As you may have surmised, I enjoy my expense ish.  This enjoyment bleeds into every area of my life and that includes skincare and beauty items.  Hell no, I don’t want NYX.  I want Nars.  Aveeno!  Are you crazy?  I only use Perricone.

Of course, it’s cool to say that I use Creme de la Mer moisturizer and dr. brandt pore refiner. However, as I and my skin care needs have matured, I find that some beauty maladies can be remedied without throwing a ton of cash at them.  As a matter of fact, some lower-priced, drug store products work better.

Behold the holy trinity of beauty on a dime: Amlactin Lotion, Milk of Magnesia and Hydrogen Peroxide.

Are you ashy?  Does your pedicurist cringe when she sees you walk in the door?  After your next pedi, slather on some Amlactin.  This lotion contains lactic acid which apparently is like Kryptonite to calluses and dry skin.   I promise your pedicurist will think your feet haven’t touched the ground when you return.  No, it doesn’t smell like organic, farm-to-le bain incense and myrrh, but for a measly $20 or so, you, and your pedicurist, will be singing my praises.

I just don’t like…for my pores to appear so big in pics that I look like I’m wearing flesh toned swiss cheese on my face.   Seriously, I’ve tried it all in my quest to achieve the look of Christy Turlington’s pore less skin. The products just don’t work.  Milk of Magnesia does.  Dab a TINY, repeat TINY, amount over the problem area.  Apply foundation and voila! Your skin is like Meagan Good’s.  (Maybe an exaggeration, but you know what I mean.)

For an occasional break out, OTC acne creams are the equivalent of killing an ant with a sledgehammer.  Enter hydrogen peroxide.  It’s not just for cuts and scrapes anymore.  The next time you wake up to see a zit yelling ‘Surprise!’, dab some HP on that bish, give it a couple days and au revoir.  And another thing, if sleeping over at your man’s and you don’t want to slap him in the face with your morning breath, gargle with it the night before.  Your breath will be remarkably neutral and ready for dawn delight.

And there are more.  For example, I no longer buy commercial face cleansers, but that’s another day and another post.  With all the savings, you have more money for boutiques and booze.  Don’t say I never gave you nothin’.

What are some drug store diamonds in the rough that you swear by?