Friday, April 11, 2008

These Are A Few Of My Favorite Things


Tip Of The Day: The stuff I use on a daily basis to get clean and gorgeous – and how much it all costs. Also? Reader tips from you guys. And keep’em coming! Please. So I can rest on my laurels.

Tip For The Weekend: Stay as warm and dry as possible. It’s supposed to snow in Minnesota YET AGAIN, so wear your woolies.

Further Elucidation Of My Cheap Deal: It may shock you to learn that your Cheap Chick is not a morning person. For that matter, she is also not an afternoon person. I’m a night owl, through and through. However, most of my clients don’t want to meet with me at midnight (bastards); not to mention, few brokerages/loan offices/title companies are open in the darkest hour before dawn.

So to make my mornings run as smoothly as possible, I rely on certain beauty products. Stuff to make me clean, stuff to make me soft, stuff to make me smell good, stuff to make my face un-scary. And, of course, all this stuff has to be under $20.

Yet Another Confession (no, not one concerning an ex or nasty girls at Target) – my beauty stuff has, uniformly, ALWAYS cost $20 or less. Most of it costs $10 or less. I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again, I hate to pay a ton of money for something you’re just going to rinse off. Whether it’s in a minute, hour or day, all this stuff gets washed away.

Wow. That rhymed.

Anyhoo, here are the products I use, including brief reasons why. All these products, unless stated otherwise, can be found at Target. And if you can’t find them at Target, perhaps you should create a ruckus. Until Target starts carrying the item – not to just a cause a scene. Unless that’s your thing, then have at it.

In The Shower:
St. Ives Swiss Formula Mineral Therapy Body Wash. This is a good wash for only $2.89. It smells vaguely powdery, it isn’t drying, and it will supposedly nourish your skin with potassium and iron. Potassium and iron from the Swiss Alps, no less. And everyone knows, Swiss stuff is BETTER.
Suave Professionals Vibrant Blonde Shampoo and Conditioner. $1.97 per bottle. I normally use this stuff for my color-treated hair, but I’ll occasionally switch up the conditioner to another kind of Suave Professional product. Especially now, since it looks like my Target has stopped carrying the Vibrant Blonde.
Oh Target. Why do you do me like this?
St. Ives Elements Microderm-Abrasion. $6.99 a tube. This is what I use to wash my face every morning. If you have uber-sensitive skin, I recommend only using it twice a week, or risk looking like a large, peeled tomato.

Post-Shower:
Sunsilk Daring Volume Anti-Flat Plumping Crème. $2.99 a bottle. WARNING, you have to buy this at Walmart or the drug store, because Target has seemed to stop carrying this stuff, too. Because they hate me.
I’ve said enough good things about this product in past posts. However, I believe Sunsilk has changed the original formula. It no longer smells pleasingly of bananas – now it smells like dusty chemicals. Fortunately, the scent fades once your hair is dry.
Rosebud Body Butter. From the Target $1 Store. It’s cheap, it works, and it smells like roses. In short, I love it. Buy it now, because the $1 Store stuff doesn’t stick around long.

Always On My Face:
Neutrogena Healthy Skin Anti-Wrinkly Intensive Deep Wrinkle Moisturizing Treatment. With Helioplex.
$17.99 a tube. As always, Neutrogena wins the contest for “Longest, Most Unnecessary Name.” Good job! Also, good product! I love stuff that treats my wrinkles and prevents new ones.
Once again, if you have sensitive skin, this may burn a little. That just means it’s working.
Physician’s Formula Talc-Free Mineral Wear Mineral Loose Powder. $8.99 a container. I love this stuff, and have been using it for two years. God Bless Mineral Makeup.
That being said, when this container is used up, I’m trying the Mary Kay Mineral Powder Makeup, for $18. Because I heart Mary Kay and my Mary Kay Consultant, HaC.
Note: I broke down and spent $25 on a new mineral powder brush from Ulta. However, I bought it with my birthday money, so it counts as a gift, so I’m allowed to go over $20. Ahh, loopholes. I can see why the government likes them so much. They make life easier.
Anyhoo, the brush is from the Bare Escentuals line, and works beautifully. You can also get a great mineral powder brush from Mary Kay for just $10.

There you have it, the stuff I use. Of course, I left out the boring things like deodorant and toothpaste. Now I want to know, what do YOU use every day that makes your life complete?

