Being frugal at heart, I’m always thrilled when I am able to find great beauty products at the drugstore.  Today I wanted to share with you my top 10 favorite items you can find in just about any drugstore, and they all cost less than $10.

After watching, I hope you’ll chime in with your favorite tried and true drugstore finds as well!

PS The video I refer to that Jennifer at The Looks for Less did can be found here.

A couple of weeks ago, Becky brought up my lifelong obsession – hair removal. When I commented that I’d had laser hair removal, I got a question in the comments from Stacie about how it works, so decided to share my experience with all of you!

First of all, to understand why I’d go to the expense of laser hair removal,  you have to understand… shaving was outlawed in my house. My mother was convinced that shaving caused your hair to grow thicker, darker, and more brittle; whereas waxing removed the hair follicle from the root, causing your hair to grow back thinner, weaker, and more slowly.

Turns out she was right! So my mom faithfully took her hija de monos (hairy monkey offspring) to get her legs waxed at the local spa just about every month.

Still I experimented with different wax types, bought an epilady to test a faster way to remove hair from the root, resorted to shaving then regretted it, spent $100s on creams and lotions that promised to slow hair growth, everything.

You see, waxing is not the most convenient solution for pre-teens because you have to wait until the hair’s grown about 1/2 inch between waxes… Since I couldn’t hide my legs under pants – my Catholic school uniform consisted of an oxford blouse, pleated culotte, and penny loafers – the boys at school called me “bushy.” I had to find another solution, and fast!

In my teens, my aunt started her own laser hair removal and within a couple of years she never had to shave or wax ever again. I desperately wanted in on laser hair removal, so she started giving me birthday checks that were immediately deposited – along with all my baby-sitting and piano lessons money – in a laser hair removal fund.

Then, when I graduated from college and started earning a real salary, I transferred my laser hair removal fund into a checking account and made a beeline for American Laser Centers.

$2500 and three years later, I no longer spend any time or money on shaving or waxing my legs, bikini line, or underarms. I understand that for many it only takes about 6 sessions to remove unwanted hair. But being the hija de monos that I am, it took a lot more than that (all of three years’ worth of sessions every 8-10 weeks). Luckily all of my sessions were completed within the warranty of about three and a half years so there were no extra charges.

Does it hurt? Yes, but only very briefly. It literally feels like a little pinch on your skin that stings for a second. Of course by the time one area stops stinging, they’ve moved to the next area.

Side effects? Every once in a while, the laser will leave little “burn marks” on my skin that look sort of like a small rug-burn. They don’t hurt at all and go away within a few days. In the three years of sessions, this happened only a very few times.

Is American Laser Centers legit? I hadn’t seen any of the negative criticisms of ALC until after I was well into my treatment sessions. If I had, I probably would’ve gone elsewhere. But my experience was not at all negative. Of course they will try to up-sell you (and I understand that’s a pretty big complaint). What good salesperson wouldn’t? You’ll have to go into your local office and determine if you feel comfortable there yourself. I understand that you can also have laser hair removal done at your local dermatologist’s office as well.

What’s the cost? Having my underarms, lower legs, and bikini line done cost me $2500, but I paid that price over three years ago and I don’t know how prices have changed today. ALC is always running promotions like buy one package (legs, for example) and get another half off (bikini line).

How does it work? I don’t entirely understand, except that the heat kills the hair. And you have to wait 8-10 weeks between sessions so that the hair is available (if it hasn’t grown beyond the hair follicle, the laser will do nothing). So no waxing between sessions or any other method that pulls hair from the root – you have to shave.

If you have any other questions, comment away!

I can’t believe I’m about to write about this since my co-workers and male family members read this (*HI EVERYONE!*) – but it’s summer. It needs to be discussed.

Hair removal. Specifically, you know, down THERE hair removal. The only thing more horrifying than actually putting *on* the bathing suit is the, uh, grooming that’s necessary to allow that to happen; I’m here to tell you about an awesome combo that I’ve recently discovered to make it easy, pain-free, and completely effective. (You’ll have to take my word on it, though, because there will be no photo proof!)

The first step is Nair Sensitive Formula Gel Cream.

Step 1 - who wears short shorts? NOT ME!

Before showering, I slather on a very thick layer. The bottle says it works in as little as three minutes, but to leave it on no longer than 10. So, I split the difference and usually leave it on for about seven minutes. Then I hop in the shower, use a washcloth to wipe off the cream, and go about my day. Seriously. It’s THAT easy.

Although I think the Nair is gentle enough to use by itself, I have pretty sensitive skin so I follow it with a thick layer of Bikini Zone Medicated Gel.

Step 2 - smooth sailing!

This stuff is magic, for real. It removes any bumps that may have formed, and leaves my skin super smooth.

These products are a little pricier than some of the other hair removal products on the market, but in my opinion they are 100% worth it. I’ve tried some of the cheaper kinds and they tend to leave chemical burns on my sensitive skin - sexy, yes? So if you have skin issues like I do, believe me when I say this is $15 well-spent for a hair-free summer.

