As a work at home mom who spends most of her day online I find at least 30 minutes a day is devoted to online browsing. My obsession–beauty products. Everything from wrinkle cream to hair volumizers I have probably researched every one online and then end up at the neighborhood drugstore to do the actual buying.

As I was killing 20 minutes before picking my daughter up from pre-school I went to CVS (a drugstore chain in our area) with my ever present list and strolled the aisles. It occurred to me that if you look at someone’s CVS receipt you can tell exactly what phase of life they are in.

Here is a sample of what my receipts have looked like through the years.

Age 15 (high school)

Tiger Beat Magazine

Bonne Bell Lip Gloss

Sun In Spray Highlights

Marlboro Lights

Age 19 (college)

Cosmopolitan

Bronzer blush (didn’t really need it since I was in a tanning booth every other day)

Paint on hair highlights

Condoms

Age 25 (working girl)

People Magazine

Under eye concealer (too many nights out!)

Mousse (I’ve traded in blonde hair for high hair)

Birth control pills

Age 31 (new mother)

Parenting Magazine

Infant Tylenol

Bag Balm (diaper rash and sore nipples)

Pony tail holders (who has time to do their hair)

Birth control pills and condoms (can’t be too

Age 37 (mother of 2, no infants!)

Us Magazine (to live vicariously through the lives of beautiful people)

Self tanning lotion (no more harmful UV rays for me)

Electric rollers (I actually have 10 minutes to myself now to do something special)

Coloring book and new markers (I still can’t shop exclusively for ME)

Ovulation predictor (now that my life is getting a little easier, I need to mess it up again?)

My point is don’t overlook the local neighborhood drugstore when you need a little beauty pick me up. It has served me well for 37 years and here are some of my favorite products. In case you cannot give up your online shopping addiction these can all be purchased online with such sites as drugstore.com or beauty.com

• Maybelline Great Lash Mascara (very black)

• Neutrogena Build-a-Tan Gradual Sunless Tanning for Face (has an SPF 15)

• Garnier Fructis Fortifying Shampoo

• Oral B Braun Electric Toothbrush (I feel like I’ve had my teeth professionally cleaned)

Valerie McDermott is mother of 2 and co-founder of http://www.million-dollar-mama.com a website devoted to helping mothers put themselves back on the “to-do” list. For a free monthly Mamazine filled with tips, articles and special offerings for moms who crave "me-time" go to http://www.million-dollar-mama.com/Mamazine/mamazine.htm

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