5 Drug Store Products Every Mom Needs
No matter if you stay home with your kids, work outside the home, work inside the home, or have a nanny, the work of a mama is never done. Once you have one item complete, five more have already popped up on the to-do’s. When dinner is finished, the dishes are dirty. After the dishes are unloaded, it’s time to fold the laundry. You need products that are going to work for you without a lot of extra time and effort.
That is why I came up with this list of my favorite 5 drug store products that I believe every mom should own! These skincare and hair products do not require expertise, do not come in a million different colors, and are really good at what they do. Cheap, simple, effective. Exactly my cup of tea.
Each of these products I was able to find at my local grocery or drug store. When you’re a busy mama, convenience is important when it comes to your beauty products, too!
Watch the Video on My YouTube Channel!
Click the image below.
What’s the big deal with hair products?
I never thought I would be the kind of person who uses four or five hair products, but you gotta do what you gotta do! My hair gets oily easily, and I live in a very humid area, but it can also dry out very easily as well. Not to mention that I am prone to dandruff. If I’m not careful, my hair can quickly become a frustrating mess that never seems to look the way I want.
It can be frustrating finding hair products that work for you. I read reviews and recommendations to lead me to the products I now use, but it took awhile to find “just right”. Until that point I was hopping from one nice smelling shampoo to the next, each time thinking, “This time, I’ll find a product I love.” Don’t be afraid to move on to something else if you don’t love your current products!
Why don’t I buy a skincare line?
There are many, many amazing skincare lines out there, and most of them include a face cleanser, a toner, a moisturizer, and sometimes a primer or day cream. These are all great items, but my skin needs what my skin needs. A cleanser from Arbonne might work, but the toner is too astringent and dries out my skin. The toner from Proactive might be effective, but the moisturizer leaves an oily film.
I have tried many skincare lines, and I have never been completely happy with all of the results. For so long I thought it was my fault that they didn’t work. Maybe I wasn’t using them enough, maybe I wasn’t rubbing it in enough, maybe I needed to do my routine in both the morning and the evening… Eventually, I was confused and disheartened with a face full of blemishes.
That’s why I decided to listen to my body and use only the products that are right for me. The following items are inexpensive, easy-to-access (you don’t need to go through a dealer or online store), and totally right for me!
Why am I telling you about these products?
This article contains affiliate links, and I may, at no extra cost to you, receive compensation if you choose to click on them. But I love these products, and they have worked very well for me, so I wanted to share them with you! My reviews are always honest and true-to-life.
I dearly hope these reviews are helpful to you!
Let’s jump in, shall we?
Alba Botanica Hawaiian Enzyme Face Cleanser
My journey with facial cleansers has been long and arduous. I have struggled with terrible acne since I was 13 years old, and not until now have I found products that actually work! Oh, I’ve tried Proactive, Arbonne, every product with salicylic acid, aloe vera, and tea tree oil. I’ve tried just using honey and coconut oil to clean my face. Basically, you name it, and I’ve probably tried it.
One day, I unintentionally purchased Alba Botanica Hawaiian Face Wash because it was hella cheap at a discount food store (Town Talk, I must-see in Fort Worth!). I tried it and have not gone back since!
My favorite things about this product:
- Moisturizing – something evidently my skin can never have enough of despite the humid climate in which I live…
- Organic ingredients – organic means produced by farming that does not use genetically modified seeds, synthetic pesticides, or fertilizers made with chemicals rather than natural materials.
- Not tested on animals
- Does not contain parabens – these are chemical compounds (incl. methylparaben, ethylparaben, propylparaben, butylparaben and isobutylparaben) which in excess have been linked to certain types of cancer (Read this to learn more)
- No artificial colors or scents – artificial colors have been linked to ADHD in children, according to The Center for Science in the Public Interest. And the ingredients to create artificial scents are usually astringent, drying out the skin
The first photo was taken three years ago. At the time, I was 19 years old, and my acne showed no signs of slowing down. While I was using Proactiv, nobody could tell. I was self-conscious, frustrated, and desperate for products that worked.
The second photo was taken a few days ago WITHOUT any makeup! With my nightly and morning routines, coupled with the power of incredible products that work, my skin looks better than ever. Now I can go out without makeup and still feel confident.
OGX Argan Oil of Morocco Shower Oil
Anyone who knows me well could tell you that I usually don’t put much effort into doing my hair. It’s usually pulled back into a ponytail or high bun because in this humid climate, the frizzes are ridiculous.
