I have long been a beauty products junkie. I love them. I love samples. I love full size products. I love scents, face creams, lotions, makeup. I seriously have a closet and four drawers stuffed full of this kind of stuff.
Something that I have really been taking a closer look at lately are store brand products. When I was growing up, we bought everything generic or store brand. As a result, when I moved out on my own, I would only buy name brand products.
However, store brand products are an excellent way to really try some amazing products that are almost always a great value. CVS can help you no matter what your health and beauty needs are.
I was sent a gift basket of beauty products from CVS and I completely changed my beauty regimen. Just by making these changes, I will end up spending about 3/4 less money on the same types of products I was already using.
- The Invigorating Apricot Scrub is cool with a fabulous fruity scent. It left my skin feeling smooth.
- The Daily Pore Cleanser actually makes my pores look smaller (to me anyway).
- I use the CVS Oil-Free Eye Make-Up Remover and the CVS Night-Time Cleansing Towelettes every night. Both of these products were especially handy for removing Halloween makeup off of my kids!
- The CVS Deep Wrinkle Moisturizer and the CVS Retinol Eye Cream are my new go-to products. My skin looks and feels younger. I love it. I follow these products up with a twice daily dose of CVS Moisturizing Lotion For All Skin Types.
All of the above products are applied with the CVS Cotton Rounds.
The Essence of Beauty Body & Hand Cream, White Lavender now sits on my nightstand where I use it several times per day.
My shower has gotten a complete product overhaul! The Essence Of Beauty Body Sponge Mesh and the Essence of Beauty Shower Gel Citrus Coconut are the most used items in there.
These items are perfect for my purse and I now carry them with me everywhere: Essence of Beauty Antibacterial Hand Sanitizer Citrus Coconut, Essence of Beauty Antibacterial Hand Sanitizer Citrus Coconut, Garnier Ultra-Lift Anti-Wrinkle Eye Roller and the Focus on Lips hydrate & refresh moisture mint gloss SPF 15. I love to share with everyone who wants to try them out (well, not the lip stuff, of course).
I added a couple of items to my makeup bag as well. The Swisspers Cosmetic Applicators are perfect for putting on and removing makeup. The Essence of Beauty Bamboo Brush Set has perfectly sized brushes for all of your needs. The Nuance Salma Hayek Lights, Camera, Action Eye Trio Bronze/Gold Shimmer and the Nuance Salma Hayek Lasting Wear Gel Eyeliner Brown are my two new favorite cosmetics.
What you need to know is this. Whether you are shopping for store brand or name brand items, CVS can help you with all of your health and beauty needs. The store brand items are comparable to the national brand items. Shop in store or online and get exactly what you want every time!
CVS also frequently has deals on their products which they share through their social media channels:
Tweet with CVS on Twitter
Talk with them on Facebook.
Giveaway Time!
One lucky reader will also have the opportunity to win a gift basket of their own with some or all of the same items I received (items may differ some depending on what is available at the time of shipping). All of the items in the gift basket can be found at CVS.com.
This giveaway is a part of the 5 Minutes for Mom Christmas Giveaway 2011. Please follow the link for more information, as well as for a complete list of all giveaways as they post throughout the month of November. Entries for all giveaways will close Saturday, December 3rd at 7pm CST and are open to US and Canada unless otherwise specified. Winners will be drawn randomly and we will announce the winners Monday, December 5th. We will email winners at the address accompanying the winning comments.
Written by 5 Minutes for Mom contributing writer Stacie Haight Connerty, mother of 3 and author of the blog The Diving Miss Mommy. You can connect with Stacie on twitter at @StacieinAtlanta.
Disclosure: I was sent a basket of beauty products from CVS for review. All opinions are my own. ~Stacie
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{ 268 comments… read them below or add one }
I love, love, LOVE CVS and all things beauty! Thanks for the giveaway!
Twitter: @MsLatina
Blog: http://latinaonamission.com
CVS is my fav drugstore. Love their products
Thanks for the giveaway!
