my top 10 beauty products

First, I have to say that I am in no way an expert in these things. The only credentials I have are that I’ve been using beauty products – and many of them – for over 30 years. So, for that reason alone, I guess we’re all experts. Throughout those 30 years, I feel like I have tried them all. I was the sucker who always bought the “newest” thing. And if there was a free gift involved, I took it – hook, line & sinker. Can you say, Clinique?

As I’ve gotten older {and wiser, maybe?} I’ve been slightly more skeptical about my beauty purchases. Slightly. So no, I’m no beauty expert. And many who know me personally, can attest to that. Nails – seldom manicured. Hair – usually in a pony or baseball hat. Make-up – applied in the car, at stop lights. But, stay with me, I do know what I like and what works for me. I just might not always take the time to use them as often as I should.

Here are my top 10 beauty picks from a non-expert, infrequent beauty product user. That’s quite a sales pitch, huh. I know that these sort of things are very personal and everyone has different likes and needs so keep in mind – these are just my picks. But maybe some of them will work for you too.

1. John Frieda Root Awakening Purify & Nourish Shampoo & John Frieda Root Awakening Hydrate & Nourish Conditioner
I have tried lots of shampoos & conditioners. Cheap, expensive and all the in-betweens. I even asked my hair dresser for his suggestions {enter the expensive kind} and I honestly saw NO difference. Until I used the John Frieda Root Awakening products. First, they smell amazing. And my hair really does feel better when I use them. I do have dryer hair so these might work better for those with similar hair but I think they’re worth a try! They’re hard to find these days but you can get them online here: shampoo & conditioner.

2. EOS Lip Balm
I was not buying this trend at all. Why do they need to make lip balm in a ball? My daughter had about 7 of them lined up on her dresser. And it is winter. And my lips are so dry. So I took one. Yes, I stole one of my daughter’s EOS. It was the Blueberry Acai one if you must know. Yum. I was hooked and I use it all the time. It’s the perfect shape for your lips. So they knew what they were doing making the lip balm ball. It wasn’t just a marketing ploy. Or maybe it was. But it worked. Get the EOS lip balm here. They also make shaving cream. Bonus.

3. Nivea: A Kiss of Shimmer Lip Care
I know this is another lip product and it’s kinda like a lip balm but this has just a bit of color and it is super smooth. Almost creamy. And since I don’t really use lipsticks, this is a great solution to having your lips look like they have a “kiss of shimmer”, hense the name. I always get mine at CVS but you can get it online here.

4. Garnier BB Cream
A term I was hearing a lot but didn’t really understand what it was all about. BB stands for blemish balm. It’s suppose to be an all-in-one product to replace serum, moisturizer, primer, foundation and sunblock. Now I wouldn’t go throwing away your serums, moisturizers, primers, foundations and sunblocks, but I think this BB cream really covers this spectrum. I don’t like foundation but I need something to even out my skin. And I do have dry skin so a little extra moisturizer is nice. Sunblock – not always top on my necessity list {don’t judge} but always good to have. And I do use a night serum but I’m on the fence about it. So, finding this Garnier BB cream that did all this was perfect. I use the light/medium color during most of the year and medium/deep during the summer.

5. OPI Nail Lacquer: Sedona Seduction
I have not been blessed with nice nails. Even if I was, I have not been blessed with the patience to keep them looking nice. But I do need to keep some sort of polish on them so they don’t widdle away. That usually consists of a clear top coat. But when I’m feeling crazy, I use OPI’s Nail Lacquer in Sedona Seduction, a silvery, gray-blue. It looks so pretty on my not-so-pretty nails and gives them a finished look without drawing too much attention to them. And 2 quick coats are all I need. I do like to get gel manicures too which last almost 2 weeks. But they really do a job on my nails and make them feel like paper for about a month. So I’m sticking with this OPI color as much as possible.

6 & 7. Hand Creams: Keri and Burt’s Bees Almond Milk Beeswax Hand Cream
These are two completely different hand creams and that’s why I love and need both of them. I use Keri as an everyday-keep-it-in-my-car cream. And I use the Burt’s Bees when I need some serious hand repair. The Keri is light and dries quickly but still effective. I know this because I’ve been using it since I was a teenager. And the Burt’s Bees is very greasy and thick but really works on super dry hands. I love the smell too. I keep that one by my kitchen sink.

8. Maybelline Great Lash Mascara {very black}
Good mascara for under $5. whaaat? I think I’ve been using this mascara off and on since my teenage years too. I use the waterproof version also which does the job and still comes off easily when I wash my face. What I really would like to do is lash tinting. Which you can have done at any salon. I did this years ago and I felt like a rock star. Might be time for that again. Until then, I’ll stick with Maybelline’s Great Lash.

9. Renewing Argon Oil of Morocco {for hair}
I just started trying this and I’m in love. Again, dry hair so might not be for everyone. But the Moroccan oil products are amazing and this claims to add shine, enhance highlights, mend split ends and tame frizzies. You’re welcome.

10. Olay Regenerist Moisturizer
oh this dry skin is my nemesis. But it has made me try lots and lots of moisturizers. The Olay Regenerist Moisturizer seems to be the best for me. It’s about $20/bottle and it claims younger looking skin without drastic measures. It is suppose to visibly regenerate skin’s appearance along with intense hydration. I’m a believer.

You can get almost all of these products at any drug store but I just realized that they’re also available online at drugstore.com – and they seem to be cheaper there. And free shipping for orders over $35.

Some things I’m still searching for are:
• a good hair gel
• that serum thing – what are your thoughts?
• a non-greasy body cream
• something that vanishes wrinkles – like by tomorrow!

Any suggestions? Remember we’re all experts! Enjoy!