Thread: Equate brand? other Cheap brands?

I know a lot of you spend a lot of money on facial care and other things...and I do too, but the more cheap things I buy the more I start to realize that they aren't much different.

I'm a huge lancome fan. I love their makeup, their cleansers, their toners, their creams, but man.... it is getting too expensive. I also buy 3 of each product I use- one for home, one for my workout back, and one for my finance's house! It makes it even more dificult

I started trying some of the equate "walmart brand" creams, cleansers, etc. What are your impressions from these products? Anyone have bad experiences?

I have had one of those calcium build ups under my eye for about a year now... it kinda looks like a pimple, but it isn't. As soon as I started using the equate cream instead of teamine or olay regenerist, the stupid thing just disappeared! My doctor said the only way it would ever go away is if I had it surgically removed, but I have no idea what happened

L'Oreal is the drugstore, more economical version of Lancome. Also, I really like using Oil of Olay facial products that I think are very good, esp. the Regenerist line=micro-dermabrasion exfoliant (scrub) system. But I now use the WALGREENS brand versions for cleansing & moisturizing, and I'm very happy with it & so is my bank account! :)

Originally Posted by Lesgemini_Zafirah

L'Oreal is the drugstore, more economical version of Lancome. Also, I really like using Oil of Olay facial products that I think are very good, esp. the Regenerist line=micro-dermabrasion exfoliant (scrub) system. But I now use the WALGREENS brand versions for cleansing & moisturizing, and I'm very happy with it & so is my bank account! :)

so does this mean loreal has the same ingredients as lancome?? I never heard that!
I might check out the walgreens brand. I like walgreens and they are close to my house.

I just really need to be consistent with what I use on all my products. I have 100 different things that I'm trying to use up, but when they're gone, I'm going to be all one-branded with products. Probably not makeup though, just anything mineral will be okay.

My life partner, Stephane, used to work for l’Oreal for 5 years for the marketing department. L’Oreal’s company makes L’Oreal products as well as Lancôme, Bioterm, Mabelline and many more.

So, for example, when their lab create a new mascara or lipstick line, it’s the excat same formula for Lancôme, L’Oreal and Mabelline but the prices are different because Lancôme spend more on the packaging and it’s sell behind the counter, L’Oreal sell of the rack but they have advertising display in store, and Mabelline spend a little less for packaging and display, etc.

I also found out that a L’Oreal or Garnier hair coloring kit that cost between $9,99 and $15,99 cost about just $1 or $1,50 for the company to make, YEP!!! .w.:..c::

Qamar

Originally Posted by jenlindseys

so does this mean loreal has the same ingredients as lancome?? I never heard that!

I believe this is correct; I heard (many years ago) that the only difference is that L'Oreal powders/compact/shadows are just not as compulsively finely milled as Lancome's...

Originally Posted by jenlindseys

I might check out the walgreens brand. I like walgreens and they are close to my house. I just really need to be consistent with what I use on all my products. I have 100 different things that I'm trying to use up, but when they're gone, I'm going to be all one-branded with products. Probably not makeup though, just anything mineral will be okay.

I should tell you that as a Walgreens employee, I am completely biased! :))..g.:..l;, But I really do like the Walgreens "Olay" version--especially the moisturizers! My late Grandmother got me hooked on the original Oil of Olay about 25 years ago, and except for a time during my H.S. teens years when I used Neutrogena lines, I've always done O.v.O.

I use the Wallgreen's Olay too, and have never had any problems or adverse effects. Seems to work about the same as the name brand for me.

thanks lesgemini and Qamar!
I will check some things out and look at ingredients...

I need a good dark circle cream for under my eyes. I'm young, but I look like death without a good product under my eyes!

The Lancome/Loreal breakthrough is really interesting. I am going to hit up my Walgreens today for a look. I swear by Voluminous mascara by Loreal. Have yet to find one that rivals it.

I also love the whole Boots skincare line at Target. It is a little pricier than some of the drugstore products but it is a nice middle ground. Especially their nightcream. Also the Refine and Rewind. Great stuff.

