Woman's World

4 Best Drugstore Moisturizers for Dry Skin That Rival $100 Creams

Alyssa Sybertz — Thu, 12 Nov 2026 15:00:01 +0000

Everyone’s skin, and therefore their skincare routine, is different. Some folks naturally produce more oil, while others tend to be drier. But regardless of your skin’s tendencies during your 30s and 40s, there are a few consistent changes that tend to happen as you reach your 50s and 60s—changes that require seeking out specific ingredients in your facial moisturizer.

“As we age, our skin naturally produces less oil and becomes less efficient at retaining moisture, which can lead to dryness, increased sensitivity and a more noticeable appearance of fine lines,” explains Brendan Camp, MD, a dermatologist at MDCS Dermatology: Medical Dermatology & Cosmetic Surgery in New York. The good news: You don’t need to shell out $100 or more for moisturizers that will help combat these issues. Here, Dr. Camp reveals what to look for in the best moisturizers for mature skin, plus shares four drugstore picks that will help keep dry skin soft and supple at a manageable price tag.

Best moisturizer ingredients for mature, dry skin

When choosing a moisturizer for mature skin, Dr. Camp says that the ingredients in the product should do two things: attract moisture and prevent moisture from escaping. If both of these are at play, it can limit dryness and soften the appearance of fine lines.

So, what ingredients have these effects? “Hyaluronic acid and glycerin are excellent humectants that draw water into the skin, while ceramides help replenish the skin’s protective barrier,” Dr. Camp says. “Niacinamide is another ingredient worth looking for, as it can help support the skin barrier and improve uneven skin tone over time.”

For sealing in moisture and preventing it from escaping, Dr. Camp highlights petrolatum, dimethicone and shea butter as ingredients to prioritize. “I generally recommend a fragrance-free formula, particularly for anyone experiencing dryness or sensitivity,” he adds.

4 best drugstore moisturizers for dry skin

“A good moisturizer doesn’t need to be expensive or contain dozens of active ingredients,” says Dr. Camp. Here are four he recommends—simply choose the one that best suits your skin type or individual needs.

A CeraVe cream that combats persistent dryness

If you’re struggling with dry skin that never seems to feel supple, Dr. Camp suggests trying CeraVe Moisturizing Cream to help lock in moisturize. “It contains three essential ceramides and hyaluronic acid, which help support the skin barrier and improve moisture retention,” he says. “I like that it focuses on replenishing moisture without relying on potentially irritating active ingredients.” The cream also feels thick and luxurious going on, which is a plus during chilly months.

The La Roche-Posay pick you can use all over

“Mature skin can become more prone to irritation as it loses moisture, so I appreciate products that prioritize barrier repair,” Dr. Camp says, which is why he loves La Roche-Posay Lipikar AP+MAX Triple Repair Moisturizing Cream. “The formula contains shea butter, glycerin and niacinamide, which help hydrate the skin and support its protective barrier.” This is a thick moisturizer that’s marketed as a body cream—and is highly effective as one—but Dr. Camp adds that you can also use it on your face if you wish.

Neutrogena’s cream that feels feather-light

Neutrogena Hydro Boost Water Gel Cream is Dr. Camp’s pick for folks who prefer a lighter moisturizer or those who still have combination or oily skin. “It contains hyaluronic acid and other hydrating ingredients that help the skin retain moisture without the heavier feel of a traditional cream,” he explains. “The gel-cream texture is also appealing for daytime use, particularly underneath sunscreen or makeup.”

An Olay moisturizer with anti-aging properties

Want your moisturizer to work double duty to soothe dry, sensitive skin and reduce signs of aging such as fine lines and wrinkles? Olay Regenerist Micro-Sculpting Cream is the way to go, says Dr. Camp. “The formula includes niacinamide and peptides, which can help support the skin barrier and improve the appearance of skin texture over time,” he says. “It provides moisture while offering a more targeted approach to concerns like fine lines and uneven texture.”

How to choose the best moisturizer for your skin

“The most important thing is finding a product that provides lasting hydration, supports the skin barrier and feels comfortable enough to use consistently,” says Dr. Camp. Ultimately, it may take some trial and error depending on your skin type, especially if the texture or moisture in your skin is changing. But any of the four drugstore picks above would be an excellent place to start.

Lynda Carter Reveals the 2 Things She Uses for Her Surprisingly Simple Skincare Routine at 75

Samantha Agate — Thu, 05 Nov 2026 21:10:54 +0000

At 75, Lynda Carter has stripped her entire skincare routine down to two ingredients, soap and water, and said so bluntly on a recent red carpet. Her lineup, shaped by her mother and tested across five decades on camera, is a bargain hunter’s dream. Almost everything she reaches for is sold at any drugstore for a few dollars.

