By Genevieve LeFranc

Every January as we usher in a new year, our wallets look forward to a break from a busy holiday season of gift shopping, travel expenses, and expensive restaurants. Now is the time to revisit the pricey cosmetics counter alternative and bring out your inner beauty warrior. It never hurts to break your beauty regimen for the more affordable drugstore versions of your favorite must-have staples. While you’ll get no argument from me that treating yourself to an expensive eye shadow or high-end moisturizer every once in a while is a female prerogative well worth exercising, pricey beauty products used on a daily basis add up. January is the time to tighten our belts and start saving where we can, so it’s just plain smart to explore what worthwhile, effective products your local drugstore offers. Whether you run out last minute, need to cut back on spending this month, or are simply tired of dropping fifty bucks every time you run out of bronzer (be strong—the packaging on some of the upscale brands are hard to resist, I know), drugstores really do have some great products that will help you save and keep you (and your wallet) looking great. Here’s a mere sampling across the beauty product spectrum of what your local drugstore has waiting for a smart, savvy beauty consumer like you. Onward and upward, Drugstore Junkie!

Mascara:

Covergirl Lash Blast Volume Blasting Mascara, $9 vs. DiorShow Mascara, $33

If you love DiorShow mascara for its renowned cult following and the glam catwalk lashes it produces, consider Covergirl Lash Blast Volume Blasting mascara as an affordable alternative. It’s almost a quarter of the price and provides the same sexy, fringed effect. Typically, I prefer to save and invest in quality cosmetics, but mascara is the one product I refuse to blow my cash on. I love Covergirl’s Lash Blast mascara for its innovative brush and rich black pigment. The patent-pending brush is designed to maximize and individually define each lash, leaving you with big, flirty doe eyes. Unlike most other mascaras on the market, Lash Blast’s brush is made up of sturdy, miniscule rubber cones that won’t give you sticky, clumped tarantula lashes. The formula boosts volume overall, and you can pile on coat after coat without a single unsightly clump. Also available in a waterproof formula.

Face Scrub:

St. Ives Apricot Scrub, $3 vs. Philosophy The Microdelivery Exfoliating Wash, $30

If I could only choose one product from my bathroom to use every day for the rest of my life, it would be St. Ives Invigorating Apricot Scrub. Nothing leaves my skin feeling softer or more refreshed while also resurfacing my complexion. Unlike some expensive brands with a scant amount of scrubbers, the creamy, gritty consistency of this scrub provides dull skin with a luminescent, polished finish for a sixth of the cost. The scrub really washes the day off, yet is gentle enough for everyday use and won’t dry out your skin. You’ll love the invigorating earthy, nutty scent. It’s also available in a gentler formula for sensitive skin as well as a formula for acne prone skin. For a product I use daily, four dollars is a bargain, especially when compared to an expensive alternative like Philosophy.

Tinted Lip Balm:

Burt’s Bees Tinted Lip Balm, $6 vs. Clinique Chubby Stick Moisturizing Lip Colour Balm, $18.75

In the bitter cold months of winter, smart beauty girls keep a lip balm on them at all times. I keep one in my purse, backpack, car, and nightstand, and have a handful of backups just in case—chapped lips are not a cute look. If you like to add a subtle punch to your pout, tinted lip balms are excellent for achieving the perfect dose of sheer color while moisturizing dry lips. Clinique’s Chubby Stick is a beautiful crayon-like option, but rings in at a whopping $18.75. For the same look at nearly half the price, try Burt’s Bees Tinted Lip Balm. It is 100% natural and nourishes your lips with shea butter and botanical waxes, while adding a hint of soft shine and a smooch of sheer color in six flattering shades. Smells yummy, too.

Shampoo:

John Frieda Luxurious Volume Full Clarity Purifying Shampoo, $10 vs. Phytovolume Maximizing Volume Shampoo, $20

Shampoo is another product I can’t get too worked up about. I want something that smells fresh and cleans my hair and scalp thoroughly—no point in splurging on something you wash right down the drain. For a standard shampoo for normal hair, my favorite is the John Frieda Luxurious Volume Full Clarity Purifying Shampoo. The smell is amazing—light, fresh, clean, and summery, and your hair’s texture will be transformed. My hair is instantly more voluminous, and fullness is restored at the roots for a lifted, healthy bounce. This shampoo gently removes any built-up residue, so it’s perfect when preparing your hair for greater volume when styling. You get salon-quality fullness and volume for a mere six bucks, unlike pricier options that claim to accomplish the same results, like Phytovolume’s Maximizing Volume Shampoo, nearly four times the price!

Anti-Aging Serum:

Olay Regenerist Micro-Sculpting Serum, $27 vs. Origins Plantscription Anti-Aging Serum, $66

It’s no secret that anti-aging products are ridiculously overpriced, so this is one product you’ll definitely want to peruse the drugstore for. If you do your research, you’ll find that most drugstore anti-aging products contain the same ingredients as their pricier department store competitors. For a reasonably priced option, try Olay Regenerist Micro-Sculpting Serum. This serum penetrates deep into the skin’s surface to deliver a youth cocktail of super concentrated amino-peptides and B3 complex. The formula absorbs quickly and isn’t greasy, and provides hydration that softens fine lines and wrinkles to improve skin’s overall look and texture. Olay offers a product that truly makes skin more radiant, bright, and firm for a bargain price, especially when compared to Origins Plantscription Anti-Aging Serum, nearly double the cost.