I use the Target brand baby wash as a facial cleanser. It is very similar to what I used for years Purpose Cleanser. It is really mild, doesn't feel like it strips my face of moisture but cleanses really well. It is SUPER cheap and one bottle last forever. It is also good for other, more *ehem* sensitive body parts. T.M.I?

Originally Posted by Qamar60

So, for example, when their lab create a new mascara or lipstick line, it’s the excat same formula for Lancôme, L’Oreal and Mabelline but the prices are different because Lancôme spend more on the packaging and it’s sell behind the counter, L’Oreal sell of the rack but they have advertising display in store, and Mabelline spend a little less for packaging and display, etc.

Qamar

So it is sort of like Banana Republic, Gap and Old Navy? Three parts under one 'umbrella'?

Originally Posted by samiramirage

The Lancome/Loreal breakthrough is really interesting. I am going to hit up my Walgreens today for a look. I swear by Voluminous mascara by Loreal. Have yet to find one that rivals it.

woohoo! that's great to know because i absolutely LOVE lancome's mascara. I'm also addicted to their free gifts, so I live off mostly the sample mascara, haha. I'll have to try this one next time!
Thanks

Personally, you couldn't pry my tube of Maybelline Great Lash waterproof mascara out of my cold dead hands. I've tried lots of more expensive types and the old pink/green tube of mascara that they've been making for years works just as good as any of the more expensive ones. Plus, since it's so cheap, I don't feel bad throwing it out and buying a new one when my old one gets a few months old.

I received a sample pack of Origins Organics skin care line. One of the samples is their foaming face wash. It's a little pricey, but a little goes a long way, and it works great! It gets my face squeaky clean!

Originally Posted by shahla

Personally, you couldn't pry my tube of Maybelline Great Lash waterproof mascara out of my cold dead hands. I've tried lots of more expensive types and the old pink/green tube of mascara that they've been making for years works just as good as any of the more expensive ones. Plus, since it's so cheap, I don't feel bad throwing it out and buying a new one when my old one gets a few months old.

Yes, that old fluo pink/green is the favorite of a lot of professionals! Also, the life of a mascara is about 3 months: after that, bacterias start to multiply. So it's less heartbreaking when you have to get rid of a $6,95 mascara then a $25 one.

One of my friend once had a very serious eye infection, she had a lot of suspicions that it came from her expensive Élancyl mascara she was holding on to for to long, but she thought it would last longuer since it was more expensive ..c::

Qamar

life is longer without use though, right??

Originally Posted by jenlindseys

life is longer without use though, right??

Oh of course, I think the "3 months life" is base on a daily use of the mascara.

Hugs ,r:;

Qamar

Originally Posted by maranajla

So it is sort of like Banana Republic, Gap and Old Navy? Three parts under one 'umbrella'?

In this case I think the quality is different between the three brands. My Banana Republic clothes wash and wear better than the cheap throwaway crap I have purchased at Old Navy. I loathe Old Navy, except for kids clothes. They grow out of them so fast you don't mind having to chuck them in the garbage after a couple months.

I really like L'Oreal's skin cream, Revitalift Complete. I think that it works wonders, and it protects your face from the sun (SPF15). L'Oreal's eyeshadows are pretty snazzy too.

Some of the Garnier Fructise skin products are nice, and they smell yummy.

I second jenlindseys' need for a good under eye cream. With my allergies, I always have dark circles and puffiness. >_<

....

Originally Posted by stardancer

In this case I think the quality is different between the three brands. My Banana Republic clothes wash and wear better than the cheap throwaway crap I have purchased at Old Navy. I loathe Old Navy, except for kids clothes. They grow out of them so fast you don't mind having to chuck them in the garbage after a couple months.

I definitely agree!!



I've not compared Lancome with L'Oreal, etc though...

I do make a distinction b/t my pro products and personal products and find that I need heavier pigments for pro stuff.
Kryolan, Ben Nye, quite inexpensive compared to Makeup Forever & MAC (though I have equal amounts of both in my kit).
There is a huge difference between a purple eye shadow from Maybelline and a Ben Nye purple eye shadow.

