I have been reading rave reviews about Unilever's newest haircare line, Clear Scalp and Hair Beauty Therapy, for a few months now. At $5-6 a bottle and represented by the lovely Heidi Klum, I decided this was definitely worth a try. Unilever's claim for this line is that it "feeds the scalp and creates the right foundation for stronger, more beautiful hair in just seven days." I bought the Clear Scalp Damage and Color Repair shampoo and conditioner and used them for a little over a month.
Unfortunately, I saw no positive change to my hair. It didn't make my hair worse, but it also didn't strengthen it or make it look more healthy, shiny, etc. I could have kept using this line, because it certainly wasn't damaging my hair, but I just wasn't overly fond of it. The smell was kind of generic. The shampoo lathers well, but feels like it strips my hair. And the conditioner was a little on the thin side for repair. It is certainly an inexpensive choice, but you are getting what you pay for, which is to say nothing special. For my chemically treated hair, I need something that is really going to make it happy and feel soft and soothed. This stuff is just not it.
I was happier with the Clear Scalp line than some of the other drugstore brands I've tried (Garnier Fructis, John Frieda and Redken) and I used it for as long as I did because I couldn't afford my usual from Bumble and Bumble. Luckily, I came across a coupon for Pantene Pro-V and found that Pantene has a lot more choices and doesn't cost much more.
I was delighted to find that Pantene has a few lines specifically for curly hair (I didn't think drugstore brands got that specific). I chose the Pantene Pro-V Curly Hair Series Moisture Renewal line. I've now been using the shampoo and conditioner from this line for the past two weeks and I really like it. I was surprised at how much I like the way it makes my hair smell. The shampoo lathers so well that even my big ol' pile of hair only needs a quarter-size dollop. And the conditioner controls my frizz and makes my hair shiny without weighing it down. I really like the fact that Pantene offers a lot of options, since a lot of curly haircare lines don't work for me (my hair type, aside from being curly, is not usually targeted).
Self Magazine's Healthy Beauty Awards: Best Buys $10 and Under: CoverGirl LashBlast has been my go-to mascara for the past couple of years (perfect brown, doesn't clump, doesn't smudge). I can hardly wait to try the new 24HR version that Self liked enough to add to this long list of drugstore beauty.
The Neutrogena Original Beauty Bar has long been my mother's most trusted facial product, but I haven't had much luck with the brand. Their cleansers dry out my combination skin (which is probably more to do with my sensitivity than anything else) and their sunscreens usually feel uncomfortable (like a creamy coating on my face - not good).
However, the Neutrogena Ultra Gentle Soothing Lotion is one of the best face lotions I've tried on my super-sensitive skin. This lotion is thin enough for a humid summer, but you don't need much - it smooths on easily. It has broad spectrum UVA/UVB SPF 15, absorbs quickly, doesn't feel greasy and even took some of my usual redness out (without being tinted). At about $15 for 4 fluid ounces, this is quite a bit of bang for your buck. There is also a cream version, for those of you with dry skin. One reviewer complained about the fragrance, but I honestly didn't notice that this lotion had one. It doesn't seem to have worked for all sensitive skins, but my skin loves it and I actually look forward to putting it on every day.
Before I get into this review, a few people have asked about my favorite Sonia Kashuk Nail Colour, Rock Star. I couldn't find it on Amazon (so I can't provide a product link photo), but the embedded link above will lead you to Target, where I originally bought it. Rock Star (13) isn't currently listed, but will hopefully come around again (check your local Target, they may still have it). The Noir Lacquer post here gives a good representation of this shimmery indigo polish (shimmery, not opalescent). On to the review...
Target is always a great place to find good, inexpensive and fun beauty products. Meg is always a good person to listen to about style and living on a budget. Combine the two in a conversation about me hating hot pink nail polish and you get a surprise:
MoMa
It turns out that there is a hot pink nail polish that I will actually wear (who knew?!). And I have Meg and Target to thank for it. But that's not all - I have completely fallen for the New York Color - In a New York Color Minute nail colors. At $1.72 each (at Target), these seem too good to be true. The biggest complaint about them from other reviewers seems to be that they're too thin, but I agree with one of the MakeupAlley reviewers - it makes it easier to control.
Lincoln Square Lavender
I know everyone's crazy for the Sephora by OPI collection, but I spent the last few years trying a bunch of their polishes and never being satisfied with any of the colors. So far I've tried five colors from the NYC In A New York Color Minute line - and I love every. single. one. Granted, the grey and lemony ones probably don't look as good on me as someone younger or more fashionable, but I still really like them.
All of the colors dry quickly with a glossier finish than I'm used to (requiring no top coat, if you're lazy, like me) This line also has a mattifying polish, if you're interested. All of the ones I tried definitely require two coats to avoid streaks, but you get nice, bright, glossy color and after a week my polish hasn't chipped. I also love that I can actually afford to have a decent selection of great nail color thanks to NYC (the regular NYC line is only 99 cents each!).
MoMa is the hot pink I was referring to, but it's more a dark fuchsia...I think of hot pink as being a bit on the neon side. When Meg first told me about it (and showed it to me on her own nails) I wasn't so sure. I tried it on my toenails and was surprised how much I liked it. I'm guessing that what bothered me about the color at my last pedicure was the opalescence. There's just something about bright and dark opalescent polishes that I do not like. MoMa is my favorite of these five.
Lincoln Square Lavender is a shade or two lighter than MoMa and a great contrast (sorry to tell the world your secrets, Meg!). I haven't found a single picture of it that doesn't look so purply, so I'll just tell you that it is a nice pink-purple mix, just enough purple to keep it from being bubble gum. I prefer this one on my fingernails, which is downright shocking - I almost always wear nudes or clear polish on my hands.
Sidewalkers is a cement grey and doesn't have as much blue as most pictures show. I don't think it makes pale skin look as dead as most of the dove greys out there.
Lexington Yellow is more lemon custard-y then it looks, pale-but-still-bright yellow.
Mulberry Street is not as sheer as I thought it would be (read: wanted it to be), but it's a nice, shimmery nude and, okay, it has a bit of opalescence. I think this shade is suited for a classy occasion (but I have no class, so I'll have to find another excuse to wear it).
Other reviews: Makeup Alley, Glam on the Cheap, additional links to reviews embedded in the nail color names (above).
Is there a product you'd like to learn more about for the Beauty on a Budget section of this blog? Leave a comment on this post or email us and we'll look into it!
I was delighted to find that Pantene has a few lines specifically for curly hair (I didn't think drugstore brands got that specific). I chose the Pantene Pro-V Curly Hair Series Moisture Renewal line. I've now been using the shampoo and conditioner from this line for the past two weeks and I really like it. I was surprised at how much I like the way it makes my hair smell. The shampoo lathers so well that even my big ol' pile of hair only needs a quarter-size dollop. And the conditioner controls my frizz and makes my hair shiny without weighing it down. I really like the fact that Pantene offers a lot of options, since a lot of curly haircare lines don't work for me (my hair type, aside from being curly, is not usually targeted). 
