The Budget Babe | Affordable Fashion & Style Blog

What Are Your Top 10 Beauty Products?

Real Style Real People recently did a fun post about the top 10 best-selling beauty products according to Glamour magazine, and then asked her readers to share theirs. It got me thinking about my own list, which is constantly evolving—I like to try new things and mix it up! I've also been trending towards organic, all-natural products for things like shampoo, body wash, and lotion (working my way up to makeup on that front).

Here's my current Top 10 List, share yours in the comments:

1. Nature's Gate Tea Tree Calming Shampoo and Conditioner: Hydrating, all-natural formulas have even made my hairdresser take note. This is my favorite fragrance from the Nature's Path line, the other ones smell a tad too hippie. I get this in the "natural/organic" aisle of my local grocery store.

2. L'Occitane en Provence Honey & Lemon Foaming Jelly: I received a bottle of this as a gift, and while it has a really pungent odor, I love the color, consistency and even the fragrance. Makes me feel French.

3. Kiss My Face Olive/Aloe Natural Moisturizer (fragrance-free variety): Yes, I switched from Clinique a couple weeks ago and my skin has never looked better. (There was nothing wrong with my Clinique lotion, I was just bored and ready for a change.) I usually apply two light coats of Kiss My Face's rich formula, which takes a few seconds to be absorbed, but is in no way greasy or heavy. Love the fact that it's virtually fragrance free, and comes in a big bottle with a convenient pump dispenser.

4. Alba Sea Algae Enzyme Facial Scrub: With a fresh scent reminiscent of a high-end spa, this fine-grit facial scrub is gentle enough for every day use. You can really work this onto your skin to remove dead skin without drying it out, which is what I love about this stuff. I buy mine at Target on sale, and it's also available at Whole Foods (I think).

5. Physicians Formula Shimmer Strips Custom Bronzer, Blush & Eye Shadow in Waikiki Strip/Peachy Glow Bronzer: I have a feeling this isn't the healthiest product for my skin (which tends to get red if I rub my face after applying--oops!) but it gives my pale complexion a seriously gorgeous glow. When I use this one up, I'm going to try the Physicians Formula organic bronzer next.

6. Maybelline Define-A-Lash Mascara in Very Black: Lengthens and separates lashes with an easy-to-use flexible rubber applicator. Love this stuff.

7. Clinique Moisture Sheer Tint SPF 15: Just a hint of tint evens out my skin tone. I wear this when I'm going out.

8. Clinique Kohl Shaper for Eyes in Blackened Taupe: Softer than black, this rich taupe hue is great for spring and really brings out the blue and green colors in my eyes.

9. Revlon Super Lustrous Lip Gloss: My all-time favorite lip color was Toast to Shine, but it's been discontinued and I don't know what I'm going to do when I run out. My previous manager used to wear this shade, and one day I just asked her outright what it was because it's the gentlest nude hue that's perfect for any skin tone and adds just the right amount of shine. If you can recommend a great nude lipstick or lipgloss, I'm all ears!!

10. Sally Hansen Miracle Cure For Severe Problem Nails: You guys know I love this stuff. It keeps my nails strong and prevents me from biting them. This also gives nails a nice glossy, long-lasting sheen.

Ok, your turn!!
Comments
what a FUN post! i love beauty products, but narrowing it down would be a toughie. i also own the maybelline define a lash and it's hands down the best one i've ever owned.
#1 Cupcakes and Cashmere (Homepage) on 2009-04-09 11:46 (Reply)
Loreal eyeshadow and Vaseline definitely make my top list. I will not go to sleep without applying vaseline to my lips. It simply moisturizes my lips the best. I'll have a wrinkly face when I'm old, but lips as smooth as silk.
#2 Carolyn on 2009-04-09 12:02 (Reply)
I love the Revlon gloss as well. A really good neutral (it looks really pink in the tube, but it goes on natural) is the 020 - I can't remember the color off hand and am too lazy to go get it.

You will like it!
#3 Deborah on 2009-04-09 12:07 (Reply)
I'm really happy to see all of the natural products on your list! I looove Kiss my Face! It makes up most of my beauty products. I also really like suki products bc they are free of all the gross ingredients.
#4 Jaclyn on 2009-04-09 12:37 (Reply)
Ok now I MUST try the Kiss My Face and define a lash!!! Thanks!
#5 Real Style Real people (Homepage) on 2009-04-09 12:50 (Reply)
1)Bobbi Brown's Creamy Concealer
2)Makeup Forever's Aqua Eyes Waterproof Eyeliner Pencil in Black
3)Clinique Clarifying Lotion (#1)
4)L'Oreal Voluminous Mascara
5)Clean & Clear Blackhead Clearing Scrub
6)RevitaLash
7)Chanel Beaute Initiale Eye Cream
8)Lip Fusion XL (Night Therapy)
9)Blistex Complete Moisture Lip Balm
10) Cotton Thread (I thread my own eyebrows! :-)
#6 Mee on 2009-04-09 13:28 (Reply)
My Top 10
1) Olay daily moisturizer
2) Palmer's Organic Lotion
3) Fiberwig paint-on false lashes
4) Clinique Soft Finish pressed powder
5) Neutrogena Hand Cream Norwegian Formula
6) Clinique Long Last Soft Shine lipstick in Sugar Bean
7) Biore nose strip
8-) Olay firming night cream
9) Carmex
10) and of course, Vaseline Petroleum Jelly
#7 (Homepage) on 2009-04-09 13:44 (Reply)
1) Olive oil (for hands, body, face)

2) Sea salt from Trader Joe's mixed with Olive oil for facial and body scrub

3) Vaselline Petroleum Jelly in Lavender scent (for feet, hands, lips, under eyes, etc.)