What a great giveaway. I would love to win this awesome basket
bluebelle0367(at)hotmail(dot)com
I would love to win this basket!
great basket-sounds like great stuff-is CVS only in the USA? We don’t have in western Canada
I would love this gift basket. I am in major need of any cosmetic type. I was just saying there is currently no sign a woman even lives in my bathroom. Things have been so tight these kinds of products are not even on my wish list. LUV LUV LUV IT!!! Good luck everybody and thanks 5 minutes for mom
samanthastevenson2009@yahoo.com
I just spent a bunch of money on Proactiv and I am still having issues with my pores. I will have to try the CVS pore cleanser. Thank you for hosting the giveaway!
A day of beauty in the midst of holiday season? Yes, please!
Oh pick me!!
Everyone’s skin needs some TLC in the winter!
Cvs is such a fun store. So many great deals.
Beauty costs a price but CVS makes it easy
What a fabulous giveaway!!! I love it when you get quality store brand products!
Your photo of gift basket shows CVS cotton rounds… A nice upgrade from the standard cotton ball which is handy for many uses.
I love CVS!!
I see what looks like a store brand of a product I regularly buy but feel it is a bit pricey. Would love to try the store brand and find out if it cost less for the same quality.
Would like to win this for my wife please!
Love all the beauty stuff
I’m not sure what I’m supposed to comment on….but this looks like such a great prize pack! I’m crossing my fingers.
Thanks for the opportunity
nieceyd(at)gmail(dot)com
I would love to be able to share these goodies with my teenage daughter!
I like to shop CVS for great savings. Thanks for the nice giveaway.
This is an awesome giveaway! It will totally make a holiday brighter if i win this one.
Wow! This giveaway is great, would come in very handy too.
I too love CVS an everything in that basket would come in handy this time of year
vlbelk(at)hotmail.com
I would love to win this!
Would love to win this giveaway!
Sweet! Love to pamper myself!
CVS is one of my favorite stores ever! I save tons of money there! Thanks for the chance!
i really enjoy shopping at cvs
CVS has some great products and really great deals. I’d love to win this gift basket.
thanks for the giveaway. who doesn’t love a fun gift basket??
I would love to win that basket!
CVS is my favorite pharmacy. I can find just about anything I want or need there.
lkish77123 at gmail dot com
“Wow”!
i love cvs
I would love to win this basket – I sure could use some pampering!
Sounds like a wonderful treat! I have fallen in love with CVS because of their generous donations to Extreme Home Makeover. I love how they have donated so much to those in need. I am always willing to support a company like that!
I never have a chance to pamper myself, so this would be wonderful.
We shop CVS often; they have great deals! Thx for the chance to win.
This would be great for mom.
We shop at CVS every week!
Unfortunately we don’t have a CVS Pharmacy where I live. I have not had the pleasure to try any of these items, but would love to have the opportunity. Thanks. Kathy
love cvs products
nannypanpan at gmail.com
Oh very cool! Good luck to all! This would be a fun. One to win.
This would be a great giveaway to win….lots of great products to help with ‘winter skin’.
I love CVS, not only because of their products, but they have these carts that look like cars, which entertains my daughter for the duration of the trip!
It looks and sounds like an awesome beauty package and I would definitely share. Thanks for holding this giveaway.
Shop at CVS all the time. Nice basket. Thanks for the chance to have.
This would give me at least 5 minutes of me time
I would love to win this great basket for Christmas.
I love shopping at CVS! Thanks for the chance to enter!
Would love to win!
loving it like crazzzzzzy. Thanks for the chance.
Cvs is fantastic for almost everything it’s my go to shopping store
I would love to get a mommy giftbasket, lord knows I could use some ME time!!
Twitter: CO_MtnMom
November 10, 2011 at 3:30 pm
Ooohhh… looks likka great Mommy Pampering Basket to me … just what the doctor ordered
Thanks!
This would be fantastic! Much needed too!
Wonderful giveaway, thanks for the chance!!
I would LOVE to win this!
Would love to win this awesome basket
I’d like to win.
wonderful giveaway – thanks for the chance!
i would love to win this.i really need this basket.
I love cvs please enter me!
I would love to spoil myself with all of these goodies
This looks like a great basket. thanks for the chance
I would love to win this, my feet need help!
I would love to win this. I so need help with a daily regimen on a budget!! Thank you.
Would love to win!
Love CVS, this is a great giveaway!! Thank you for the chance
I like trying new things. Winning this basket would be a great.