What’s happening in the celebrity beauty world

“My skin care is honestly and truly soap and water. Just a clear soap and water. Clear soap! Just a clear soap and water,” Carter said in an October 2026 red carpet clip shared by Hello! Magazine via Instagram.

The Wonder Woman star, who received a Paley Center for Media Honors Award in May 2025, has stuck with the same philosophy for years. She used Purpose soap (a decades-old drugstore face bar) for most of her career. For body care, she reaches for Bronnley Lemon & Neroli Soap, which she described to The Strategist as “a fresh, very lemony scent that doesn’t smell artificial.”

Carter has also been direct about skipping cosmetic procedures, the single biggest line item in most anti-aging budgets. “I don’t cut my face, so I probably look just myself, but older,” she told People in March 2024. “The reason I’ve never had any facial surgery is just because I’m afraid. It’s scary, because we’ve all seen some bad ones.”

Why the shift to simpler makeup routines is happening

Carter credits her mother for the foundation of her routine, specifically decades-early sun-avoidance habits that cost almost nothing.

“She was so ahead of her time. She said, ‘Do not go out in the sun. If you do, you’ll end up like a prune or an old leather purse,’” Carter told W Magazine. “At the time, there was no sun protection, so she’d wear hats and put cream on her face. And she used to give herself a facial with egg whites. She had no wrinkles on her face, and her hands were always soft.”

Carter adopted the same discipline and expanded it with inexpensive drugstore picks. She uses Coppertone For Faces Only on her hands while driving, and because she rows on the Potomac River, she wears athletic wear with built-in sun protection from brands such as Coolie.

She has also pushed back on the idea that celebrity faces are the product of secret high-end skincare. “Actors and celebrities always look so great when they’re on the red carpet, but when you see them in real life, they just look like a regular person with no makeup and their crummy clothes on,” she told People. “If everyone did a three-hour makeover before they left the house, then they’d all look amazing. What I’m trying to say is, there’s a lot of effort behind those pictures.”

What could be next for celebrity skin rituals

Carter’s framework points to three directional shifts worth watching, and each one translates into a concrete decision for anyone trying to spend less on beauty.

Sun protection moves from a step to the whole routine. Carter’s system is built around prevention rather than correction, and the central tools (sunscreen plus physical barriers like hats and UPF clothing) are inexpensive and widely available. Readers can act on this today by auditing their own daily sun exposure (the drive to work, the walk to the mailbox, the garden hour) and layering in SPF-rated clothing or a dedicated facial sunscreen before dropping money on a new serum.

Drugstore staples get a second life among women 50 and over. Carter has stuck with Maybelline Great Lash Mascara, the pink-and-green tube sold at every drugstore, for her entire career. “It’s still the best one on the market. The pink and green. It’s a classic formula, and it always works,” she told The Strategist. For readers rethinking a bloated beauty shelf, this is permission to downsize. One proven inexpensive mascara and one trusted bar of soap can replace a drawer of products that cost ten times more.

Technique starts to beat SKU count. Carter’s lipstick trick (“put one coat on, then rub it in with your finger, and then put a second coat on”) is the kind of two-second habit that outperforms a new tube. Expect more mature-focused beauty content to shift toward application technique over new launches. The money move for readers is to master a few techniques (a lipstick blot, a mascara layering method, a sunscreen reapplication cadence) before buying anything else.

The through-line of Carter’s philosophy is restraint. Fewer products, more protection and a refusal to chase correction.

THREE SIGNALS TO WATCH
1. More celebrities over 70 publicly naming a two or three-step routine on red carpets, as Carter did with Hello! Magazine
2. Growth in UPF-rated athletic wear brands such as Coolie entering mainstream retail
3. Renewed visibility for drugstore classics like Maybelline Great Lash and Purpose soap in beauty coverage aimed at women 50 and over

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What Does Retinol Do for Mature Skin? 5 Perks—Plus How To Avoid Irritation

Lauren Gatcombe — Wed, 04 Nov 2026 17:03:39 +0000

If you’ve ever stood in the skincare aisle staring at a wall of bottles promising to turn back time, you’re not alone. One ingredient keeps showing up on label after label: retinol. Dermatologists call it the gold standard for mature skin, the one over-the-counter workhorse that can soften fine lines, fade dark spots and bring back a healthy glow. But what does retinol do, exactly, and how do you add it to your routine without ending up red and flaky? Here’s what the pros want women over 50 to know.

What is retinol?

