9 Unexpected New Ways to Use Your Favorite Drugstore Products

It's not the prettiest product on the shelf, but Vaseline is a household staple for good reason. You've probably used it to soften your lips, heal cracked skin, or soothe a rash. There's another usage it has, though, which could potentially save you lots of money down the road; it can be used as a perfume maximizer. Apply a small amount of Vaseline, or petroleum jelly, to your pulse points and neck, and then spritz your choice perfume on top. The scent will last much longer, which means fewer spritzes throughout the day and a longer lifespan for your bottle.

Vaseline Petroleum Jelly ($5)

You've likely run into serums, creams, moisturizers, and cleansers boasting the beautifying powers of vitamin C. And you're probably acquainted with their price tags, too, which lean toward the splurge side. This is because vitamin C is a volatile ingredient, meaning it goes bad quickly, and researchers spend a lot of time and energy concocting products that'll have a longer shelf life. Extra research and better-working ingredients often result in more expensive price points. Take the middleman out by making your own serum, which requires obtaining a vitamin C powder (L-ascorbic acid). Mix it with distilled water to create a toner, or add glycerin to both water and powder to DIY a serum. Follow the advice and recipes at MakeupAlley.

NOW Foods Vitamin C Crystals, Powder ($19)

Rosehip oil is a dry oil, meaning it absorbs quickly into the skin and leaves it dry to the touch. In other words, you don't have to rinse it off and it's not going to leave your skin feeling greasy or overmoisturized. It's the perfect follow-up to cleansing, but it's more than just an everyday moisturizer. Rosehip oil is loaded with skin-nourishing vitamins and essential fatty acids as well as antioxidants. All the above hydrate the skin, yes, but they can also create a more even complexion, reduce fine lines, and leave skin looking younger and more vibrant.

La Bella Rose Hip Oil With Vitamin E ($5)

Speaking of oils, let's discuss baby oil, which consists of two ingredients: mineral oil and fragrance. Mineral oil is actually one of the least comedogenic oils out there, meaning it is not likely to cause you to break out compared to other types, including olive oil and coconut oil. That, paired with its inexpensive price tag and overall gentleness, makes it a popular choice for the oil cleansing method (OCM). Another usage for baby oil is a cleanser for your makeup brushes. Dab a little in the palm of your hand, massage the brush into the oil, and then rinse.

Johnson's Baby Oil ($5)

If you don't want to buy baby oil because of the fragrance, but you still want to give the OCM a try, meander on over to the digestive health section of your local drugstore. Sounds weird, but trust us. Look for a bottle of mineral oil intestinal lubricant, which is an odorless mineral oil. It usually contains alpha tocopheryl acetate (vitamin E), which makes it a little thicker than baby oil. That said, you do get a better deal, cost wise, with this product.

Walgreens Mineral Oil Intestinal Lubricant ($6)

Cystic acne driving you mad? Reach for a hydrocolloid dressing, or a blister bandage. These actively draw out fluid, which can blast a major blemish overnight or even in as little as a few hours. Beauty blogs and forums recommend sanitizing with alcohol and carefully lancing the blemish to draw out even more fluid, but if your zit has already come to a head and is leaking, all you have to do is place a bandage on top and wait. Fun fact: high-end brands have realized the magnificent powers of hydrocolloid bandages and have started making their own.

Hydrocolloid Blister Bandages ($10)

We've got baby oil on the list, so why not a little baby powder? Like baby oil, this drugstore find has multiple uses. Try it as a dry shampoo (make sure to brush it out), or sprinkle some in shoes to nix foul odors. Applied to the skin, it can help soften and soothe, so try it postshave or postshower. Another name baby powder goes by is talc (talcum) powder.

Johnson's Baby Powder ($5)

We've all been there: near-perfect makeup application, except for all of that fallout eye shadow and glitter that's resting underneath your eyes and atop your cheeks. You have a couple options: wipe it away with a wet cloth, or leave it there. Or you could take a little first-aid tape and gently dab the glittery areas to pick up and remove excess while still leaving your makeup intact. We recommend keeping an extra tape dispenser in your beauty bag for this very issue. You can use regular tape as well, but you may find first-aid tape a gentler alternative.

Nexcare First-Aid Tape ($3)

Your mom probably told you to buy aloe vera to soothe a painful sunburn, and the gooey stuff does a superb job where that's concerned. However, it can also double as a toner and primer for your skin. The gel calms inflamed skin, reduces acne, evens out your complexion, and helps in the fight against aging.

Fruit of the Earth Aloe Vera 100% Gel ($6)