Great giveaway, thanx for the chance!
I would be thrilled to get this!
This is such an amazing giveaway! I would love to win this to give to my Mom, who deserves to be pampered! Thanks so much!
I love CVS! We shop there all the time!!! It would be awesome to win!!!
Love to win for christmas
I would use this basket to have a pamper party with my almost 13-year-old daughter. She loves our little spa parties.
Looks great! My skin is so dry in the winter. This would be a wonderful help.
This giveaway is awesome and would come in very handy!
What a great package. This would be fun to win. Thanks!
pampering is always nice!!!
This would be perfect to beat the dry winter months
would make a great xmas prsent for myself!!
heather.loftus@aol.com
These are things I often don’t buy for myself so that I can provide the things the children need. It would be a fun luxury.
Nikki
I’d love to try these products!
i love CVS….i shop there every chance i get. I love to see the new products coming out every season…and i am getting so many ideas of what to try there
I love CVS and I’d love to try these products! momlovesdeals at gmail dot com
This looks so relaxing and rejuverating…. much needed me time which as all moms know.. is few and far between but its ok cause thats what being a mom is all about and I will really miss it when they are all grown up
Mommy could use a little pampering too! I would love this gift basket.
CVS is one of my favorite stores, so I was thrilled to read your review on this items – some I wasn’t aware of and now just gotta check out.
Would enjoy winning this mama-pamering basket. 
creedamy [at] yahoo[dot] com
Great giveaway~Thanks for the chance!
2dogs5catscrew@att.net
I love to shop at CVS!
janetfaye (at) gmail (dot) com
i would love for once to have something , i always give everything to my girls. but i am not complaining i love seeing there smiles.
CVS has great products
i would love this stuff =}
We just got a CVS around the corner from my house and we love it! Hope I win the goodies!
I would love this basket! What a great giveaway!
I would love to have this!
With a house full of kids, this basket would be what i been looking for..vacation!
Would love to win this basket sounds like heaven
Blogtacular contest! Thanks so much! Janna Johnson Jannajanna@hotmail.com
Janna@feedyourpig on GFC
Would absolutely love to win that!
i would love to win that nice basket it has very good usefulr things inside for a women who deserves it like me
I would love this basket ! And , truely aprreciate if i won it . I think its so wonderful that youguys are helping people in need for the holidays . I tip my hat off to you ! Happy Holidays <3
What a lovely basket, I would love to win it!
would love to try the scrub
tbarrettno1 at gmail dot com
I love CVS and this gift basket sounds great.
ape2016(at)aol(dot)com
I am a product junkie! pick me!
My wife would love this
I love CVS! I am a frequent shopper @ CVS I have tried a couple of things before and they are great. This would be a great gift to recieve.
I would love to win all of those products!
Twitter: womenwwin
November 17, 2011 at 6:20 pm
I love CVS for beauty stuff!
What a fun and useful prize. Thanks so much for the giveaway!
It’s been so ling since I had the chance to pamper myself and this would make me feel like a million dollars.
THIS IS LIKE A “MINI” DREAM COME TRUE IN A BASKET! THANKS FOR THE CHANCE!
Would love to win! (littleangel_mw at yahoo dot com)
I love CVS. I can spend so much time browsing the store making my mental wish list!
Being a single mom of 5, I would be in heaven if I could send the kids to grandmas and have my own quiet time with a basket like this.
I do allot of my shopping for beauty products at CVS.
I would love to win!
I would love to win this!!!
I subscribed to your emails and liked you on FB. This is a great collection of goodies.. Thanks.. Would love to win.
Love CVS and would love to try some of their products!
Great items to try
I love shopping at CVS. The gift basket sounds awesome!
I definitely need this gift basket for my poor tired body:-) Thank you so much for the opportunity to enter this giveaway:-) xo
Thanks for the amazing giveaway. I’d love to win
I would absolutly love<3 to win this basket. Ive been trying all different types of things for my skin and if i win this id have a phenomonal and rockn christmas this year . Happy Holidays Twins
Sounds like a lot of great stuff in the basket. Would be like Christmas morning opening the box!
I would love to try out the eye cream!
I would love to win, and try these amazing products. lnb1191(at)aol(dot)com
what a fabulous giveaway!