“Retinol is a vitamin A derivative used in skincare to aid in skin renewal, anti-aging, pigmentation and acne,” explains Kiran Mian, MD, a board-certified dermatologist at Hudson Dermatology and Laser Surgery in New York City.

It belongs to a bigger family called retinoids, which includes gentler over-the-counter options and prescription-strength formulas like tretinoin. “Retinol is a precursor that must be converted by the skin into retinoic acid to become effective,” explains Pooja Rambhia, MD, a board-certified dermatologist in New York City. That extra conversion step makes retinol gentler than tretinoin, which is why it’s such a smart starting point for most women.

What does retinol do for mature skin?

Plenty—and most of it addresses the exact concerns that pop up in the mirror after menopause. Here’s why it’s worth adding to your skincare routine:

It firms and smooths

Applying retinol boosts collagen and elastin, the two proteins that keep skin plump and resilient. Teresa Song, MD, a board-certified dermatologist at Marmur Medical in New York City, says retinol “stimulates collagen production as well as improves pigmentation in the skin.” Over time, that means fewer visible fine lines and wrinkles.

It brightens dull skin

Retinol speeds up skin cell turnover, helping shed dry, discolored skin cells and revealing fresher ones underneath. That’s what brings the glow back, and before-and-after photos of consistent retinol use show the shift clearly.

It evens out skin tone

Age spots, melasma and post-acne discoloration all respond to retinol’s renewal effect. “This improves skin texture and evens out skin tone,” Dr. Mian says.

It clears clogged pores

Breakouts don’t magically stop at 50. Dr. Mian notes that retinol “makes keratinocytes less sticky, preventing the blockage of pores.”

It works on the body too

Crepey arms, rough décolletage and loose skin on the legs all benefit from retinol body lotions and creams, which deliver the same collagen-boosting benefits in a richer formula to help reverse signs of aging.

How to use retinol without skin irritation

A little really does go a long way. Dr. Song suggests starting with a pea-size amount applied to clean, dry skin at night, just one or two times a week. Build up to every other night, then nightly as your skin adjusts. Always follow with a good moisturizer—and always wear sunscreen the next morning. One we like: Supergoop! Unseen Sunscreen SPF 50.

“Retinol should only be used in your evening routine, as it can make your skin sensitive to sunlight if used during the day,” says Mandy Epley, an esthetician and owner of Mandy Epley Skin Studio in New Orleans.

If your skin tends to be more sensitive, try the retinol sandwich method. “This approach buffers topical retinoid between layers of moisturizer to minimize direct skin contact while still allowing the active ingredient to work,” Dr. Rambhia explains. Apply moisturizer, wait 5 to 10 minutes, apply a pea-size amount of retinol, wait another 5 to 10 minutes, then layer on more moisturizer.

Worth noting: “Some flaking with retinol is normal and in fact even good—it means it’s working!” Dr. Mian says. If irritation lingers, scale back and simplify with a gentle cleanser and hydrating moisturizer until your skin feels calm.

The best retinol products for mature skin

For sensitive or mature skin, dermatologists point to a handful of gentle, affordable skincare products:

La Roche-Posay Retinol B3 Serum: Dr. Song likes this lightweight formula because it pairs pure retinol with soothing niacinamide and citric acid.
CeraVe Skin Renewing Retinol Serum: Dr. Rambhia recommends this drugstore favorite for its encapsulated retinol and ceramides that support the skin barrier.
RoC Retinol Correxion Line Smoothing Max Hydration Cream: A hydrating night cream Dr. Song suggests for beginners.
Good Molecules Gentle Retinoid Cream: Dr. Song calls out this bakuchiol-and-retinol blend as an extra-gentle choice.

The one thing that makes it all work

The biggest secret to retinol success? Patience. Real results take weeks, sometimes months—but stick with it, and the mirror will show you why dermatologists have recommended this ingredient for decades.

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'Skin Longevity' Goes Beyond Skin Deep, Says Sunscreen Maven

Julia Dennison — Wed, 28 Oct 2026 18:00:18 +0000

If you’ve built your beauty routine around SPF, serums and supplements, you already understand that good skincare is a long game. Holly Thaggard, the woman who made daily sunscreen aspirational with Supergoop!, has been saying this for years. Her two biggest beauty secrets? SPF and H2O. She checked the first off her to-do list with Supergoop! when she founded it in 2007; now she’s turning that same prevention-first thinking toward what we drink—and what we drink it out of.

Enter WaterOuai!, Thaggard’s new on-the-go water brand co-founded with her 19-year-old son, Will. Sourced from the Edwards Aquifer, a 70-million-year-old limestone formation in the Texas Hill Country, the artesian water trades plastic bottles for infinitely recyclable metal cans. For Thaggard, that aluminum can isn’t just eco-conscious—it’s the secret to skin longevity.

