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What a Laser-Hair-Removal Expert Buys at the Drugstore

What a Laser-Hair-Removal Expert Buys at the Drugstore

Photo-Illustration: The Strategist; Photos: Courtesy Lily Novozyhlova, Retailers
Here at the Strategist, we love hearing about everyday stuff that actually works. That line of thinking extends to the drugstore beauty products in our medicine cabinets, shower caddies, and makeup bags. In our series “Beauty Aisle,” we’re talking to folks in the beauty industry — aestheticians, hairstylists, makeup artists, dermatologists, and the like — about the go-to affordable products they keep stocked. For this installment, Strategist beauty writer Arielle Avila chatted with esthetician and laser hair-removal technician at Romeo & Juliette Laser Hair Removal Rita Hazan Liliya Novozhylova about the drugstore products she loves.
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This mascara is so excellent. I found it about six months ago. It comes in black, radiant blue, navy blue, and purple. In the summertime, I like using the radiant blue for something a little more fun. It makes my eyes pop. In the fall and winter, I’ll switch to navy, because it has just a hint of blue in it. The purple is more of a nice burgundy color that I like to wear with a little bit of pink eye shadow. (The brand’s eye-shadow palettes are also great, by the way.) And the black just really makes my lashes look dramatic and long. This mascara lasts all day. It doesn’t smudge or run. It’s also never clumpy.
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$25
I don’t like heavy face makeup. This CC cream is lightweight and natural coverage. It blends really easily into the skin and gives me a lot of hydration. I only need a little pea size and it’s enough to cover my entire face. I recommend applying it by swiping down, especially if you have some peach fuzz of facial hair because it won’t make it stand out. It also sits well on top of my moisturizer and sunscreen. This does have SPF in it, but I still wear sunscreen to make sure my skin is really protected. It’s still nice to have that extra SPF, though.
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Blue Lizard SENSITIVE Mineral Sunscreen with Zinc Oxide
$9
$10 now 10% off
$9
A lot of my clients actually don’t know you’re supposed to apply moisturizer first and then sunscreen. It’s very important, because moisturizer leaves a film that lets the sunscreen sit on top of. That way, you make sure you’re getting the most protection for your skin. I like this one because it doesn’t leave any white cast on the skin, even though it’s a mineral sunscreen, and it’s moisturizing. It also doesn’t get into my eyes if I’m sweating the way others do.
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Aquaphor Healing Ointment
$17
$20 now 15% off
$17
Post-laser-hair-removal skin care is very important because the skin can be slightly dehydrated and irritated. This is very, very useful because it provides a lot of hydration and promotes healing after treatment. It’s easy to apply and you can get it anywhere.
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$11 for 2
Another thing I use on a daily basis after laser-hair removal is this anti-itch cream. Itchiness, bumpiness, and redness can happen. It’s almost like a slight sunburn. This helps with all that instantly.
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This is a balmlike product. It’s really, really nice. It’s an all-purpose balm for cuts, hydration, insect bites, rashes, removing makeup, and after-sun care. It’s extremely effective. If I have dry patches in the fall or winter, I’ll use this as a lip balm, on my elbows, on my knees, on my hands, and even on my heels. It’s a huge jar, and lasts for a long time. If your skin is already oily, this might be greasy, but it gives a nice glowiness to me.
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I have really fallen in love with this cleansing oil. I love wearing eye makeup. I’ve used other cleansers that I have to wash my face multiple times and I’ll still have raccoon eyes from my mascara. One pump of this is able to wash away any makeup I have on without stripping my skin. My skin still feels hydrated after washing my face with this. For people who wear heavy foundation and face makeup, I think it’s best to follow up with a gel cleanser after using this, but for me personally, I just use this as my all-in-one cleanser.
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I wash my hands a lot throughout the day before and after procedures. This hand cream is so hydrating. My hands feel very moisturized and never greasy after using it. It sinks in very quickly. I also really enjoy the scents. They release special scents around the holidays, and I love stocking up on those. It comes in different sizes, too, so I keep it in each of my bags, at work, and at home just in case I need it.
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This is the only razor we use in the office. It’s disposable, safe to use, and prevents cross contamination. It’s incredibly lightweight, so it’s also great to travel with. You can pack up a bunch of them and they won’t take up much space in your bag. I like that it’s one single blade, because it doesn’t cause any irritation on the skin. For my work, it’s perfect for right before a laser treatment.
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The Strategist is designed to surface useful, expert recommendations for things to buy across the vast e-commerce landscape. Every product is independently selected by our team of editors, whom you can read about here. We update links when possible, but note that deals can expire and all prices are subject to change.
What a Laser-Hair-Removal Expert Buys at the Drugstore