Yay, a present for Mommy’s…sounds awesome!
That is an awesome basket!
Would love to win anything from CVS! They are my favorite drugstore.
We all need a little pampering this time of year! Thanks for the giveaway!!
I could really use this !
thanks for the giveaway! I would love to win this
ryanac32 at yahoo dot com
I shop all the time at cvs..love this store..Would be awsome to win this basket..Pick Me!! Pick me!!..lol..seriously would be great.Smiles
This is a great gift basket!! I love CVS and would love to win this!
Thank you for this oppertunity!! Its a Awesome giveaway!!! And of course I love to win this giveaway.. Hopes to win!! Good luck everyone!!
Opps ^^i meant @gmail.com
I never buy stuff for ME-I so need this!
Would love to win something for me!
CVS is just across the street from our house and we get just about everything from there. I would love this basket just what this mom needs for some me time:)
WOULD LOVE THIS
Would love to win this <3
I would loooove to win this!
I am a product junkie – this looks great!
Would love to win! What an awesome contest. Thanks!
Stephanie HArris
teacher2b@charter.net
Love to try new products!
Ohhh! I definitely feel like taking a spa day now lol! Great giveaway, thank you!!
Would love to win this giveaway! Thanks for hosting! meganc73 at gmail dot com
oooo, I want it!! Nice and pampering, ahhhhh!
How fun! This would be an awesome thing to win!
Thank you for the chance!
Very nice giveaway
Omg this would be so relaxing with haveing very active toddler and going to school!!
I would love to win this. Thanks!
Ater the process of of a weight and health makeover, the next goal is a beauty makeover. This would be perfect.
How awesome, this would be great for both my daughter and I.
Thank you
I could really use this, but I think my Mom could use it even more than myself. What a wonderful giveaway idea!
This would be great! Thanks!!!
This would be wonderful under my tree. Now that I am a mommy I feel not the prettiest and could use some pampering
I would love to win this. I spend most of my time doing for others and it would be nice to win something like this for myself. I would have to share with my mom of course!
I really want to try that thing that cleans your feet, but I just can’t justify the cost of it because I don’t have the money to buy extras, so that would be so cool if I could win that along with a bunch of great stuff!! Thank you for the opportunity!! :0)
Great giveaway, thank you!!
would love this thanks for the chance to win
i love to try new products .. i would love to win
I love this giveaway! Thanks for the chance!
Would love to win this! Thanks for awesome giveaways!
Thank you for the great giveawy!
ksceviour at hotmail dot com
this would be nice
New beauty products Cool Beans hope I get to try some!!!
Im always looking for new things to try.
What a nice collection of usable beauty products! Thanks CVS! I could definately use this gift basket!
i love shopping at cvs.All of this stuff is great .thank you for this
CVS is Wonderful…they donate alot to Extreme Makeover Home Edition
I absoutely love this idea for moms that need a special gift every now and then !!!! I have tried to put away money for a spa trip…..but I always find something that my children need more than I need my spa day!!!!!! THIS IS AN AWESOME giveaway!!!!
Great giveaway. I would love to win this. Thanks!!!
rjs682 at yahoo dot com
I would love to win this! I have been wanting to try the Easy Feet for quite some time now because I have a chronic Pain disease (RSD/CRPS) that affects my feet, legs and hands and I think it would be very beneficial to me. It has been cost restrictive for me to buy one though. Here’s hoping!!!
Have a wonderful holiday season everyone!! Blessings to you all! ~Lisa~
it has been a hard month would love to win a gift to share with my daughter.
Would love to win this , belensmama at gmail dot com
Would love to win. Sometimes having two sets of twins and working full time means that I don’t get a chance to do for myself. I’d love a little pampering! Kat.
Thanks for the great giveaway
I would love to win this basket.
I could really use this for myself as a day of pampering. As the mom of 5 those days are far and few in between. Good luck to all and Merry Christmas.
oh what a marvelous giveaway! merry christmas to me!
This sounds like an amazing giveaway. I would love to try these products.
I am so excited CVS is coming to our town an I can’t wait have beeen watching their commercials for a long time and can’t wait for the savings to be offfered here aswell I am sure that this is going to quickly be one of my favorite stores
oh la la… these are definitely winter essentials every household needs. Thank you for the opportunity girls and CVS!
