I'm always amazed to read in magazines what beauty items--particularly low end ones--are staples of the cosmetic industry. Like Maybelline Great Lash. Cheap, but it's great!

For me, I think the world should know about Albolene cream. It's basically thickened mineral oil with some other stuff in it and billed as a makeup remover cream. I keep it by the sink for my hands and cuticles. For very dry skin, there's no beating it. A big tub costs about ten bucks and lasts forever.

What's your staple item (cheap or not) that the rest of the world needs to know about?

I would have to say Guerlain Terrcotta Bronzing Powder....absoulutely the one thing I use every day.

I am SO glad you started this thread, as I have been meaning to spread the word here of my miraculous find! :-)

I have had chapped lips my whole life. I have chapsticks and lip balms in every nook and cranny of the house, car, pocketbooks, diaper bag, etc, so one will never be out of reach. Most simply lube my dry lips so they feel better, but don't seem to make any real difference.

There was a thread about it a few months ago, and I read everyone's advice eagerly and went out and purchased Clarins and Elizabeth Arden products based upon everyone's input. Eh. Nothing special there, and kind of expensive. Plus, the EA balm tastes like ######, so that's a factor.

And then, I found it. The cure. The best thing I have EVER used on my lips, bar none. It tastes good, though subtle. It is glossy, but not sticky. It wears well. AND IT MAKES MY LIPS SOFT, SMOOTH, CONDITIONED. It has seriously changed the condition of my lips. Holy cow! It WORKS!!

Drum roll, please......


Neutrogena Lip Nutrition Honey Rescue Balm

Available at CVS for $7.99 per pot. I should buy a warehouse full before they do something stupid like discontinue it!!!!

Plus, I should add that I wear whatever lipstick I might want for the day and put just a light gloss of this over it to shine it up.

Great thread! Mine is Dickinson's Witch Hazel - excellent as a toner, gentle and soothing and cheap cheap cheap!

I have an awful lot of them...............hard to isolate just one without making a list.

The ONE thing LATELY that I'm sold on is the Neutrogena microdermabrasion kit. LOVE it!

Kiels Silk Groom. Mixed with a bit of gel and put in hair before styling, it's a miracle for dry, frizzy hair. This is very good for anyone who colors hair because it puts back protein on the cuticle.

My staple is Aveeno body moisturizer. It's unscented and I used it everyday, with and without fragrance. I can 'create' fragranced body lotion with just a few spritzes of my favorite perfume. I feel like have an entire wardrobe of fragranced body lotion!

And, Ponds Cold Cream. It's a make-up remover, a moisturizer, a cleanser, I use it to remove sunscreen, mascara, it's great.

Fruit of the Earth 100% aloe vera gel

Bumble and Bumble tonic spray (a very light leave-in conditioner that always fixes a bad hair situation and is very refreshing with pepperming and tea tree oils in it)

Quite a few . . . but one, that I cannot be without, is Queen Helene, Mint Julep facial masque: $2.99, at the Beauty Supply House. Absolutely, love it . . . during Halloween I go out, wearing it . . . looks scary, and tightens pores at the same time. Add a lightning fork through your head, and you're all set. Sometimes, I wear the masque, to the Post Office ... but only if I'm mailing something early in the morning, from inside my car.

I never understand how Great Lash wins awards in beauty magazines,I bought it and just hated it. I am not the ony one either read a number of beauty boards from people that actually buy the products and they hated it too.

I will say for cheap but brillant?
Avon Anew Alternative Day Cream SPF25. Skin is soft,matt and high spf.

Donna . . . my poor mother used to try to use, Great Lash. She hated it, as well!! I said 'Mom, why don't you just let me buy something you'll like, better??' Instead, she kept buying Great Lash, and throwing it out! LOL. As for Avon . . . oh, gosh, just their Moisture Therapy Hand Cream, is more than worth its weight, in gold.

I'm with you guys on the Maybelline. I hate it.

Never underestimate the versatility of a jar of petroleum jelly.

I Love Blinc Kiss Me Mascara. I don't care that it costs $20 a tube it's worth it. I'd pay double that. It NEVER flakes, or smears, EVER. And comes off easier and with no mess than any others.

Sorry but I have to add one more - My Clairsonic facial brush. I have been using it for over 6 months now and my skin is soooo soft and I've not had even one breakout.

Nivea cream, in the round blue tincan.
Can be used for lips, as makeup-remover or just as a handcream.
Smells good, too.

Vaseline
baby oil

Full and Soft Mascara by Jade/Maybelline
Helena Rubinstein Silky Eyes Kajal Eyeliner

Great sex and a full night sleep: there's absolutely nothing else that makes a woman truly glow from within, no creams, no serums, nada.

Other than that, whitening toothpaste is pretty good. For the teeth, that is. ;D

I've not tried this. I'm always intrigued to hear about any new product for curly hair. I am forever searching for the Miracle Cure that will leave my hair conditioned but not flat, curly but not frizzy, and good-smelling but won't overpower my perfume. I may be searching until I'm too senile to care anymore!

