There is a wisdom that accumulates over decades that applies to many areas of life, including beauty; and our Southern grandmothers have seen and done it all when it comes to beauty trends. It’s no secret that we often notice the same products on our grandmas’ bathroom counters that we did when we were children. I’ve found myself revisiting beauty staples my Southern grandma introduced me to long ago, and most of them are straight from the drugstore.
There’s not always a need to go with the newest, priciest thing on the beauty aisle. Here are 5 beauty products my grandma would never splurge on—and 3 beauty products that she would.
Credit:
Getty Images/Ilona Shorokhova
Beauty Products She’d Never Splurge On
Cleanser
More often than not, and most dermatologists would agree, a cleanser needs to get the job done—and that’s about it. Leave the active ingredients for your serums or moisturizers, and you can keep your cleanser simple and gentle. My grandma would say, “Why spend money on something that you will literally wash down the drain in 15 seconds?” Brands such as CeraVe and Cetaphil are easy to find in many stores and fit the bill.
Mascara
I’ve found that it is totally unnecessary to venture further than the drugstore aisle for mascara. Classic brands such as Maybelline, L’Oréal, and Essence will lengthen, separate, and volumize just as well (or better) than designer versions that cost at least double, if not more.
Credit:
Getty Images/Erich Auerbach
Lipstick
When you have as many tubes of lipstick as my grandma, you learn which ones offer the most bang for your buck. I watched my grandma constantly reapply her signature shade (Revlon Super Lustrous “Orange Flip”) every day for years, and then I went on to find my own favorite shades amongst the range of perfectly creamy, affordable colors. At just $7, it is easy to stock up on, and you can find other similarly priced drugstore brands.
Brow Pencils
If anyone knows how to wield a brow pencil, it’s a Southern grandma who has lived through decades of tweezing and knows how to fill out the perfect arch. Brow pencils tend to naturally last longer than eyeliner, which has to battle against the moisture along your eye line, and it’s not essential to be majorly choosy. With so many different formulas on beauty aisles now, you’re set with budget-friendly options. My grandma always favored a classic pencil, but I’m partial to a more precise retractable brow pencil.
Lotion
While the body-care industry has seemingly boomed in the past few years, I’m sticking to tried-and-true lotions that my grandma always used. Brands such as Nivea, Vanicream, and CeraVe are classics that won’t disappoint.
Credit:
Getty Images/Visoot Uthairam
Beauty Products She Would Splurge On
Antiaging Serums
Serums are the skin-care step that can turn out serious results, and therefore you do not want to waste money or time on products that do not work. Look for something with potent ingredients, which can be found at beauty stores, as well as the drugstore—but you can expect to spend more than on your usual drugstore finds. (Even the highly rated antiaging serums at the drugstore run around $40.)
Shampoo and Conditioner
I’m sorry to say, but the first time I saw fancy shampoo was in my grandma’s shower. After decades of coloring her hair (and using copious amounts of hairspray), she needed hair-care that actually addressed damage, color fading, and dryness. I made a similar switch and never looked back. More affordable shampoos and conditioners will make your hair feel fine, but they’re not necessarily doing you any extra favors. Effective, splurge-worthy brands that my grandmother and I both recommend: Aveda, Davines, Crown Affair, and Amika.
Perfume
A signature scent can mean so much more than a dab on the wrist or spray on the neck. It’s something that sticks with you. I can still recall the cloud of floral Chanel that constantly wafted around my grandma during my childhood, and that lasting memory is worth every penny. Splurge on your scent, and make memories all around it!