Now, where’d I put that sunscreen? It’s pool time!

At the least make plucking those hairs a little easier. Have you ever tried to find those stray long dark hairs on your neck and under your chin? It’s nearly impossible! With the way my hair grows I can’t always wait till my next waxing/laser/whatever appointment to let someone else clean them up for me. There’s one big problem with plucking that area by yourself. How do you see what you’re doing?

Just imagine… you have a long, dark hair growing somewhere under your neck. You can feel it with your fingers and see part of it out of the corner of your eye if you bend your head the right way. You grab your tweezers, tilt your chin up to expose the area in your bathroom mirror and… um, well, there’s the problem. My eyes don’t bend down under my chin so I can see if I’ve got the culprit or not. Do yours?

Here’s a quick, handy, simple solution. Get yourself a magnifying tweezing mirror. This one came from Wal-Mart for some where between $5-10.

The concave shape of the mirror will make it easier to spot the hairs in two ways: by making them appear larger and by directing light on to the problem. Most of the smaller tweezing mirrors also come with a suction cup on the back so you can stick it to your regular mirror to touch up any other areas on your. Find one of these mirrors almost anyplace that sells tweezers.

Okay, help.  I give.  I call uncle.  What am I doing wrong? 

This is my third attempt at using the Intuition plus razor (this is my third FREE one and I have another FREE one in the cupboard) and the "skin conditioning solid" (looks like a bar of soap) always falls off after about three uses. 

It happened again yesterday and I found myself, once again, fishing a slippery bar off the bottom of the shower floor and smooshing it back on the razor.

What I DO like about the razor:

• I have yet to cut myself.  Believe me that is a feat in itself.
• I don’t have to use shaving cream/2-1 cleanser wash.
• My legs are nice and soft

So, I really do want to make this work, I just can’t stand that it falls apart after three uses.  Please de-lurk yourself, these legs need all the help they can get.

Chel is a working mama of two kids (10 and 4) living in Central Florida,
loving the weather, trying to look good while holding it all
together… or at least tucking it all in somewhere it can’t be seen. A
bit of an Ebay/BookMooch/Coke Rewards addict, she writes about it all
at Chasing Contentment.

There’s soft music playing in the background, and you’re reclining
comfortably in a soft chair. The warmth and pressure on your forehead
is comforting and… RIIPPPP! Aigghhhh! You suck in your breath, trying
not to look like a wimp while wondering to yourself why you pay someone
every few weeks to torture you like this.

It’s easy. No one wants a uni-brow.

But
now, with gas at $4 a gallon and milk at unspeakable prices, we’re all
having to make some cutbacks, and beauty treatments are always some of
the first to get cut. But, again with the uni-brow. What’s a girl to do?

Poetic Waxing. I swear. It’s perfect.

Now,
I know lots of you are saying there’s no way you could develop the
finesse to wax your eyebrows at home. And some of you are saying you’ve
tried the sugar waxes and only ended up with a sticky mess. I promise
this is different. And seriously, what are you paying to have your brows
done? $15? $20? The entire Poetic Waxing kit is only $45, so you’re not risking much.

I’m
so completely addicted to this stuff that I’ve recommended it to
people… shoot, I’ve given it as a gift! So I’m going to tell you
step-by-step how to do this and love it.

You’re going to take
the little cup and put it in a little pan of water and slowly heat it
till it melts. This is not a quick process. Read a magazine, put the
kids to bed, whatever. Don’t rush it. And whatever you do, don’t
microwave it! You’ll end up with hot spots that are way hotter than
what your skin can take. Do the slow melt and all will be well.

In
your kit, you’ll get two small bottles of magic potions. Use the first
to cleanse the area you’re going to wax. Use the second liberally over
the same area. Let me say that again. Use it liberally.

Then
take your plastic spatula (the smaller one works best for brows, and
the bigger one for other areas) and dip it into the wax. Twist the
spatula to grab the excess that might drip, and apply it to your brows
against the direction the hair grows. Wait a moment or two and let it
dry. You don’t want it crackly-dry but you don’t want it tacky either.
Stretch the skin taut and pull — again, against the direction of
growth. All done.

For your first time or two, just do the little
area where you furrow your brow. When you get more comfortable, go
ahead and arch those babies. There’s plenty to do your legs, too, if
you’re so inclined. It works wherever you might have rotten stray
little hairs.

You’re going to love it. I swear. It’s easy to do at home and far less expensive than
at the salon. You can get it online at drugstore.com or in stores like Sephora.

And
now, one last tip — if you feel brave and decide to do your bikini
line, DON’T. Convenience and expense aside, there are some things
that should be done by professionals. Trust me on this. There’s nothing
pretty about a grown woman crying in the bathroom as she tries to pull
dried wax off her very delicate area.

Nina is a married mom of two who works full-time as a journalist.  She doesn’t have a blog, but she spends way too much of her time reading them.