This isn't cheap, but it's the best facial moisturizer I've ever encountered: Shiseido's Bio-Performance cream. There's nothing else on the market quite like it. I put it on after my regular moisturizer; it's almost like a gel. It helps my skin retain moisture and makes it feel very smooth. When I wear foundation, it's like applying on silk. Also, I have very sensitive skin, and I can use this. The is one product I wouldn't be without.

By the way, I get mine on eBay for much less money. Fortunately, you only need a tiny amount of it at a time.

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0007PF7P...lance&n=3760911

Armanis - I was going to say the Mint Julep Masque too! Great minds think alike.

It clears out your pores like nothing else, but it is not harsh on your skin - I have used this mask for years and I love it love it LOVE IT!

Ooh, another Great Lash hater here. Never liked it. Maybelline Full n Soft is nice, though.

I cannot live without unscented baby wipes, esp. Huggies Natural Care. Perfect for taking off makeup, freshening up on a hot day, whatever. I am never without them.

I LOVE Queen Helene Mint Julep Mask!!!! I am never without it. But I have pretty clear, dry skin and small pores, so I don't use it as a mask.

Know what it's the BEST for?

When you feel a zit percolating under the surface, and you're starting to feel sore there, just put a dab of Queen Helene on it and leave it on overnight while you sleep. Wash it off in the morning, and, in most cases, the zit simply goes away and never breaks the skin!! Sometimes it takes 2 nights of treatment, but the stuff is AMAZING!!!

Add me to the list. My stars, this stuff cleans out my pores, feels good on my face, and--bonus--it's the one thing that, however briefly, flattens out the wrinkle between my eyebrows that I'm much too young to have.

I agree- I detest Great Lash mascara...a year or so ago it came out in Blackest Black and I had to try it. Out it went, it does nothing for my lashes. =(

I have lots of favorites but the one that I thought of right away is Frederic Fekkai Glossing cream with Olive oil. That stuff makes my hair smooth as glass and super shiny. I lurve it!

Oooh, I must try that! Thanks!

Any blush by Nars. Beautiful shades and they don't fade.

I know it's been heralded to the skies and I don't want to sound like a broken record but Green Cream really is an incredible product. It's the only thing I've used that's produced visible results in a short amount of time. My pores are shrunken, dark spots have faded (I had a large one between my eyes that can barely be seen anymore), and my skin looks so smooth. I've never tried Renova, so I don't know if this is better, but Green Cream is fantastic for my skin.

My very favorite beauty item is Paula's Choice Skin Recovery Toner for Normal to Very Dry Skin. I absolutely love it and my skin does to.


http://www.paulaschoice.com/shop/product.a...C125&PAGETYPE=S

I'm telling you . . . Queen Helene products, are fabulous. I LOVED their mint julep shampoo, as well . . . but I can't seem to find it, anymore. It was EXCELLENT!!! The cocoa butter is great . . . I like her cholesterol products, too.

Armanis - a quick search online came up with this - so I don't know if a better price could be found somewhere else (anyway $3.99 is cheep!) but here you go:

http://www.cosmeticsolutions.biz/servlet/Detail?no=1782

I know I have seen it at some (not-chain) drugstores here in NYC.







Tovah - please tell me more! Who makes Green Cream? Where can it be purchased and what is the price?

Thumbs down on Great Lash here, too. Every time I decide to try it again I end up throwing it out. There are so many better ones out there.

I love Rimmel Matte White eye shadow as a base for whatever colors I decide to use that day. Be sure to get it all the way to the inside of your lid by the bridge of your nose to open up your eyes. In a single square, its about $3. Be sure to get matte white and not the one with frost in it.

I don't get the magazine raves for Great Lash either. It's either Allure or In Style who calls it the best mascara of all time. It's terrible stuff!

What I will praise is:

H2O+ Face Oasis. A gel moisturizer that is a blessing for thirsty skin.
Revlon ColorStay Overtime Sheer lipstick in 'Rosette'. The perfect everyday color, absolutely love this!!!
Nioxin Shampoo and Scalp Therepy Conditioner. My hair has never looked or felt better!

Lancome Definicils

Take anything else away, but don't touch my mascara! *knock wood*

What is Green Cream? Is it the Mint Julep mask that everyone's raving about or is it something else?

I must be in the 33% or so that like Great Lash in Blackest Black, straight brush.
I keep buying it and it's wonderful.
I will sing the praises of Sally's "Beyond The Zone" Noodle Head spray and curling cream. Works wonders for naturally curly/wavy hair.
I also love Max Factor Pan-Stik for a good concealer that will double as makeup- my HG is Aveda concealer (the old one) in Balsa, but it's D/C. Pan-Stik is pretty good, and even though I have combo or oily skin, depending on the season, Pan Stik in 125 always looks good. Plus if you're in a rush you can pop it in your purse and voila, foundation to go.

Thanks, ellennyc!!!! I LOVE, that shampoo . . . will order, direct!

