5 Women Told Us The Cheap Things They Use Every Day To Make Their Lives Function
by The Candidly Team
We all have our little tricks, our shortlists of items that make life easier, hair fuller, skin glowier, etc. And today, we’re sharing ours with you.
But there’s a twist.
Of course we have our pricey products and clothes and housewares that we love, but today it’s about the cheap stuff we realized we use constantly, and have found the best versions of. Which is far more fun than telling you about expensive stuff.
So here are the 17 things the 5 of us behind the scenes of this site use every single day. They’re all the best versions in their category of thing, and we all get a little panicky if we’re without them.
Audie, Editor-in-Chief
Dedcool Dryer Sheets Xtra Milk
Only buy these if you’re interested in all of your clothes smelling so delicious you’ll never need to wear perfume again. I’m stopped at least twice a day about this scent and have to admit to people … it’s my dryer sheets.
Price: $12
You are either someone who gets weak in the knees for paper goods or you are not. I’m getting a little weak in the knees just writing the words “paper goods.” First of all, you can customize these gorgeous notebooks and planners and recipe books with your name. So already, sold. Secondly, they are exquisite. Third, they have the perfect day and week and month formatting for ideal organization. I also love all their pens and bought 20 of them, whoops.
Price: $36
Safe Catch Wild Ahi Yellowfin Tuna
I eat canned tuna … a lot. I throw a can into a big bowl with black olives, jarred roasted red peppers, some cucumbers, red onions, whatever herbs I have, and garlic powder, red wine vinegar, and S&P for the world’s perfect and easiest lunch of all time. This tuna is SO delicious and is much lower mercury than most.
Price: $24 for 6-pack
Mario Badescu Special Hand Cream With Vitamin E
I’m actually developing a problem with this hand cream. The scent is intoxicating—kind of like a classic, soapy clean scent with a hint of your grandmother’s face cream thrown in. It’s instantly soothing and supremely hydrating though it’s never greasy. The price is a dream, and I buy them in bulk to have on hand (!!!) to give as gifts and treats.
Price: $11
Carolyn, Managing Editor
Ever since my eternally oily skin has “matured” I haven’t found a powder blush that doesn’t age me 7 years or a cream blush that doesn’t sink into my pores and shine a big spotlight on any texture … until Merit’s flush balm. I love that I can just sweep it directly onto each cheek and pat with THIS (or my fingers, if we’re being real here), and it gives me the most natural aprés beach glow.
Price: $30
Hero Cosmetics Mighty Patch Micropoint For Blemishes
For deeper, more hormonal acne, these patches have been like sorcery. I pop them on at night the moment I feel a zit coming on, and the micropoints work their magic, pulling everything to the surface and zapping the spot with salicylic acid and niacinamide all while I sleep. By the time I wake up, the surface is smooth, either all but gone or easy to cover with concealer.
Price: $13
Naturium The Glow Getter Multi-Oil Hydrating Body Wash
I usually can’t even begin to follow the 5 bazillion celebrity beauty trends swirling around, but I have to come clean and admit I first tried this affordable line from Naturium after hearing the glowing goddess that is Demi Moore swears by their body lotion. Long story short, I’m now hooked on their body wash. It’s deeply, deeply hydrating like an oil but it actually lathers and leaves me feeling both cleansed and moisturized, but also like I just emerged from a spa.
Price: $16
Quince Comfort Stretch High Rise Relaxed Straight Jeans
Okay, I don’t wear these EVERY day, but I genuinely want to. I’ve never owned jeans this soft, stretchy, and comfortable on a legging level that gave me this flattering a shape. How they’re $50 boggles the mind. I’ve even preordered them in other colors and styles, and I never preorder anything. Ever.
Price: $50
Leslie, General Manager
As a very DRY skinned gal, anything I can do to stay hydrated is a must. I LOVE the Jurlique rose body oil post shower. I slather this stuff on, and it makes my skin feel no longer like an alligator. And while the price isn’t technically “affordable” a little goes a long way, so the cost per use is pennies. One bottle typically lasts me a full year.
Price: $40
After a shower, I drink a cup of hot water with lemon and honey and specifically Manuka to jumpstart hydration. I first tried Manuka on a work trip to New Zealand back in 2012 and I was hooked. This is the one I use now because it's readily available at most stores and even at some pharmacies. I only recently found out that it also might have preventative breast cancer health benefits.
Price: $38
I have a lot of expensive tools and gadgets that make my life much easier in the kitchen, but this pan does the job for everything from steak and whole chicken to veggies—always cooked to perfection. I no longer use nonstick pans based on extensive research about teflon, and though I also use ceramic for the perfect omelet, I use this Lodge pan more than anything else.
Price: $40
Danna, CEO
I do not miss a day without this. Not a single day. I am very active, and even though I drink a lot of water, staying hydrated is still hard. Hydration+ has minerals, electrolytes, and BCAAs. I mix a scoop in with my water and it tastes delish. Almost like a treat.
Price: $45
A floss that’s free from plastics, chemicals, and PFSAs. It’s all I use.
Price: $14 for 2-pack
I use this daily to make my morning shake. It easily blends just about anything you want to add - greens, frozen fruit, protein powders, coconut milk. I’ve used high-powered blenders that are 4 times the price, but I always come back to this one.
Price: $100
Shae - Marketing Manager
I’m someone who needs a snack close by at all times because the window between happy and hangry is very small for me. These Perfect Bars make it easy to grab something that’s got whole ingredients and a good source of protein. The fact that it tastes like peanut butter is a big bonus because I view peanut butter as it’s own food group.
Price: $22 for box of 10
Pureology Style + Protect Refresh & Go Dry Shampoo
Washing my hair everyday is not something that I have time to do nor is it something I want to do. This Pureology dry shampoo is one of my go-tos to help my hair feel fresh in between washes.
Price: $32
Easy On-the-Go Makeup (like ~$50 total for these products)
On most days, I’m looking for easy makeup that I don’t have to think about. For me, a combination of tinted sunscreen, eyeshadow primer and mascara is the way to go. The tinted sunscreen adds a pop of color, the eyeshadow primer brightens my eyelids and adds a gentle glow, and the mascara helps to make my eyes pop. I can have the whole look done in like two minutes.
Price: $16 for the sunscreen, $13 for the eyeshadow, $26 for the mascara
At The Candidly, we try a lot of stuff so you don’t have to. We only recommend things we truly love, and that we think you’ll love, too. All products are chosen independently by our creative team, and all details reflect the price and availability of products at the time of publication. If you buy something we link to, The Candidly may earn a commission.
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