Other great drugstore makeups I've discovered as of late:
Gosh
Annabelle
NYX

For my personal skincare, I love and regularly use:
Burt's Bee's!
Weleda

I like Neutrogena cleansing & moisturizing products. They don't irritate my skin.

I find Target brand drugs to be much better than the brand names. Their version of Advil, Day/Night Cold & Flu Meds, and most importantly, Migraine meds are incredible. I've never had anything remotely help with migraines before and that actually helps dull the pain. Also, generally at least 1/3 to 1/2 the price of the brand names, depending what size you get

I've also found that CVS makes good knock-offs. I have their version of the Olay Creme Ribbons body wash and the Vaseline medicated lotions, and they're just as good as the name brands

It's interesting to see a lot of what I would think of as name brands (Burt's Bees, etc) listed here....I think of the cheap brands as the house brands of the store (ie, CVS, Walgreens, Shoprite....speaking of Shoprite, their version of Nutella is crazy good...)

For simple hydration for my face, I use the "generic" CVS version of Nutrogenas Oil-free Sensitive Skin lotion. I tried alot of other products (including MAC, Clinique, and others) and I really like this one the best!

Its also mild enough that I can use it to take off my eye make-up if I find myself without something more suitable.

I've liked ROC products that I've used. Not super cheap, but good. Their retinol eye cream is a favorite of mine.

But I'm trying to use paraben-free products, and I really don't like the perfumey, fake smells of a lot of drugstore creams, and I also am really not sure what's in some of them. I splurge a little and use AHA Face Cream for night time...it smells great and I think it helped my skin clear up last year. And I love Thursday Plantation tea tree face cleanser. Health food store brands have usually been pretty great, I've found. One really nice line is Reviva - and they're usually also very inexpensive. Their face cleanser is so gentle I could open my eyes while using it.

Can anyone recommend a good spf 15 day cream for breakout-prone skin? I don't think the one I'm using is helping me.

- Leela

Cetaphil wash and moisturizer and prescription Retin A. used with an SPF8000 sunscreen. All else is marketing IMO.

SPF8000?! Is that a typo in your pocket, or does that spf really exist?

I love the tea tree wash as a replacement for Cetaphil, because the latter is too chemical for me. Tea tree oil does amazing things for blemishes (kills giant flying New York waterbugs, too, but that's another story).

- Leela

Originally Posted by Qamar60

Oh of course, I think the "3 months life" is base on a daily use of the mascara.

Mascara has a 3 month shelf life no matter how often you use it. It is 3 months from the date that you use it the first time. This is because once your skin comes in contact with the wand and the makeup, that bacteria starts to form. The shelf life doesn't get any longer if you only use it once or twice a week, I'm afraid.

Originally Posted by ambriehlmagycblade

Mascara has a 3 month shelf life no matter how often you use it. It is 3 months from the date that you use it the first time. This is because once your skin comes in contact with the wand and the makeup, that bacteria starts to form. The shelf life doesn't get any longer if you only use it once or twice a week, I'm afraid.

Thanks a lot for that info! ..g.:

Qamar

I was always a big fan of Clarins but trying to economise I have gone over to Boots range and to Simple night cream . I find that a lot less gloopy and soothing than many other brands. So in the UK, try good old plain Simple brand.
I also like the Neutrogena range.

Originally Posted by flimflamgirl

I've liked ROC products that I've used. Not super cheap, but good. Their retinol eye cream is a favorite of mine.

But I'm trying to use paraben-free products, and I really don't like the perfumey, fake smells of a lot of drugstore creams, and I also am really not sure what's in some of them. I splurge a little and use AHA Face Cream for night time...it smells great and I think it helped my skin clear up last year. And I love Thursday Plantation tea tree face cleanser. Health food store brands have usually been pretty great, I've found. One really nice line is Reviva - and they're usually also very inexpensive. Their face cleanser is so gentle I could open my eyes while using it.

Can anyone recommend a good spf 15 day cream for breakout-prone skin? I don't think the one I'm using is helping me.

- Leela

oh awesome, thanks everyone! I went out and bought loreal skin genesis and it has spf 15....
I'm not sure about breakout-prone, but I think I"m liking this moisturizer... and it came with free day and nigh serums (travel size) at walmart....all for $15!!