What exactly is skin longevity?

In simple terms, skin longevity is about keeping skin healthy and strong for the long run—not just making wrinkles look smoother with a quick fix (though we’ll take that, too!). It means helping protect your skin’s natural barrier, keeping it hydrated, supporting collagen and shielding it from everyday damage like the sun. The goal is skin that stays resilient and healthy through every stage of life.

The next frontier of preventative beauty

Thaggard is on a mission with a simple idea: Small changes to everyday habits can make a big difference to long-term health. She started with sunscreen and is now moving on to how we package our water. “Hydration is one of the most consistent habits in our lives, yet the packaging hasn’t evolved at the same pace as the broader wellness conversation. With a prevention-first mindset that also shaped Supergoop!, we saw an opportunity to bring a more thoughtful, intentional approach to something people use every day.”

For Thaggard, hydration isn’t a trend to add on top of your routine. It’s the other half of the preventative-beauty equation she’s been preaching for two decades.

“To me, preventative beauty is about the habits you’re going to repeat without fail, because those are the ones that actually change how you age,” she says. “SPF earned its place in my philosophy because it’s the single most protective thing you can do for your skin, every single day. WaterOuai! fits into that same philosophy as the other half of the equation, which is taking care of the skin from the inside. When it comes to skin longevity and preventative beauty, you don’t see the effect of one day. You see the effect of ten thousand days.”

Why the container suddenly matters

The ingestible-beauty conversation has quickly expanded to include what might be ending up in our bodies alongside the good stuff. Plastic bottled water can contain roughly 26 microplastic particles per liter, while glass bottles with metal screw caps can carry two to three times more, largely from polyester paint on the caps. Thaggard sees this as the next natural chapter of a holistic longevity story.

“There’s growing research around microplastics, nanoplastics and chemicals associated with food and beverage packaging, and we’re still learning what repeated exposure means for our long-term health,” she says. “For us, that raises a simple question: If you can reduce unnecessary exposure through something as fundamental as your water, why wouldn’t you?”

She’s blunt about why the can itself is the main character. “The container matters more than most people realize. Traditional cans rely on a liner sprayed inside and cured with heat—a process that can require solvents and additives to make the coating stick, and it doesn’t always apply evenly. Over time, that can mean peeling, flaking or chemical transfer into the water. It’s easy to assume ‘BPA-free’ solves the problem, but a lot of alternative resins and coatings raise similar concerns—the issue just moves somewhere less visible.”

WaterOuai! takes a different approach: a solid PET film laminated onto aluminum before the can is formed, instead of a conventional spray-on liner. The result is made without BPA and other bisphenols, PFAS, phthalates or solvent-based coatings. It’s the first U.S. water brand to launch with this can technology.

“With roughly a third of Americans drinking bottled water daily, and around 22 million of those being kids, the container isn’t a small detail,” Thaggard says. “It’s the whole ballgame.”

Holly Thaggard, founder of Supergoop!, with her WaterOuai! cofounder son, Will Thaggard
WaterOuai!

Inside Holly Thaggard’s beauty routine

For those of us who love knowing exactly what a beauty founder actually does every morning, Thaggard’s routine is refreshingly repeatable.

“I start my mornings with sunlight and a quick check of my sleep score, then depending on the day, I’ll do weight training or Pilates, followed by the sauna and four minutes in the cold plunge,” she says. “I shower, put on my SPF, take my vitamins—currently Momentous Iron+ and Creatine—and drink a big glass of water before coffee or email.”

At night, she protects her wind-down the same way she proritizes her SPF. “I like to take a warm bath, read a little, make a list of what’s on my mind for tomorrow, take my evening vitamins and keep 32 ounces of WaterOuai! with crushed ice by my bed.”

Her takeaway is the kind of permission slip most of us need. “None of it is particularly complicated. That’s really my wellness philosophy: Make the healthy choice the easy choice, and then repeat it. SPF every day. Clean water every day. Protecting your sleep. Taking care of yourself in small ways that compound over time. That’s where I think real wellness lives.”

Smart habits for drinking water on the go

If you want to apply Thaggard’s thinking to your own routine, a few expert-backed habits make the biggest difference:

Choose the right vessel. Food-grade stainless steel (18/8 or 304 grade) is the most durable, non-reactive choice. Borosilicate glass with a silicone sleeve is another non-reactive option. Avoid reusing single-use plastic bottles, which can break down and leach microplastics or phthalates, especially in heat or sun.
Sip, don’t chug. Steady intake throughout the day supports absorption better than drinking large volumes at once.
Clean your bottle daily. Wash the bottle and cap with warm water and dish soap, paying attention to rubber gaskets and spouts where mold can grow.
Mind the source. Use filtered refills, and skip ice-cold water during intense exertion, which can occasionally trigger stomach cramps.