4) Queen Helene's Mint Julep clay mask

5) Caudalie Cleansing Water (make up comes off so easily!)

6) DERMAdoctor acne wash

7) Q-tip!!!!

8-) My falsies!!

9) Japanese Soy beauty product line

10) Baking soda (used as a scrub, toothpaste)
#8 LAgurl1997 on 2009-04-09 14:23 (Reply)
I use jojoba or argon oil. I find it doesn't clog my pores. How does DERMAdoctor work?
#8.1 DiscountDiva (Homepage) on 2009-04-09 15:57 (Reply)
I'm in love with the new Revlon Matte line. It is the true nude lipstick. But if you're looking for a little more pigment, Mauve It Over (it's not really mauve, it's much warmer) it to die for.
#9 Ashley on 2009-04-09 15:08 (Reply)
Very good to know!!
#9.1 The Budget Babe on 2009-04-10 08:32 (Reply)
I've also been trying out organic / natural shampoo and conditioner and I'm really impressed by the difference I see in my hair. I'm totally in love with the Aubrey Organics line (been using the Aubrey Oganics Green Tea skin care line also and it's very gentle and leaves my skin feeling super soft!
#10 Jessica on 2009-04-09 15:53 (Reply)
Good to know, I'll have to try the Aubrey line sometime!
#10.1 The Budget Babe on 2009-04-10 08:32 (Reply)
1-dior diorshow mascara
2-st. ives apriot face scrub
3-pureology shampoo (for colored hair)
4-aveda condition (for colored hair)
5-revlon matte lipstick in nude attitude
6-lancome black sparkly eyeshadow
7-benefit perfect 10 bronzer/highlighter
8-benefit that gal face primer
9-benefit some kind of gorgeous
10- neutrogena stress control face wash

I am soooo addicted to benefit!!!
#11 talk pretty to me (Homepage) on 2009-04-09 15:53 (Reply)
Another vote for Nude Attitude, def. have to get this!

Also used to be addicted to St. Ives Apricot Face Scrub, I still carry the travel size for trips.
#11.1 The Budget Babe on 2009-04-10 08:31 (Reply)
if you love nude lipsticks, definately try the Revlon Matte Lipstick in Nude Attitude. On top of that you can top it off with some of your favorite lip gloss. (I personally suggest a peachy color, something with a soft touch of pink because you don't want to add something bold on top of it BUT you don't wanna put something TOO light where your lips end up disappearing and blending into your face.
Hope this helps
#12 rachel hanada on 2009-04-09 16:02 (Reply)
Thanks for the rec, I'm a little scared of matte finish lipsticks but topped with a gloss, this should be perfect. And I'm guessing you can't really get the nude effect unless you have something more opaque to layer over first.
#12.1 The Budget Babe on 2009-04-10 08:30 (Reply)
Clinique's Tenderheart is my favorite nude.
#13 Liz on 2009-04-09 22:46 (Reply)
Ah yes! Totally forgot about Tenderheart, this was my favorite for a while. It perfectly matches the natural shade of my lips. Love it, I'll need to revisit :-)
#13.1 The Budget Babe on 2009-04-10 08:25 (Reply)
Hey...I use Revlon Super Lustrous Lipgloss in "Nude Lustre."
#14 Michelle on 2009-04-10 06:58 (Reply)
Thanks, sounds like this shade took the place of Toast to Shine so I will definitely scoop it up!
#14.1 The Budget Babe on 2009-04-10 08:24 (Reply)
A friend of mine published a book recently: "make your place: affordable, sustainable nesting skills," and in it she has a recipe for making your own face oil. I used to use Oil of Olay lotion for sensitive skin, but then I tried making this face oil. It's mostly jojoba oil but then you customize it depending on your skin type; I added a few drops of tea tree oil, lavender oil, and bergamot oil. It is AMAZING! It totally cleared up my acne and my face feels perfectly moisturized all day. Plus, I get the satisfaction of knowing I made it myself.

Sorry, this wasn't meant to be an advertisement or anything, but since you asked I thought I'd share that I'm totally obsessed with this stuff now.
#15 NG on 2009-04-10 11:41 (Reply)
Great tip, I've contemplated making my own lotion too but I'm not quite there yet. How often do you whip up a batch? And how long before it "goes bad"? I imagine if you use a dark glass jar, and keep the oil in a cool place, it should last a long time...
#15.1 The Budget Babe on 2009-04-10 15:15 (Reply)
Yeah, it took me a while to really get into this, but I'm glad I did. I made a batch of this face oil a month ago, and it's barely dented. You use 2-3 drops of the oil solution and emulsify in your hands with a few drops of water before applying it to your face, so it really does last a while.

