for my favorite drug store foundation for medium to full coverage. It is called Dream Mousse Foundation, and is available in drug stores, and also on Amazon.

I just apply it with my fingers because I am “old school”, but some of you may have gotten the hang of the foundation sponges by now, so by all means, sponge away.

It literally glides on my skin, and I promise you that you could just put this foundation on and nothing else, and not one person would ever know that you are wearing any make up at all.

When I am wearing my full makeup face, and I decide to use my Dream Mousse foundation, I will still apply the Bare Minerals as well. It just gives my face that finished look.

There are 3 make up products that I could not live without:

  1. Foundation
  2. Eybrow Pencil
    • 1st Pick – IT Cosmetics Universal Brow Power
    • 2nd Pick – Same as above
    • 3rd Pick – Ok, you get it already
  3. Mascara
    • 1st Pick – Too Faced Better Than Sex Mascara
    • 2nd Pick – Maybelline Lash Sensational
    • 3rd Pick – I really don’t have a 3rd. I guess anything that is black and not waterproof

Now don’t get me wrong, I don’t look like I am ready to take a selfie when I only wear 3 products, but I do feel comfortable enough to run my errands without feeling the need to spend time that I may not have to apply make up.

If you are looking for an inexpensive full coverage foundation that is available at any drug or grocery store, Maybelline’s Dream Matte Mousse is a great pick!

[amazon_link asins=’B00112BTH4,B0074ZL89Q,B015U1TKHC,B003SZ691I,B007RZ16DQ,B0080G8Q2U,B00S56TKSO,B00JVVPFRM’ template=’ProductGrid’ store=’beelectrifying-20′ marketplace=’US’ link_id=’c76956d5-09cf-4b10-b3b6-46420bff5a0b’]

 

 

 

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best drug store face cleanser
Best Drug Store ProductsCleansersReviewsSkin Care

Best Drug Store Face Cleanser and It’s Cheap

by Melissa

My Road to Discovering the Best Drug Store Face Cleanser

For years I have been obsessed with face cleansers, always trying out the new and hottest products. It started when I was a teenager, well, one of the lucky teenagers who was blessed with mild acne. I can remember when I first started working at 16, I was so excited that I had Last year (maybe you remember?) I shared my review on Meaningful Beauty Products, which is just one of the many products I have tried over the years. I mention that one in particular because of the brand and the expense. Although there were a couple of Meaningful Beauty products that I do love, I decided that the Cleanser was not worth the price I paid!

Are Expensive Facial Cleansers Worth the Price?

There are many things in life that are worth paying extra for in order to get a better quality product. A few I can think of would be Jif Peanut Butter, Dunkin Donuts Coffee, and my favorite Bath & Body Works Candle.

All joking aside,there are tons of beauty scams out there just waiting for someone to come around the corner with a few fine lines or mild acne, and before you know it, you have spent hundreds of dollars on a product that you could have otherwise spent less than $10 by purchasing a better one from the drug store (or Amazon 🙂 ).

Disclaimer: The product that I am getting ready to disclose is one that I may not have tried had my daughters dermatologist not recommended it to her. And no, it is not an acne cleanser, which I might add are highly overrated! If you have acne, the best product that I have found without a prescription would be the Proactiv Line.

I know what you’re thinking, “get to the product already”!

So What Is My Favorite Drug Store Face Cleanser?

Drum Roll…

It is made by Neutrogena, and if you have been to a dermatologist recently, you may already know that Neutrogena truly is a recommended brand by many dermatologists, and for good reason.

The name of it is:

Neutrogena Hydro Boost Gel Cleanser. You can get it on Amazon for under $8, or find it in most stores that sell beauty products.

The Hydro Boost Line has quite a few products to choose from, and it is gentle enough for all skin types, including those suffering from acne.

Why Do I Love This Face Cleanser So Much?

Aside from the fact that it cleans my face so well and never dries my skin, it works as a makeup remover as an added benefit (an awesome benefit if you ask me). It removes not only foundation, but it actually takes your eye makeup off too (yes, even your mascara) without any scrubbing.

When I first used it, I was not aware of this, but my daughter told me to try it next time without removing my eye makeup first, and voila! Clean face in one step.

If you’re looking for a great face cleanser that is not going to cost you a fortune, I highly recommend Neutrogena’s Hydro Boost. Hey, it’s only 8 bucks, so it’s worth the risk, right?


 

 

 

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