You’re going to think I’m crazy.  I’ll just put it out there right now.
Capital C, heavy on the Z, stark raving crazy, that’s what you’re going to
think.  I’m ok with that because I know I’m not.  I know you’re not going to
believe my tip at first, and that your eyes might bug out in disbelief when
you find out the source of my information.  But you know what?  That’s all
right.  I’m secure in both my sanity and the fact that, oh my goodness,
there is absolutely no place in my life for shaving cream any more.  None.

No, I’m not dry shaving.  That really would be crazy.

No, I’m not shaving with soaped up legs.

Yes, I’m still shaving!  Sheesh!

Two months or so ago, I was paging through my city’s alternative weekly
newspaper, the free one with all the snarky hipster writers and concert
listings.  It had been a long time since I looked at the back of the paper,
where all the questionable bits reside, and I wondered if the personal ads
were still good for a giggle like they were when I was younger (off topic:
they’re a bit less amusing thanks to maturity, but still slightly
interesting).  Turns out, there’s an advice column back there.  Intimate
advice.

Yes, this is on topic!  Stay with me, and I’ll try to be delicate.

Ok, so one of the questions that week was from a guy who wondered why his
gal isn’t quite as smooth in certain spots as the ladies he sees on his
special grown up man videos (AHEM).  In my mind I answered "because she’s
REAL, dummy!" but the columnist had a different answer: conditioner.  She
said the trade secret behind the ultra smooth shave displayed by certain
sorts of actresses in their close ups (UGH) is that they use conditioner
instead of shaving cream.

My first reaction was a hearty "yeah, riiiiight," but as I got to thinking
about it I started thinking that conditioner could work.  Maybe.  It could
be worth a try, even.  It took another week or so before I decided to give
it a go myself.  Worst case scenario it wouldn’t be great and I’d go back to
my normal routine, right?

I haven’t used shaving cream since.

I’ve never had a shave quite so close, or legs that felt smooth for as long
after my shower.  I don’t even feel the need for post-shower lotion on my
legs most days.  The results are even more dramatic under my arms.  Those
hairs grow going every which way and I’ve always got to make passes in
several directions to get them all.  In the past that meant lots of little
bumps, but now that I’ve started using conditioner the bumps are going down
and the skin is smoothing out.

Best of all, I’ve found that the cheap stuff works best.  Right now I’m
using a bottle of VO5 Kiwi & Lime Squeeze Herbal Conditioner that cost a
whopping $.88.  Eighty-eight cents!  What could be better?

There’s no special technique, you don’t have to use a ridiculous amount,
just put on the conditioner the same way you would shaving cream and go to
work.  It is slightly more difficult to see where you’ve already been, but
I’ve found the conditioner is moisturizing enough that your legs are more
forgiving of an extra swipe or two over the same spot.  And after a few
times you get the feel of navigating the shave without all the fluff to tell
you where to go.

Now, who knew that you needed to spend $20 to get a good pair of tweezers?

Have you ever noticed that all my posts are about me telling you to spend too much money on products? Why is that, do you think? Could it be because I am the world’s biggest beauty snob and I have poor spending habits?

Well, yes, that’s part of it.

But it’s also because I have tried everything under the sun and oftentimes it turns out that you do get what you pay for. Now, don’t get me wrong. There are times when cheap is better. For example, remember I told you that my favorite mascara was the now-defunct Illegal Lengths by Maybelline? And also? When I am not using a Shick Intuition razor, I use super-cheap hair conditioner in place of shaving cream. Works just as well as shave cream, if not better, and it’s cheaper. So go get the cheapest conditioner out there. I am talking the Suave 99 cent bottle. Slather it on and shave away. Your legs will be soft, too.

So now that I have redeemed myself by giving you cheap shaving tips, I will go on to talk about the Tweezerman Tweezer.

I don’t even remember how I discovered it, but somewhere I remember hearing someone say, "You need a Tweezerman!" and of course I listened.

Tweezerman is a beauty supply company that also makes manicure tools, eyelash curlers, shaving and facial products and stuff like that. But I would assume that their claim to fame is their tweezers. Their slant tweezer has won Allure magazine’s Best of Beauty product award seven years in a row. And for good reason.

These tweezers are precise. And efficient. Once you have used them just one time, if you go back to other tweezers you’ll feel like you’re trying to tweeze with spaghetti noodles or something. Seriously. The Tweezerman is sharper, stronger and aligned perfectly. And they come in a ton of colors, including pink, which is all you need to sell me.

They are $20, and come with a lifetime guarantee. And they will sharpen your tweezers for free, as well! Shipping and handling for this service is free, too.

Their point tweezer is good for ingrown hair, which thank heavens I don’t have to deal with yet. Am just waiting for that shoe to drop. Anyway, it sells for $22, and only comes in a silver color. So I will have to deal with the heartbreak of ingrown hair and a non-pink tweezer all at once. I will think about that tomorrow.

If you go on tweezerman.com, you may become wildly tempted to try their other products. And if you decide to become a Luddite and not go on the computer anymore, you can be assured that Tweezerman can be found all over the place. Try any drug store. Even my CVS in my tiny town has them.

Tweezerman, man. It’s where it’s at. It’s where hair isn’t.