I actually put mine in a used herb jar, and it's been fine, I just keep it in the medicine cabinet where it's dark.
#15.1.1 NG on 2009-04-10 21:57 (Reply)
1. Purpose gentle cleansing wash (removes all makeup and is dermatologist recommended)
2. Oil of Olay Daily Moisturizer for Sensitive Skin
3. Vaseline for lips and cuticles.
4. BareMinerals SPF 15 foundation in Light
5. Bare Escentuals Big Tease Mascara in black
6. BareMinerals Liner Shadow in Coffee Bean (brings out the blue eyes)
7. Redken shampoo & conditioner: either Color Extend or Extreme
8. Redken Straight 05 straightening balm
9. Michael Kors Island perfume
10. St. Ives Whipped Silk Body Lotion (very affordable!)
#16 jess on 2009-04-10 13:53 (Reply)
I also love Clinique Tenderheart as a great nude. My coloring is similar to yours and it works well with my skintone.

Here's my list:
1. Cetaphil (dual duty as a face wash and shaving lotion!)

2. Neutrogena tinted moisturizer
3. Lancome blush in Miel Glace
4. Lancome dual finish powder
5. Loreal Volumnous mascara
6. Origins Microdermabrasion
7. Lubraderm moisturizer with SPF 15
8. Oil of Olay for sensitive skin body wash
9. Aveda hand lotion
10. Burts Bees chapstick
#17 Carrie (Homepage) on 2009-04-13 10:50 (Reply)
Thank you for the tip on the Nature's Gate shampoo! I've been looking for a natural shampoo/conditioner, but after trying some from Kiss My Face (resulting in very dry hair and dry red patches on my scalp - YIKES!) I was very hesitant to try something else. I bought the suggested Nature's Gate and have been using it for about a week. No red splotches and I do like the Tea Tree scent. Actually I like it better than Paul Mitchell's tea tree line. So thank you!
#18 Jen on 2009-05-20 08:23 (Reply)
Also try the Alba Hawaiian brand shampoo and conditioner. They are paraben, sulfate, phthalate and cruelty free, hypoallergenic, have wonderful scents to choose from, and have been great for my hair. My hair is thin, and these leave my hair free of build-up so it doesn't look limp and lifeless. I am looking into trying Nature's Gate as well, because I love their other products and I have friends that rave about their shampoo and conditioner!
#18.1 S on 2010-01-29 19:24 (Reply)
So I read you were looking for a nice nude lipstick. People swear by NYX nudes in their round lipstick line and many of their round lip glosses are a nice nude as well. Thalia, B52, Circe, LALA are the ones people swear by for nudes. In lip glosses Whipped and Natural are nice for nudes. The lipsticks are awesome, well pigmented, long-wearing and do not have a smell or that weird lipstick-y taste to them. They are smooth and go on like chap stick. The lip glosses has a lemony smell to them, but are not sticky and last a good while. Hope this helps!
#19 Josephine Chna (Homepage) on 2009-05-30 04:44 (Reply)
I live in Boston, a city not really known for its friendliness, so when a total stranger started talking to me in Sephora, I figured she must want something from me...

But no! She noticed I was looking at the Bare Essentials display, and felt it was her karmic duty to tell me that Clear Radiance is the best powder ever. She was SO right. I have since told all my friends, and even a couple strangers.

The unassuming little container of pink-y shimmer powder really is amazing!! You can use it alone, just a light dusting over your face, for a quick all over glow, or use it to highlight your brown bone...or use it all over your eye area as a way to perk up your eyes when you're tired...it diffuses wrinkles, zits, and all (real or imagined) facial flaws.

Other products that would make my desert island make up bag:

Nars cream blush in orgasm. (The stick lasts forever and imparts a pink glow that is subtle--you really can't overdo it, which is nice.)

Revlon ColorStay eyeliner. I have tried every eyeliner under the ever-widening ozone, and this is the only one that never smears. I rec the gray shade b/c it's less harsh than black, but still gives depth.

The other item I'd love to rec. is Mac Lipglass in Palatial. But, alas, they retired that shade...boo hoo. If you like a really glossy lip in a long-lasting formula that doesn't put any sort of odd taste-by-diffusion into your mouth, this line is great. Plus, if you bring Mac 6 of the containers (that their product came in), they'll give you a free lipstick.
#20 arden on 2009-09-22 12:03 (Reply)
Ugh, that first and 4th one just makes me want to have a spa right now, with someone helping me put on all those relaxing formulas! My current faves are Mary Kay mask and their formulas. :-)

Revolving Fashion
Revolving Fashion
#21 Nicole (Homepage) on 2014-04-02 11:45 (Reply)
Leave a comment
E-Mail addresses will not be displayed.
Enclosing asterisks marks text as bold (*word*), underscore are made via _word_.
Standard emoticons like :-) and ;-) are converted to images.
E-Mail addresses will not be displayed and will only be used for E-Mail notifications.