Hydration goals are personal—many experts recommend women aim for roughly 2.7 liters of fluids a day, including the water you get from produce. But as Thaggard’s philosophy makes clear, it’s not just how much. It’s what you’re drinking it from—and whether you’re willing to do it every single day.

Are You Wasting Money on Skincare? Experts Suggest Which Products You Can Skip to Save Money and Time

Samantha Agate — Tue, 27 Oct 2026 14:26:36 +0000

Restocking your skincare shelf can run hundreds of dollars, and dermatologists say plenty of those products are doing nothing for your face. Here’s the audit that puts cash back in your wallet.

What skincare products do dermatologists say to stop using?

Dermatologists flag eight common buys as a waste. The list covers sheet masks with actives, collagen creams, harsh exfoliators, pore strips, alcohol-based toners, cleansing wipes, astringents and pricey sunscreens.

Rachel Westbay, MD, a board-certified dermatologist at Marmur Medical, told Huffpost that piling on cosmetic chemicals can damage the skin barrier and microbiome, worsening acne, rosacea and eczema. “Less is often more when it comes to skin care,” agreed Marisa Garshick, MD, who said a simple, consistent routine typically outperforms a complicated one.

Are sheet masks with active ingredients bad for your skin?

Yes. A plain hydrating mask is fine for an occasional glow, but masks loaded with retinol or other actives can irritate your face because the format traps the ingredient against the skin.

Shereene Idriss, MD, founder of Idriss Dermatology in Manhattan, told “The Mel Robbins Podcast” that “when you find a sheet mask with an active, like a retinol, this is a red flag,” because the delivery method does not match the ingredient. Dr. Garshick told Prevention that “combining strong actives, like retinol and chemical exfoliators, can overwhelm skin and lead to irritation or even chemical burns,” potentially weakening the barrier over time.

Do collagen creams actually work on your skin?

No. Topical collagen molecules are too large to penetrate your skin, so you’re paying a premium for a label claim the formula cannot deliver. A basic drugstore moisturizer hydrates just as well.

Dr. Idriss said one popular collagen gel is simply a hydrating cream. “The word ‘collagen’ on this moisturiser makes people think that it’s going to help them replenish their collagen,” she said. “But it’s a hydrating moisturiser. It’s not going to replenish your collagen.” Omar Ibrahimi, a Connecticut dermatologist, told Business Insider that collagen and elastin are large protein molecules that cannot reach the dermis from the outside.

Should you use pore strips, harsh exfoliators or alcohol-based toners?

Skip them. Dermatologists told New Beauty that scrubs, pore strips and alcohol-heavy toners strip the skin barrier and can make breakouts worse, so your money is funding damage.

Julie Russak, MD, called pore strips “definitely overhyped.” Dr. Westbay added that alcohol-based astringents strip lipids and can trigger a rebound in oil production that causes more acne.

Do you need expensive sunscreen or a separate makeup remover?

No on both counts. A drugstore SPF protects as well as a luxury one, and a solid cleanser already removes your makeup, so two line items can come off your receipt.

Mona Gohara, MD, an associate clinical professor of dermatology at Yale School of Medicine, told The Healthy that “expensive packaging doesn’t mean more protection.” Jennifer Kitchin, a dermatologist in New York, told Business Insider that “buying a separate makeup remover is a waste of money,” since a gentle cleanser lifts dirt, oil and makeup in one step.

Why do dermatologists warn against complicated skincare routines?

Because every extra product is money spent and another chance to wreck your skin barrier. A shorter, consistent routine checked by a pro beats stacking viral buys.

Kathleen Suozzi, MD, who teaches dermatology at Yale, told the New York Post that regimens “have become way overcomplicated.” Dr. Gohara warned Prevention that “social media isn’t skincare science, so if the trend sounds weird or extreme, it probably is.”

Dull Skin? Try This 2-Ingredient Coffee Scrub

Editorial Staff — Wed, 07 Oct 2026 18:02:26 +0000

You know that look. You catch yourself in the bathroom mirror after a long day—or worse, a long week—and your skin seems to have lost its glow. It happens to all of us, especially as the years go by and as the seasons change. The good news? You don’t need a pricey facial or a cabinet full of serums to bring back some radiance. The brightening fix might already be sitting in your coffee maker.

This two-ingredient scrub uses what you’ve already got on hand, costs practically nothing and takes only a few minutes from start to rinse.

