A Few of My Favorite Things: New Year, New You: Best Beauty Buys

Today I am starting on the mini series I talked about earlier this month- reinventing yourself with the new year.

I have been seeing blog post after blog post on beauty products and regimes used by so many bloggers, but I am continually shocked at how much these girls spend on their beauty products! They are mostly from Nordstrom and Sephora and cost anywhere from $50-$80 each! I could NEVER feel good about spending hundreds of dollars on my makeup every few months- even if it made me look like Jennifer Aniston...

So, for those of you that feel the same, here are my favorite beauty products that will give you the most bang for your buck and will still make you feel pretty :)

For my skin:

My dermatologist in high school recommended this face wash and I have used it ever since. It is about $7 at any drugstore.

I have pretty sensitive skin and my skin likes it, so I stick with it. I use it every morning, then I use this every night:

You will LOVE how your skin feels after you use this face scrub. And, it is only about $5 at any drugstore.

Last year my skin decided it was 14 again and I started breaking out like crazy- for no reason at all (maybe because we moved and our water was different and maybe because I started playing on a volleyball team once a week...) It was really weird, and I tried a few different things but nothing was helping. I tried one last thing before I went to see the dermatologist and I am so glad I did! This stuff is miraculous!

I started using it twice a day, but now I only use it once at night. In just a few days my skin was clearing up and once it was completely healed in a week or two I had perfectly clear, smooth skin again! It really was amazing! It is only about $6 and you can get it at any drugstore.

2. For my makeup:

Ever since I started using this Neutrogena Skin-clearing foundation in college my skin has been SO much clearer. Love it, and it is worth $12 a bottle to me (which really isn't a lot, just more than most drugstore foundations.)

I also use this foundation (Maybeline Dream Liquid Mousse) mixed with it to create more coverage and get the right shade for my skin (more on that in my next post) This foundation is about $7 at any drugstore.

I haven't found a favorite bronzer, blush, or eyeliner yet...right now I am just using up the ones I have so I can try some others (they aren't bad at all, but I think I can do better)

For my eyeshadow, I used to not wear any, but 2 kids later I have noticed I need a little more makeup to hide the sleep-deprivation and also because I am pregnant and need a little more something to help me feel pretty :) I would love to go spend $50 on a high-end eyeshadow palette, but I found that this Rimmel Glam Eyes really goes on like a lot of the more expensive brands:

They have other colors too, and I can't remember how much it cost because I bought it so long ago and it has lasted me years...I know it was under $5.

I have just recently paid more attention to my eyebrows. I have always used the blond from Mary Kay, but recently I put it on a little heavier...more on that the next post too. I think each one is about $10-$15, but can't remember exactly how much because they last so long I haven't bought one in years.

I have talked about this mascara before on the blog, but I really can't tell you enough how much I love this stuff! I have used a lot of different brands (even tried some of the really expensive stuff from Nordstrom and Sephora) and I ALWAYS like this kind WAY more than anything else.

I use the waterproof because my eyes water in the cold/wind/randomly and I like both the original and the carbon black. I use the original daily and the carbon black when I want a little bit more of a dramatic eye. This mascara is only about $5-6 at any drugstore, and I often get coupons from Smith's and get it $2 cheaper. $3 for mascara that wears like $50 mascara- yes please!

I have had people ask me lots of times if I have eyelash extensions when I wear this and use Rapid Lash along with it. Rapid Lash is basically less expensive eyelash growth serum that works amazingly! It is only about $25 compared to $150 for the other stuff you can get. I've talked about it before, and still love it.

The reason it is so much cheaper is partly because it is not FDA approved. I don't use it while I am pregnant for this reason, but I have been using it a couple years and have had no negative side effects. While I am pregnant, I use Vaseline on my lashes...

Most people have Vaseline but they don't realize how amazing it is and how much you can use it! I use it on my eyes to remove makeup, as an eye cream, AND to help keep my eyelashes healthy, thicker and longer. I also use it on my lips and I swear it works better than ANY chap-stick you can buy. I also use it on dry, cracked skin (which seems to work even better than coconut oil.) Plus, it is amazingly inexpensive.

For my hair:

I do have to say that there are a couple brands of shampoo/conditioner that are more expensive that I love.

First of all, Bath and Body Works Orange Ginger Energy Shampoo and Conditioner:

At $10 each this is more than I like to spend, but I do love the body it gives my thin, fine hair and splurge on it once in a while.

I also LOVE the Sleek by Matrix Shampoo and Conditioner, but at $20 a bottle I have only bought it a couple times. It makes my hair incredibly silky and shiny.

For less-expensive versions of these that have similar results, I turn to my new favorite line of shampoos and conditioners:

The sleek is close to the Matrix brand, and the volumizing is close to what the Orange Ginger does to my hair. I also really love the color protection, which smells amazing and they are all only $3 a bottle.

I also really like their dry shampoo, which I use to add extra body and on random days that I don't wash my hair. Its only about $3 too- probably the least expensive dry shampoo out there.

Another line I have been using lately is Agadir. I have noticed my hair seems healthier when I use their shampoo and conditioner, along with the oil. I rub the deliciously-smelling oil on my hands then run through my hair, focusing on the ends. I do this before I style with my flat iron and it seems to protect and give my hair a little more shine too. If you would like to see my video on curling your hair with a straightener (I do this pretty much everyday and it only take me about 5-10 min) go here.