Would love to win!
What a great basket- I would love it!
jill.watkins (at) gmail.com
I love CVS. They have the best deals in the world. I could also use a little pampering.
love it! sims309@gmail.com
It would be awesome to try new products!
Would love to win this basket. Thanks1
tmc480 at yahoo dot com
loe spa products- thanks for great giveaway!
Looks like a great gift basket.
Looks wonderful, would love to find great products at a wonderful price.
would love to win – always lots of good finds at CVS
OOOH I love things that make me feel, smell and look pretty!!! ho, Ho, Ho
As a mom to 3 boys, I would love to win this and have a little way to pamper myself at the end of a long day.
would love to win some beauty products since taking on the task of raising grandbabies there isnt much to spend on luxeries for myself
This would be great to win and “relax”
Oh, how fun! That sounds like the perfect basket for a girl’s night in!
Would love to get some things for myself!
I’m also a makeup and beauty junkie, getting this would be a great Christmas present….for me!!!
I’m so bummed that we don’t have a CVS here. I’d love to try out some of their products.
I would love to get a relaxing and fun gift such as this.
I would love to win!! CVS is one of my favorite money saver stores!
just what I could use to pamper myself!! Wash the stress away. I love gift baskets.
yourstrulee(at)sasktel(dot)net
looks like some great products
Love all the products, this mama could use a little pampering
OH! I love pampering products…. Count me in
I love CVS! That looks like a nice gift of relaxation!
At my age you need all the help you can get
Thanks!
Would make some nice stocking stuffers
Ooohhh… pamper me please! My 2 year old, and my hubbie keep me very busy! I little zen time would be great.
I’d love to win these goodies from CVS!
Would love to win this gift basket
Very nice.
This would be a lovely gift for my daughter. I’d love to win it for her.
What a nice basket I love CVS it is one of my favorite places to shop this would be a great gift for myself for the holidays
(maybe I will share)
Would love to win this for my mother~ Thank you for the chance to win~
these things look fun to try!!! thanks
looks like something for everyone in my household. Since my boys came home from college for break all my products are empty and they even took my ped egg!!!
A beautiful prize! I love the White Lavendar Hand Cream!
This would be Awesome to win~Thanks for the chance!
I never buy stuff like this, but I’m feeling like I could really use it now. I’m 29 yrs. old and my pores are huge, and I don’t have a skin care routine. It’s be nice to try without the buy part. Hooray for this giveaway!
What a great basket. The body wash sounds yummy
I would love to win this…I love beauty products and love shopping in CVS
My wife would really enjoy this.
Love this! Wish we had a CVS where I live!!
Great giveaway! I would love this!
Love all the products,I could use a little pampering……Gr8 giveaway!
What a wonderful assortment!
coriwestphal at msn dot com
Who wouldn’t love a basket full of beauty products! You can keep it or break it up for great stocking stuffers for all members of the family
Beauty items are the last thing on my shopping list as a busy mom. Inexpensive beauty products would be awesome!
awesome prizes …thanks – (emscout9 at Hotmail dot com)
Always love CVS
Mommy time here I come, this is a wonderful basket with products from CVS that I could enjoy all by myself.
I would love to win this!
MY MOTHER WOULD JUST LOVE THIS!
I love CVS brand products- this basket looks great!
who needs this basket????…I need this basket! Please and thank you!
I would love to win this basket! The shower gel sounds heavenly!
Would love this gift, especially since winter is such beast to my skin.
this would be awesome
great idea!
would love to win some cvs goodies!
I would love a beauty basket. Thanks
Great prize, thanks!
This is a great prize pack! I would love to win and thanks for the giveaway!
I have really liked all the CVS brand items I have tried! Thanks for the Giveaway!
great prize thaks
HUGE CVS fan here!!!
The misses would really like this.
Something special for the wife.
Me likey!
A girl can never have too many beauty products.
I hardly take the time to pamper myself now that I have a little person, but this looks like a good excuse to get started.
Would give to my girlfriend.
If I win this I will give it to my sister in law for x-mas.
This would be a great Christmas present for myself, to use for a relaxing evening after a long day with the kids.
What a great gift basket!
This would be nice to pamper myself with!