What causes dull skin as we age?

Dull skin happens when dead skin cells build up on the surface and keep light from bouncing off evenly. Add in lack of sleep, stress, hormonal shifts and the general wear-and-tear of daily life, and your complexion can start to look tired even when you’re feeling fine.

That’s where a gentle at-home scrub comes in. Giving your skin a quick, careful buff can help lift away that top layer of dullness and reveal the fresher, smoother skin underneath. And here’s the thing: you don’t need anything fancy. Two simple kitchen ingredients can do the work beautifully.

What you need for this DIY scrub (yes, it really is this simple)

Here’s your whole shopping list—which, honestly, isn’t a shopping list at all:

¼ cup used coffee grounds
1 tablespoon honey

That’s it. No special tools, no exotic ingredients, no trip to the beauty counter. If you made coffee this morning, you’ve already got half of what you need. Save those grounds instead of tossing them.

How to make and use your coffee scrub

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Stir the ¼ cup of used coffee grounds together with the honey until you have a loose, grainy paste. Make sure your face is clean and bare—no makeup, no sunscreen, no leftover moisturizer—so the scrub can actually reach your skin.

Then, using a light touch, gently massage the mixture onto skin. The key word there is gently. There’s no need to press hard or scrub vigorously—the coffee grounds do the work for you. Think soft, circular motions, like you’re giving yourself a mini facial.

Carefully avoid the delicate eye area. The skin around your eyes is thinner and more sensitive than the rest of your face, and it doesn’t need (or want) the exfoliating action of coffee grounds.

Once you’ve covered your face, let the mixture dry. Then rinse it off with lukewarm water. Pat your face dry with a soft towel, and follow with your usual moisturizer.

The science behind why it works

The coffee grounds act as a physical exfoliant, buffing away the built-up dead skin cells that make your complexion look flat and tired. Think of it as sweeping the dust off a windowpane—suddenly the light gets through again.

Meanwhile, the honey is a humectant that locks in moisture for a smoother, more radiant finish you can see almost immediately. It also has antimicrobial and antioxidant compounds to help boost skin health.

And there’s a bonus benefit. Coffee naturally contains caffeine, an antioxidant that helps increase circulation and perk up tired-looking skin. So in addition to the gentle polishing and the temporary firming, your skin is getting a little wake-up call too.

A few friendly tips before you start

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A few things worth keeping in mind as you try this at home:

Use used grounds, not fresh: Spent grounds from your morning coffee are softer and gentler on skin than dry, uncooked ones.
Light touch always wins: Over-scrubbing can irritate your skin and leave it red. Let the texture do the exfoliating for you.
Protect your drains: Coffee grounds can clog pipes, so you may want to rinse over a bowl first and discard the grounds in the trash, then do your final splash at the sink.
Avoid broken skin: If you have cuts, active breakouts or any irritation, give yourself a break and wait until your skin is calm.

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How To Get Rid of Puffy Eyes in Minutes With a 2-Ingredient Home Remedy

Danielle Saliman — Tue, 06 Oct 2026 15:00:27 +0000

You know the feeling. You catch a glimpse in the mirror and there they are—tired, swollen eyes staring back at you after a long night or indulging in one too many salty snacks. Cucumber slices are the classic go-to for under-eye bags, but there’s a smarter home remedy that works faster, feels better and takes just two ingredients to make. Keep scrolling to learn how to get rid of puffy eyes in minutes.

Why your eyes look puffy in the morning

Puffy eyes are one of those small frustrations that can throw off your whole day. Sometimes it’s a restless night. Sometimes it’s the salty takeout you had for dinner, or seasonal sniffles or simply the fact that fluid tends to settle around the delicate skin under your eyes while you sleep. Whatever the cause, the tissues around the eye area are thin, sensitive and quick to show it.

The good news is that you don’t need a fancy eye cream to reduce puffiness. A little cool contact right where you need it can do the trick in minutes—and this freezer-ready version beats the old cucumber method hands down.

How to get rid of puffy eyes in minutes

To reduce puffiness and bags under the eyes, all you’ll need is makeup sponges, rubbing alcohol and water—a mixture you’ll pop in the freezer. The genius is in the alcohol, which lowers the freezing point of the water so the sponges never turn into rock-hard little blocks. Instead, they stay soft and flexible enough to curve gently around the shape of your closed eyes, which is exactly where cucumber slices and other inflexible cold compresses can’t quite reach.

Because the sponges mold to your face, you get cooling relief in all the right spots: the inner corner, the arc under your lash line and that puffy pocket just above your cheekbone.