This anti-frizz spray is light and does not leave an oily residue on my hair. Especially coupled with Pantene’s BB Creme, my hair is soft and smooth even in the worst of humidity.
To use, spritz your hair after washing while it’s still wet. It’s recommended to blow-dry your hair, but I rarely do that because it takes so long for my hair to dry. You can also spray it into dry hair of you need some extra protection.
My favorite things about this product:
- Easy to use – spray it in your hair, blow-dry, done (I usually don’t even blow-dry it)
- Does not make my hair look oily
- Quality ingredients – coconut oil, jojaba oil, avocado oil
Pantene Pro’s BB Creme
Ever heard angels singing after using a product for the first time? This BB creme for your hair showed instant resuls, making my hair silky and smooth. Even after curling, my hair stayed soft while holding shape.
My favorite things about this product:
- Can use it on wet or dry hair!
- Smells amazing
- Works with wet or dry hair
- Does not require blow-drying
- Detangling
- Does not make hair look oily – Unlike many hydrating products, this BB cream keeps your hair looking clean and healthy while adding a bit of shine
- Even after styling, your hair will stay soft – I hate crunchy hair after adding that hair spray. I was pleasantly surprised that my curls held shape but stayed soft and bouncey.
This is a photo I took right after I woke up in the morning. I used both Ogx’s argan oil healing oil spray and Pantene Pro’s bb creme right after showering night before last. This is my hair without ANYTHING done to it! No brushing, no blow-drying, no combing. If you’re wondering why I use these hair products, THIS is the reason! The less work, the better.
Clean Logic Exfoliating Body Scrubber
This may sound like a strange product to share, but it has been a life saver for me! Every skincare Pin on Pinterest contains the word “exfoliate”. Am I the only one who wondered how you’re supposed to exfoliate? Whenever I used sugar or coffee scrubs, the grounds would fall out of my hand before they did any effective “scrubbing”.
I picked up this bad boy at HEB one day because, again, the word “exfoliate” jumped up in my face. This sponge does an incredible job of scrubbing away that extra layer of dead skin along my entire body! My legs have never felt smoother, and acne on my back began to clear up.
When you’re dealing with stretch marks, exfoliation is a must. This sponge makes it easy to scrub away celulite and jump-start skin cells to start healing stretch marks. I’ve noticed a big difference in the health of my skin overall since buying this little guy for just $5!
Things I Like About This Product:
- Cheap – I found this for $5 at my local grocery store, making it an incredible bang for your buck!
- Easy-to-use – Equipped with a hand strap, you can scrub-a-dub all day long with ease!
- Sweet and simple – I’m just girl, standing here holding a sponge…
Everyone Lotion: Lavender and Aloe
Our obsession with lavender-scented lotion began with Bath and Body Works’ Aromatherapy line. Ryan liked it, I liked it, it was great. Then as the years went by, their lotions became more and more synthetically scented, creating an ironically dehydrating effect. Finally, I broke down and went lotion shopping in the health section of, you guessed it, HEB. I bought the most ecenomic lotion with the best ingredients, and it turned out to be Everyone’s Lotion.
Made with essential oils, this lotion comes in huge bottles that can truly be used for the whole family! Not only can it be used for everyone, this lotion can also be used on everything. With their recipe of sensitie ingredients, “Everyone” claims uses on face, hands, and body. Basically, this is the one-stop-shop of lotions.
My favorite things about this product:
- Quality Ingredients – No harsh chemicals or artificial colors here!
- Scented with essential oils – If you’ve seen my post on safe-uses for essential oils with kids, you know these potent oils do more than just smell good!
- Hydrating (duh, it’s lotion)
- Does not leave skin feeling oily – This is usually a big problem with lotions containing essential oils, but Everyone’s Lotion has perfected an effective recipe
I hope these product reviews were helpful to you! Note that the link attached to each item will bring you to Amazon, where I am an affiliate and may receive compensation if you click on these links. However, I found the best prices to be at my local drug store or grocery store.
Remember, don’t ever settle! The right products are out there for you!
What are your go-to products? Share with me by commenting below!
Love, Emily XOXO
I love the OGX hair oil! I use it every time I wash my hair and I am obsessed!
Yeees! In my next product post, I’m going to have to share about the shampoo and conditioner from the Pantene Pro line…I used to go with Ogx, but these products are clearly superior upon the first use!
It’s always nice to have an honest review of some of the essentials! Thanks for the info!