Most of the following products can easily be found at drugstores and mega markets. Prices for each can vary widely depending on sales and specials, so we've rounded each product's price to the nearest 50 cents.
As for the makeup, we stuck to blush, bronzer, mascara and lip gloss. The perfect foundation, concealer and powder depend on skin type and personal preference (that doesn't mean there aren't good ones out there for under , however).
Dove bar soap (.50, two bars): Generations of women swear by it for perfectly moisturized (but not greasy) skin. Many people with sensitive skin keep going back to plain ol' Dove after finding other products too dry or irritating. Some prefer the liquid body wash version, but we love the classic white beauty bar (it's also way cheaper.)
Aveeno Daily Moisturizing Lotion (, 12 ounces): A great fragrance- free body moisturizer that works for all skin types. Now there's even a version with SPF 15 sunscreen built in to protect you from everyday skin damage.We also like Jergens Original Scent (.50, 10 ounces) and Natural Glow (, 7.5 ounces).
Cetaphil Gentle Skin Cleanser (, 8 ounces): The best non-drying face wash for sensitive skin by far, loved by beauty editors and dermatologists for its gentle-yet-e.ective formula. Other good choices include Alpha Hydrox Foaming Face Wash (.50, 6 ounces), Aveeno Positively Radiant Cleanser (, 6.7 ounces) and Dove Cool Moisture Cleansing Cloths (.50 for 30).
St. Ives Apricot Scrub (.50, 7.5 ounces): Exfoliating washes are a hotly debated product (some skin experts say a washcloth used with the right cleanser is good enough), and this apricot scrub can be too harsh for some (there's also a gentle formula version). But it has legions of devoted fans (Allure magazine readers included), and the secret is to not use it every day. And it's so cheap!
Dove Essential Nutrients Day Lotion (, 4 ounces): Quality facial moisturizers for less than can be hard to find. Many of the best Aveeno, Olay and Neutrogena products have crept up to the or mark. But here's good ol' Dove with a highly rated daily face moisturizer for , complete with SPF 15 sunscreen and antioxidants that are beneficial to skin.
Neutrogena Ultra Sheer Dry-Touch Sunblock (, 3 ounces): A fantastic sunscreen for face and body that is waterproof and sweat-proof without being greasy. The newest versions with helioplex broad spectrum sunscreen go all the way up to SPF 85. Regular use of a good sunscreen such as this one can spare you a lot of wrinkles and save you money in skin treatments down the road.
Suave Professionals Biobasics Shampoo, (, 14.5 ounces): Promises results similar to pricier Biolage shampoo, and fans say it delivers. Hard to argue with the price (it's about to cheaper per bottle than Biolage).
Pantene Pro-V Always Smooth Conditioner (, 12.7 ounces): With Oklahoma's summer humidity, we need all the help with frizzy hair we can get. This is a hydrating conditioner that delivers shiny, smooth hair for a bargain price.
Lavender Epsom salts ( to , sizes vary): No money for the spa? These lavender-scented soothing salts make for a great sore muscle soak ( just don't use if you have shaved within 24 hours - it will sting), they double as a body scrub and they're cheaper than some of the super-posh scrubs and soaks at spas and department stores. (Yeah, Fresh does charge for its Brown Sugar Body Polish. Highway robbery.) Instead, opt for Dr. Teal's, .50 atWal- Mart stores, or Walgreen's Apothecary soak for .
ALL MADE UP
Maybelline New York Full N' Soft Waterproof Mascara (): Maybelline's Great LashMascara may get all the attention and big sales numbers (one is sold every 1.6 seconds), but if you want a truly great mascara that lengthens, separates, lasts and doesn't leave lashes brittle, bypass the pretty pink-and-green packaging and go straight for Full N' Soft instead. Other good bargains include CoverGirl's Professional All-In- One mascara () and for sensitive eyes, Neutrogena'sWeightless VolumeWax-Free mascara ().
Physicians Formula Bronzing & Shimmery Face Powder (): You could spend for Guerlain's highly touted bronzer, or you save yourself 80 percent and get the same summer glow with this one. It works just as well, and it's fragrance free, oil free and hypoallergenic.
Rimmel London Powder Blush (): Devoted fans say it's a great bargain, and we noticed that the pictured shade, Santa Rose, looks an awful lot like Benefit's bestselling "Dallas" blush - which sells for about more.
C.O. Bigelow Apothecaries Mentha Lip Shine (.50): For lip gloss junkies, there is no more perfect tube than this Bath & Body Works favorite. Minty, moisturizing and it comes in oodles of flavors and shades. The Ultra Mentha Lip Shine is especially refreshing.