Readers Tips:
The first tip comes from my SIL about her fave website (which, of course, is FREE). She is loving a new (to her) blog, and it is cracking her RIGHT UP. Please bear in mind, if you don’t have a sense of humor, and don’t realize when something is tongue-in-cheek, perhaps you shouldn’t take her recommendation.
It’s called Stuff White People Like. Nope, I’m not making it up. You can find it here:
http://stuffwhitepeoplelike.wordpress.com/. All I can say is, BWAHAHAHAHA! Too darned funny.

From the lovely Miss Jennifer, we have this AWESOME tip. It’s very sneaky and cool.
“If you're buying stuff from Amazon and need to find one more item to get you to the $25 for free shipping, you can search here:
http://www.filleritem.com/

Last, don’t forget to read the comments for yesterday’s post. Otherwise, you’ll miss out on a great sale opportunity from Amy The Mom.

Thanks for the tips! And SIL? Why, exactly, are you reading blogs besides mine own? Did you REALLY think I’d let that slide? Hmmm?

11 comments:

Anonymous said...

I wear mascara and moisturizer and that is it. I proudly flaunt my wrinkles! Actually, I am far too lazy to engage in an extensive beauty routine. As long as things aren't dry or oily, I leave them be.

Does that Vibrant Blonde stuff actually make you vibrantly blonde? I know they have redheaded stuff as well, but I always assumed that it didn't actually do anything for your hair color. It was just a catchy name.

I love me some redheaded make-up though - particularly the mascara: www.justforredheads.com. They are the best.

Anonymous said...

Thanks for the tip on the St. Ives Microdermabrasion stuff-I love it! My normally sensitive skin is not irritated by it in the least, either!

Anonymous said...

I, too, use the Suave professionals products. I find they work amazingly well, and the price is a plus because I go through a lot of shampoo. When I put product in my hair, I like John Frieda's Brilliant Brunette products.

I like Softsoap's body washes with the moisture beads. They have yummy scents like Pomegranate and Mango.

I also use Jergen's Natural Glow self-tanning products. I believe they were reviewed on this site a couple of months ago.

Anonymous said...

The blog about stuff white people like is a hoot. Which is such a white thing to say, of course.

I love that Amazon site about finding free shipping fillers, that's awesome! Thanks!

It's such a good point about how stuff will just wash off. All I care about is that it does a good job when it is on. Sometimes it's cheap stuff, sometimes not so cheap (but always under $20!). My hair is really picky, and so is my skin, which sucks. Suave turns my hair to straw and makes my skin itch, which makes me sad, because it's so cheap! These days Biolage shampoo and Bath & Body Works or Jason body wash is what works for me.

My new favorite product is Dove Cool Sensations Anti-Perspirant Deodorant with Cucumber & Green Tea Extracts (could that name be ANY longer?). I know it's kind of strange to get excited about deodorant, but it smells really good and fresh and doesn't bother my fussy skin. Good stuff!

Anonymous said...

Specifically, the "product" I use in my hair is John Frieda Brilliant Brunette Satin Shine Finishing Creme. I had to look at the tube to get the exact name.

I also like Skintimate Aromatherapy Shave Gel.

Anonymous said...

For implements, I like Tweezerman products. Specifically, I like the items with the wide or otherwise enhanced grips because I am clumsy when it comes to doing my brows. The same goes for razors--I like the non-disposable versions of the Gillette Venus or Bic Soleil razors--I like the grips and I don't cut myself with those.

Unknown said...

I second the John Frieda Brilliant Brunette products. When I use the shampoo my hair looks strong and shiny just like one of those hair commercials.

Anonymous said...

Stuff I use on normal days:

-The Body Shop eyelash curler. It comes with replacements for the rubber part, making it last a LOT longer, and it has a nice grip and is very easy to clean.

-Cover Girl Professional Super Thick Lash Mascara in black.

-Origins Eye Pencil in Fudge. Not too severe looking and has a nice smudger tip.

-Wet N' Wild Bronzer in the summertime or Sephora Piiink blush.

The Cheap Chick said...

By the way, Shayne's hair ALWAYS looks strong and shiny. If I lose my hair one day, I want a Shayne wig, please.

Mia, Tundra - what is UP with the product names? Doesn't it drive you batty how long they are? What gives? The naming department gets paid per word? Hmm....

Anonymous said...

The names are ridiculous...but, hey, as long as this stuff works and is under $20 (or, even better, under $4 in some cases, like the "Wet N' Wild Bronzzer Ultimate Bronzing Power, Acapulco Glow")...I'll gladly put up with the name...

Anonymous said...

I don't know what's up with the names. As a former graphic designer, it sounds like a nightmare trying to get all those words on the front of a bottle.

This is an old site, but I just remembered it after re-visiting "Things White People Like". It's called Black People Love Us!It still cracks me up!