I’ve always been a drugstore beauty junkie. Back in my single days living in New York, I usually couldn’t scrape together more than $5 for any given product, and I became obsessed with the offerings at my local corner shops. These days, the new wave of affordable beauty can be found even more conveniently: right at the grocery store.
Turns out, there’s more to celebrate at Trader Joe’s beyond their awesomely affordable wine section and family-meal staples . From face serums to cleansing wipes to argan oil, TJ’s offers tons of effective products for nearly every beauty concern. It’s no wonder that beauty bloggers everywhere have been going crazy for these affordable products.
I read up on the top picks and popped into my local TJ’s to check them out and put together a must-have list for your next Trader Joe’s run. The best part of this experiment? Everything on the list is under $10, making them all no-brainers. Scroll through to see my favorite beauty products from Trader Joe’s.
10 Best Beauty Products Under $10 at Trader Joe's
Moisturizing Cream, $3.99
This lush, creamy formula is unscented, but still somehow smells great. It's a soothing and fresh aroma that probably comes from the aloe. My hands still have a winter hangover, and they drank this moisturizer right up. And unlike many other formulas out there, It does not leave any residue behind.
Photo: Trader Joe's
Micellar Cleanser & Makeup Remover Cloths, $3.99 for 20
I'm kicking myself for recently spending $20 on 30 cloths from a brand that won't be named. The worst part? They have the same active ingredients as this TJ's version! Micellar water is a newish trendy beauty ingredient that rids the skin of makeup, dirt, and environmental pollutants gently without drying. These cloths are free of alcohol, parabens, colorants, and allergens.
Photo: Trader Joe's
Formula No. 3, $7.99
This heavy lifter is a favorite at my home, especially for my husband who is lazy about very little in life, except when it comes to using grooming products. This three-in-one cleanser (a shampoo, conditioner, and body wash) doesn't strip your skin or hair of natural oils, but it cleans effectively and takes up way less space in the shower than three bottles would.
Photo: Trader Joe's
Shea Butter & Coconut Oil Hair Mask, $3.99
I try to apply a hair mask every Sunday to my color-treated, often-heat-styled hair. But spending a premium on "extras" like this is not always possible for moms. You can make a mess in your kitchen and spend even more on the ingredients making your own, OR you can pony up 4 bucks to snag this deep moisturizing hair mask with Shea butter and coconut oil—two proven ingredients—for your softest, silkiest tresses.
Photo: Trader Joe's
Camel Milk Soap, $1.99
The nourishing camel milk soap at TJ's is handcrafted with only five ingredients: olive oil, honey, camel milk, water, and salt. And how cute is the little tote it comes in? Sold.
Photo: Trader Joe's
Organic Argan Oil, $6.99
This deeply nourishing, antioxidant-boosted miracle oil has anti-aging properties, helps protect skin and hair from irritants in the air, and smells amazing to boot. But gone are the days when you had to pay upwards of $20 a bottle to experience such greatness (phew!).
Photo: Trader Joe's
Coconut Body Butter $5.99
When I was pregnant, I used coconut oil all over my body twice a day, every day, concentrating on my stomach and thighs. The goal was to prevent stretch marks, and it worked for me. Coconut oil is a wonder ingredient in any beauty product, and this body butter has a cult following for a reason. The cruelty-free, rich all-over cream is thick and delicious on the skin. I use it on my baby's eczema, my husband's elbows, and every other dry patch of skin that turns up around here.
Photo: Trader Joe's
Enrich Face Lotion $3.99
With the warm weather coming, the time is nigh to get back into a daily SPF routine if you haven't been in one recently. I am all about simplifying my life, so I like to use a moisturizing face cream that contains SPF to make one less step for myself in the mornings. Don't be fooled by the pretty flower on the packaging, either. This lightweight facial lotion is fragrance-free.
Photo: Trader Joe's
Nourish Antioxidant Facial Serum $9.99
At $10, this is the biggest investment on the list, and it's still cheaper than any quality serum I've found elsewhere, even at the drugstore! Face serum is an important part of any skincare routine especially at the stage of life when fine lines and wrinkles start creeping in. Boasting antioxidants to protect your skin from free radicals in the air, this serum helps prevent the look of aging while making skin feel soft.
Photo: Trader Joe's
Blueberry & Acai Facil Scrub, $5.99
The first thing that struck me upon opening this product is the amazing berry scent. It's not sickeningly sweet at all, and you can tell that the fragrance is a natural result of the scrub's ingredients. I haven't had a chance to use it over time to speak to long-term benefits, but after just one use of this non-abrasive scrub, my cheeks literally felt as soft as my 8-month-old's. I'd call that the best $5.99 I've ever spent!
Photo: Trader Joe's