I’m pretty practical when it comes to beauty products.  I always try to buy the economical version from the drugstore as long as the quality is good.  That being said, I’m not opposed to splurge on an item if there is a marked difference in quality.  Here are 5 beauty products that I have been using (some for as many as 10 years) and think are worth buying, regardless of whether they are a splurge or a steal.

1. Clarisonic face brush
If you haven’t gotten on the Clarisonic bandwagon, hop on now.  This is a like the Sonicare toothbrush, but for the face.  I have been using this for almost 10 years now and it really helps to exfoliate my skin, making it smoother and less prone to break-outs.  The only downside is that you have to buy replacement brush heads every 3 months and they run about $20-25 each.

2. Aztec Secret Indian Healing Clay
With over 11,000 reviews on Amazon, I had to try it for myself.  I have been using facial masks since high school and finally decided to try this one.  Masks deep clean your pores by drawing out the impurities in the pores so after you rinse off the mask, your skin feels smooth and supple.  Unlike most masks, this comes in a powder form so you have to mix in the liquid.  I recommend mixing it with the Bragg apple cider vinegar, which you can pick up from most supermarkets.

3. Sally Hanson Insta-Dri Nail Polish in Making Mauves
I work in healthcare so I need a nail polish color that is subtle but classy .  At $4 a pop, you can’t beat the price.  The real reason I keep reaching for this one instead of my fancier and pricier OPI and Essie nail polish colors is because I’m a busy mom of two little boys.  The Insta-Dri only takes one coat and dries in 60 seconds.  Enough said.

4. Living Proof Perfect Hair Day Shampoo and Conditioner

There are many good inexpensive shampoos and conditioners on the market, so it’s hard to justify spending more on high-end hair products.  That being said, I had a spa membership last year and they had this more expensive brand of shampoo and conditioner in the showers.  I could swear that after using it, my hair somehow seemed smoother and fuller.  At first I thought it was a coincidence, but I couldn’t deny the difference after a few more times with the same experience.  So I begrudgingly bought the set during Nordstrom’s anniversary sale, and I haven’t regretted it.

5. Nars blush in Orgasm 

This color is the perfect blend of pink and coral with a bit of shimmer.  I have many other blushes in a variety of colors, but I find myself always reaching for this one.  I’m on my second one!  An honorable mention also in the Nars family is this Satin lip pencil in color Rikugien.  It is a beautiful color that enhances your natural lip color without looking too lipsticky.

Do you own any of these beauty products?  Do you have any suggestions on what to add to this list?

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-Melissa
Happy chic mom, a blog for moms