10 Fancy Drugstore Finds
Nuxe Huile Prodigieuse
Drugstores aren’t what they used to be—and I mean that in a good way. From CVS to Walgreens to Duane Reade, American drugstores seem to be catching up to their French brethren in skincare, makeup and hair products. Take my neighborhood Duane Reade: the store carries your standard Maybelline and Cover Girl fare but also kitted out stations for Avene, Nuxe, 100% Pure, and Cargo Beauty (plus, beer on tap to fill your growlers, but that’s another story). Here are 10 of those fancy finds you can try without dropping a fortune.
Klorane Gentle Dry Shampoo with Nettle ($19.50 for 3.2 oz)
Dry shampoo can be a bummer for brunettes. Though this Klorane version sprays on white, it easily combs through with a bristle brush. Unlike many dry shampoos, the active nettle actually sops up enough oil to skip washing for a couple of days.
Cargo Bronzer ($29)
A true crossover brand, Cargo is also carried in department stores like Nordstrom, but you can snag this J.Lo-like bronzer right across from the candy aisle.
Pop Beauty Face Magnet Primer ($26)
It’s time to ditch summer’s dewy look in favor of a texture that reads better under office lighting. This primer has a lovely velvet finish.
100% Pure Lip & Cheek Tint in Cocoa Berry ($17)
The packaging on this multi-tasker may seem homespun, but the all-natural tint delivers impressively smooth color. The plummy Cocoa Berry hue is right in tune with fall.
Nuxe Huile Prodigieuse Dry Oil ($29 for 1.7 oz)
A French classic, this dry oil boasts a warm scent and shimmering bronze finish. Best of all, you can slather the hydrating mix of macadamia nut and camellia oils anywhere you’re dry, including split ends and scaly shins.
Redken Extreme Anti-Snap Leave-In Conditioner ($15.99 for 8.5 oz)
After a headful of bad highlights, my sister pointed me toward this miracle cream. Don’t be fooled by the lightweight formula, the conditioner delivers a wallop of smoothing hydration.
Boots No. 7 Radiance Boosting Hot Cloth Cleanser ($10.49 for 6.7 oz)
This cleanser cleans thoroughly, but doesn’t over-strip your face of necessary oils.
EB5 Face Cream ($39.50 for 4 oz.)
If you like your night moisturizer on the thicker side, this classic cream, which officially debuted in 1960, gets the job done with five features: vitamins E, B and A, oat kernel flour and comfrey root.
Avene After-Sun Repair Lotion ($29 for 13.52 oz)
This body moisturizer may be billed for post-sun, but its non-greasy texture and breezy scent work all the time.
John Masters Organics Shine On Leave-In Hair Treatment ($30 for 4 oz)
Once upon a time, I used to frequent the John Masters salon in Soho for cuts and killer head massages. It’s since shut down, but I still get my natural haircare kicks through his products. The shampoos are excellent, as is this leave-in hair treatment, which uses organic sea kelp to give even coarse hair an admirable shine.