Your simple, step-by-step guide

You can put a pair of these together in about two minutes, then stash them away for whenever you need them.

Mix equal parts rubbing alcohol and water in a small bowl.
Soak two makeup sponges in the mixture until they’re fully saturated.
Wrap each sponge securely in plastic wrap.
Place them in the freezer and leave them until chilled through.

When you need them, unwrap one for each eye, close your eyes and press the sponges gently into place. Lie back for a few minutes and let the DIY cool compresses do the work.

Tip: Make a second pair and keep them tucked in the freezer. The moment your original set starts to warm up, you can swap in the cold backups without missing a beat. That little bit of planning stretches your cooling session as long as you want it, no waiting around for a refreeze.

The bottom line on how to get rid puffy eyes fast

The best beauty tips are the ones that feel almost too simple to work. Two sponges, a few basic ingredients and a couple minutes in the freezer and you’ve got a reusable, soothing fix for puffy eyes that costs almost nothing. Keep a pair ready, and the next time your reflection catches you by surprise, you’ll know exactly what to do.

A version of this story appears in the November 2, 2026, issue of Woman’s World.

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Meet the Brands From Wild to Dove That Are Pushing Refillable Deodorant Into the Mainstream Market

Lauren Jarvis-Gibson — Tue, 22 Sep 2026 20:15:28 +0000

The stuff in your medicine cabinet is quietly getting a redesign. Refillable deodorant, once a niche move for zero-waste shoppers, is landing on mass-market shelves as legacy giants and startups roll out reusable cases with swap-in refills. Wild is now stocked in Target stores nationwide. Dove has released its first refillable stick. Saltair and Fussy are building lineups of their own.

The pitch is simple. Buy the case once, keep the case and replace only the deodorant inside. What that means for household plastic, bathroom clutter and the price of your daily stick is still shaking out.

How refillable deodorant works

The core idea is separating the container from the product. A reusable case, often stainless steel or durable plastic, holds a replaceable cartridge of deodorant. When you finish the cartridge, you pop in a new one instead of tossing the whole tube.

Wild uses a refillable case system available in a range of colors, paired with compostable refills made from bamboo pulp. Writing for The Independent, Brigitt Earley described trying the brand’s limited-edition sugar plum fairy scent. “It didn’t stop sweat, since it’s not an antiperspirant, but it kept odor in check on errand-filled days and even during light workouts,” she wrote. Earley also noted the formula is designed for sensitive skin, and that Wild offers a portable mini stick meant for travel or midday touch-ups.

Dove’s version leans on a stainless-steel case with replacement refills inside. On its product story page, the brand frames the launch as a push away from disposables. “We want to take action by creating innovative, eco-friendly alternatives to the products you know and love,” Dove writes. “So that together, we can help leave disposable culture behind and buy products that we will treasure for life.”

Which brands are pushing the category forward

Four names dominate the current wave.

Wild. Refillable stick with reusable cases and plastic-free refills, now in Target stores nationwide.
Dove. The mass-market giant’s first refillable deodorant uses a reusable stainless-steel case with replacement refills.
Saltair. Takes a beauty and skincare-driven angle. The aluminum-free, vegan and cruelty-free formula is clinically tested for 24-hour odor protection, and uses ingredients like BHAs and zinc ricinoleate to address odor while exfoliating skin. Refill pods currently include scents such as Pink Beach and Golden Hour.
Fussy. A UK-based refillable deodorant brand built around a reusable case and replaceable refills.

Why refillable deodorant matters now

Two shifts are meeting in the same aisle. Startups have spent years selling shoppers on plastic-free swaps, and now legacy brands are following them into refillable formats. Dove’s arrival signals the category is no longer a niche experiment.

The company’s own framing captures the stakes. “It’s easy to change a product. But it’s harder to change your habits,” Dove writes on its site. Refillables ask shoppers to rethink a purchase they have made the same way for decades.

Promises also differ in ways worth checking before you switch. Wild’s refill is compostable bamboo pulp, and its formula is not an antiperspirant. Saltair markets a full day of odor protection with skincare-style ingredients built into the pod. Dove is betting the tactile appeal of a sleek reusable case will do the persuading. Fussy, meanwhile, offers a UK-rooted alternative for shoppers seeking another entry point into the format.

This 5-Minute Gua Sha Facial Routine De-Puffs and Sculpts Mature Skin

Anna Traver — Tue, 22 Sep 2026 14:00:43 +0000

Remember when gua sha took over social media a few years back? That palm-sized stone tool, with its rounded curves and flat edges, earned its viral moment for a very good reason: It delivers a naturally lifted, sculpted look without needles, downtime or a spa bill. And for those of us dealing with unwanted puffiness or dullness, the payoff of adding gua sha tools to our skincare routine can be huge. So we asked the experts how to get started with a gua sha routine today—and what kind of before-and-after results you can really expect.

