That Pam Chick

I am that girl that you see wandering around the beauty aisles at Target looking like a kid in a candy store with an overflowing basket full of the latest creams, body washes and lotions. I love health and beauty products and I have probably tried the majority of the products you’ve seen on the shelves at your favorite store. I used to have at any given time 3 or 4 shampoos, conditioners, lotions, moisturizers, anti-wrinkle creams, face washes and a couple of razors among numerous other random products shoved in every drawer and cupboard in my bathroom. After 10+ years of product research, I’m pretty settled into a routine and happily recommend my favorite products to anyone who is looking for a new beauty routine without breaking the bank. My bathroom is cleaner and more organized. I know exactly what I have and can actually see every product without digging through piles of bottles. And most importantly it takes me less time to get ready when I go out because I know my products, how they work and how I will look/smell/feel when I use them so I have more time to spend doing the things I want to do.

So if you are like I used to be and have too many products cluttering your bathroom it’s time to throw away everything you don’t use and make some space for products you will love and use religiously. Save yourself time and money by finding the products that work best for you and don’t keep a stockpile of products you used once and hated. And if you have a website, do your female friends and readers a favor by posting your must-have beauty products!

Here are my favorite products, most that you’ve probably heard of, and one secret powerful product you may not have heard about.

Best Beauty Deals

• Facial toner: Witch hazel is a favorite among professionals and has been handed down as a beauty trick for generations.  Witch hazel is a natural astringent which will clean your skin while soothing it and reducing pore size.  A bottle of fancy toner such as Komenuka Bijin / NS-K Special Serum Toner can cost nearly $80! A bottle of witch hazel costs a couple of dollars and has multiple uses such as treating cuts, burns and bug bites.
• Body Lotion: Jergens Original Scent lotion is my go-to allover lotion.  I’ve tried firming lotions, smoothing lotions, shimmery lotions, fancy scented lotions and every other type of lotion you can imagine and I always come back to Jergens for the great price of around $5.  There are many bargain lotions such as Suave and store brands but I find they don’t have quite the same moisturizing power as Jergens.  Plus the great cherry almond original scent is a classic.
• Facial Cleanser: Olay Complete Lathering is my current favorite cleanser. I like a cleanser that foams well and removes my eye makeup without leaving my skin feeling tight.  Olay does the job well but can leave some residue around your eyes if you do a really smokey eye or wear waterproof mascara.  I think this is pretty standard for any foaming cleanser and at the bargain price of $2.75 for Olay Complete Lathering Cleanser you can afford to wash twice if needed.

Best Time Savers

• Deodorant: Dove Visibly Smooth Clinical Protection Deodorant is my favorite new product. Dove promises that in “several weeks” you will see a reduction in hair in your armpits with regular use.  I wasn’t expecting to see any visible difference until I’d used at least one stick of the product. But, after only 2 weeks my hair was thinner and growing slower. After a month of use I can go 3 to 4 days without shaving my armpits before I have the stubble that I used to have after only 2 days. Normally Dove deodorant does work very well for me so finding the Visibly Smooth solid available in clinical strength was ideal. At only 2-pack Dove Visibly Smooth is already a great deal for a clinical strength deodorant but when you get the added benefit of shaving less often, this is a no-brainer!
• Shaving Gel: Aveeno Positively Smooth Shave Gel is another product that promises to reduce hair growth over time with regular use. It has a soy compound that supposedly binds with your skin to stay on after your shower (without residue) and reduce the rate of hair growth while making the hair thinner. I’ve just started using this product but if it works as well as Dove Visibly Smooth Deodorant, I’ll be a fan for life. You can pair the Positively Smooth Shave Gel with Positively Smooth Moisturizing Lotion for even greater hair reduction power as well. At less than $5 each for the shave gel and lotion, these products are all ready a bargain. But when you consider the time you will save by not shaving as often, the money you will save by not replacing your razor as often and the benefit of having smooth legs more often you almost have to add these products to your routine!

The Basics

• Facial Moisturizer: Olay Regenerist UV Defense Regenerating Lotion with SPF is a good buy at $12.90 for 2.5 ounces. It moisturizes well while offering that ever-so-important SPF coverage and has the added benefit of anti-aging properties.  Regenerist is one of the best bang for your buck product lines out there right now. But, if you don’t want anti-aging or if you’re looking for an even bigger bargain, Olay Complete All Day Moisture Lotion also has SPF 15 and is under $10 for 4 ounces.
• Shampoo & Conditioner: Pureology is the brand my stylist recommends and I have been in love with it since the first time I used it.  It’s a vegan line but still offers the same great cleaning and conditioning power of traditional products.  I use the “Hydrate” Shampoo and Conditioner because I color my hair and because I *love* the minty tingle from the conditioner.
• Foundation: Any mineral foundation. Really.  I made the switch to powder mineral foundation about 7 years ago and I can never imagine using liquid foundation again. Mineral foundation covers what you want to cover without stopping your natural radiance from showing through. You can also blend bronzer and blush over mineral powder foundation more easily than you can over liquid foundation.  If you have someone that you can get Mirabella products from I recommend you try them. But since they can only be purchased by beauty professionals and are more expensive you may not have access to them or want to spend the additional money.  Bare Escentuals and MAC both make great mineral foundations or you can try any brand that is in your price range.  You won’t be sorry!
• Nightime Lip Care: Kiehl’s Day Care Lip Balm #1 sits on my nightstand at all times and I won’t go to sleep without putting it on.  I use Chapstick religiously all day but at night I like to have something a little more powerful at night so my lips still fee moisturized in the morning. But, this lip balm is great for all day usage as well and gives your lips a great shine. It also has SPF 4 in it to prevent those wrinkles around your mouth that age you beyond your years.

Secret Product Tip

• Certain Dri. Have you ever gone out dancing and half way through the night you throw your arms up in the air only to realize you’ve got sweat circles under your arms despite the antiperspirant you applied right before you left your house? Or do you have to avoid buying certain fabrics and shirts in the summer because you know you can never wear them without worrying that you are “pitting out”?  You will never have to worry about that again if you follow my secret product tip and use Certain Dri. For less than $6 you can pick up a little bottle of magic.  This is the best antiperspirant you’ll ever use.  You apply it at night and will be sweat free for up to 3 days after application. I recommend you use it on a day that you didn’t shave your armpits or it can cause itching and irritation.  And if you have really sensitive skin you may have irritation.  You don’t need to be concerned about any health risks by preventing any sweat from being released from your armpits as less than 1% of your overall sweat glands are found there.  So, if you can remember to put Certain Dri on at night once or twice a week, you will have the driest pits in da’ club and be able to wear any shirt made of any fabric you want.  You’ll thank me later!