Hm, I have lots of "favorite things" - I guess my real favorite is the Lancome Eau de Bienfait makeup remover/toner. I love this stuff, makes my skin nice and clean and soft.

Click to view attachment

'Haven't you ladies discovered yet, how radiant an empty Pepsi bottle, can make you feel? I exercise with them, all the time . . . '

I don't like the Great Lash either! It clumps too much.
Like Lancome Defencils and Loreal Voluminous mascara a lot!

Halzelnut oil : make-up remover, body oil and face moisturiser. Cheap too even though I buy extra virgin oil.
Add me to the list of people who could never understand the raves about that great lash mascara.

I don't know what it is but it is not the same thing as the Mint Julep Masque. The Mint Masque is green but it is a clay mask, not a moisturizer - from the description of the Green Cream it sounds like it is a moisturizer.

I think I shall search "meself" for the elusive Cream of Green using the ol' Google.

www.greencream.com seems to do the trick...

It's not so much that I hate the maybelline Great Lash, it's just that L'Oreal makes mascaras that are thousands of times better...so why bother with GL.

Let's see, many of the "must haves" are already mentioned: Guerlain Terrocotta bronzer, vaseline, aloe-vera (for my hair)...

Castor oil for my nails. It is wonderful for cuticles and it really hardens my nails (even MORE than they already are) and only if I remember to use it.

Also, the Oral-B electric toothbrush...YOWZA....takes off my wine, chocolate, coffee, tea stains!

Palmers Shea Butter. I like to put it on my feet, it smooths them right up. You can also use anywhere; cuticles, even a smidge in your hair if you're like me and have extremely dry hair w/flyaways. It's pleasant smelling and like $3 or $4 a tub. Love it!

I'm also a fan of the Queen Helene Mint Julep Masque as well. Learned about that on MUA.

The Present by Philosophy is supposed to be like...a face makeup primer.
I really don't wear much makeup, but I used this as a 'foundation'...alone...and it makes me glow, but not that icky, fake looking glow that so many makeups are pushing at the over forty crowd.
This makes you look like you are glowing from within -- NOT coating your face with mica powder...or glitter...or neon dust.
Plus...it moisturizes...and makes fine lines less apparent.
GREAT stuff!

The first thing that came to my mind--and I was surprised that hadn't already been noted--the Microplane Foot File.

I have noticed that the newer model is quite a different design. The one I have had for nearly two years still functions quite well and I am wondering how those of you who have purchased and used the newer design compare it to the original. Time is approaching when I will need to replace mine. A nearby shop has just started carrying these files in the original design. QVC seems to have the best price on the newer design.

My top two must haves are Cetaphil Moisturizer and Skin Cleanser. They are the mildest skin products for me. I use them all over my body and they just make my skin so smooth. I like witch hazel as well for a toner. The smell always reminds of childhood. my mom used it on any skin problems that we would have.

Man, this is a great thread, I love when we do the recs! Here are mine:

SPENDY: Ojon shampoo, conditioner and restorer...great for curly heads, I am hooked.

Arden's Plump Perfect: Excellent night cream, leaves skin like a baby's butt. Used to be $55 when it debuted, now you can get it around $25 on Amerimark.

Highly recommend all Kiehl's products, especially the body cream and Ultimate Hand cream.

LUSH facial masks are fab.

CHEAPIE: The aforementioned Dickinson's Witch Hazel (I used to buy Lancome's Eau de Bienfait, this works just as well).

Vitapointe still does a great job. Let it soak into the ends and/or cover with a cap...wash out after an hour and hair feels silky and soft. Wella is good, too.

Wet 'n' Wild eyeshade in Blink is THE perfect neutral with just a hint of shimmer. Looks good on everyone. Actually the entire line is stocked with many well performing products including nail polish. And if you goof, it's only pennies.

Ditto Lord and Berry, especially the thick flat liners. Very soft and they leave a nice smudgy line.

Yes - www.greencream.com - I was away from my desk and hadn't realized there were questions. So sorry. Green Cream is an over-the-counter retinoid serum that works in a way that is similar to Renova, but it's gentler and not as potentially irritating. I think it exfoliates, not unlike salicylic or glycolic acid, but at a very deep level so that skin cells have faster turn-over. I could be completely wrong on the science of it, though, so don't quote me. I just know this stuff works. It is sold at many of the Day Spas around here and lots local dermatologists recommend it. I'm 40, I live in a sunny climate, and I love to be outside, so my face has inevitable damage in addition to problems of natural freckles and just plain aging. The Green Cream, if used correctly (this is SO important) has really helped the surface of my facial skin. Stuff like "Avon's Banishing Cream" didn't help get rid of the dark spots but this stuff did.

I like the new design better than the old one. It's just more comfortable in my hand.

Oh - and Sandal Scandal is the best foot cream - and Touch Me Then Try To Leave Me is the very best body cream, although sometimes the scent is a little much.

I've not tried Green Cream, but I've read alot of raves about it at www.beautybuzz.com

Love this list. Nothing to add, unfortunately...