What gua sha is and why mature skin loves it

Gua sha has deep roots in Chinese medicine and a wide range of uses, but it broke through the beauty world for its ability to contour, lift and de-puff the face. Think of a gua sha massage as gentle strength training for the muscles and tissues you rarely think about.

“Gua sha can be used as a light facial massage, to reduce facial tension and, what it’s gone viral for, to lift and depuff the face. The biggest benefits of gua sha are that it boosts circulation, sculpts and lifts, relieves facial tension (especially in the jaw and forehead) and aids lymphatic drainage, which reduces puffiness in the face,” explains esthetician Jennifer Breslin of SkinSpirit. “The boost in blood flow and reduction in swelling is particularly beneficial for mature skin.”

Cecily Braden, esthetician and founder of Cecily Braden Spa & Wellness, agrees that the real magic comes down to circulation. When blood flows freely, plasma bathes cells with nutrients and oxygen and activates the lymphatic system to sweep away waste. “We age on a cellular level, not a physical one, so maintaining the health and longevity of every cell is a necessity,” she says. “Gua sha helps create internal movement and the healthy exchange of nutrients and waste within the tissue.”

Farah Daniels, esthetician and educator at Savor Beauty, adds that with consistent use, gua sha can help smooth fine lines and “lift” your features over time.

A simple gua sha routine to slim and sculpt your face

One of the biggest myths about a gua sha routine is that you should lightly sweep the stone across your skin. But to truly change how your face looks, Braden says, you have to engage the tissue underneath using light to medium pressure. She recommends a simple “gather, anchor, glide” method you can master in minutes.

What you’ll need: a gua sha tool, such as EcoTools Jade Gua Sha for less than $6 at Target, and your favorite facial oil, serum or moisturizer. A beginner-friendly gua sha routine you can try today:

Prep the skin. Cleanse and remove all makeup, then apply a “slip” (that’s your facial oil or serum) to your skin so the tool glides without tugging.
Gather. “Place the stone [gua sha] at a 15 degree angle and give it a little ‘tug,’” Braden says. “Just enough to allow the edge to connect and engage the tissue.”
Anchor. Use your free hand to hold the skin in front of the tool. This prevents stretching.
Glide. “Sweep outward, continuing to ‘gather’ the tissue, ‘anchor’ to support and sweep [‘glide’] outward,” Braden continues. (Check out a free how-to video for extra guidance.)

And don’t skip your neck and eye area. “You must start at the neck to properly drain all the toxins,” Breslin advises. For the delicate eye zone, Daniels uses a tri-luxe tool—the smooth edge to smooth, the curved edge for deeper fascia work and the rounded end to contour.

Pro tip: Chill your gua sha tool in the fridge or freezer beforehand to enhance de-puffing (Breslin prefers metal because it stays cold longer, though jade and stone tools work beautifully too).

The gua sha before-and-after difference is real

Skeptical that a gua sha routine really works? Side-by-side photos show the change clearly. In Braden’s images, her client shows a visible reduction in swelling along the neck and jawline, plus more lifted features overall.

Cecily Braden

In one of Daniels’ before-and-afters, only the left eye was worked on, and it looks noticeably brighter, with less puffiness and fewer dark circles than the untouched side.

Farah Daniels/Savor Beauty

A before-and-after gua sha photo shared by @wildling_beauty of @laurenbreiding shows the same one-sided effect: The treated side reads as lifted and de-puffed, especially around the eyes.

Cecily Braden

A bonus gua sha benefit: relief from chronic migraines

Turns out your gua sha routine may do more than sculpt, as one Woman’s World reader learned firsthand. After a 2019 car accident aggravated arthritis and degenerative disc disease in her neck and jaw, Karen Schneider was left with daily migraines that acupuncture, dentists, osteopaths, ENTs and chiropractors couldn’t touch. Then she came across a gua sha video on Instagram and ordered a facial tool online for $6.

The first time she glided the stone up and down her neck, face, head and upper chest, the relief was almost instant. “In 10 minutes, the pain in my jaw and head disappeared!” she told friends. She kept up the practice morning and night.

Her experience has some science behind it. “Gua sha is associated with a reduction of pain and inflammation,” Andrew Weil, MD, says, and a study published in Complementary Therapies in Medicine found gua sha can reduce pain and improve movement.

“I am nearly pain-free and no longer have to even use ibuprofen,” says Schneider. “It was the best $6 I ever spent!”

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