To enter the sweepstakes, you're supposed to go to Walgreens, pick up two (or more) Aveeno products, and then take a picture of your receipt and submit it here. That's it. That's all you have to do. It's that simple. The hard part is picking which products to choose, but I'm here to help!
Note: I heard about this giveaway through HerCampus, and was given a $15 Walgreens card to use towards 2+ Aveeno products. The products I walked out with reflect that total, but you can spend as little or as much money as you like. As long as your receipt shows you purchase two or more Aveeno products, you're elligible to win (More information on the giveaway at the end of this post).
Aveeno is not typically my go-to brand (I'm more of an Olay kind of girl), so I did a good amount of research before I went. In the past, the only product I've bought of theirs is the Positively Radiant Tinted Moisturizer with SPF 30 ($17 for 2.5oz).
In my May 2013 Empties, I talk about how I didn't find this product hydrating enough, so I wound up having to mix it in with my regular daytime moisturizer. This tinted moisturizer is sheer to begin with (as most tinted moisturizers are), but mixing it in with another lotion made it even sheerer, so in the end I didn't get much of a tint at all. For oily-skinned folk, this might be quite nice, but I didn't find it to be moisturizing enough for my dry skin. Also, for a drugstore brand, I don't know why they're charging so much for a tinted moisturizer, when drugstore BB creams go for about $11. I personally prefer my Maybelline Dream Fresh BB Cream (blog post), which retails for $11.
From what I've researched, it seems like Aveeno is a really great brand for people with oily-skin. I've heard people rave about their moisturizers, as well as many other of their products. They seem to be light and hydrating for people who don't need too much help. I have been using a deluxe sample of their Daily Detoxifying Scrub that I got from who-knows-where, which was nice and gentle, but I'm not wowed by it.
For my skin type (combination-dry), I didn't seem to find any face products that I wanted to purchase. I was considering buying their face lotion just to try it out, but they advertise on the front label that it's a "Dimenthicone Skin Protectant." When did dimenthicone become something people searched out to use? I, for one, stay far away from silicones such as dimenthicone. If you're interested in reading one of my rants on silicones, please click here or here. Better yet, just Google "College Beauty Buff silicones" and the first search results page will give you tons of posts that include my whining about ingredients. (I just have a lot of feelings!)
Then, I thought I would check out their shampoos and conditioners, because we can always use more of that (right? right?). All of their hair care products are part of a Nourish + _____ line (Nourish + Moisturize, + Shine, + Dandruff Control, etc. ). However, even the Nourish + Moisturize shampoo has a sulfate as the third ingredient, so I figured I would pass. If you would like to read another rant as to why I am staying away from sulfates, please click here or here (or again, Google and find them all). I find sulfates to be very drying and stripping on hair, so to have them be so high on the ingredients list makes me question how moisturizing the shampoo really is.
I took my snobby self over to the body care area and finally found two products I'd be happy to try. In the end, here's what I came out with:
Aveeno Skin Relief Hand Cream ($8 for 3.5oz)
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Now that winter is coming (har-har), I knew I'd need a good hand cream to keep my hands from getting dry and cracking. This is one of Total Beauty's most highly-regarded Aveeno products, so I have high hopes for it. It seems nice so far, but I'll keep you updated. I'm fond of the Gold Bond Hand Cream, so we'll see if this lives up to the hype!
Aveeno Positively Smooth Shave Gel ($4 for 7oz)
If I didn't have the gift card, my plan of attack would have been to stake out the Travel Essentials section, that way I could sample a product before buying the full size. I believe purchasing two travel-sized bottles still allows you to enter the giveaway. In my Walgreens, they only had samples of the Daily Moisturizing Lotion and the Nourish + Moisturize Shampoo and Conditioner duo. I had been considering going the travel-bottle route, even with the gift card, but I wanted to be happy with my purchases over anything else. I'm glad I went with these instead. I'm excited that my skin is going to be "Positively Smooth" and "Relieved"!
Overall, I"m happy with my purchases, and I'm glad I did my research. Having a full bottle of something you don't like lying around is just upsetting. Though, every product works differently for different people, which is what makes the beauty industry so much fun. What works terribly for one person might be a Holy Grail item for somebody else. Don't be afraid to try something new (unless you're me, apparently).
More on the giveaway: Self Magazine is hosting the mentioned sweepstakes. The first 250 people to upload a Walgreens receipt of 2+ Aveeno products receives a free FitBit. According to the website, a FitBit seems like a really high-tech pedometer, that can sync with your iPhone and things like that. Then, the next 500 people after that get a free $5 Walgreens giftcard! You can enter your receipt and contact info here. The contest ends this Sunday, December 8th at 11:59pm. Comment below if you decide to enter! I wish you the best of luck!
Do you use Aveeno products? If so, what's your favorite?
Disclaimer: I was given a $15 Walgreens gift card to participate in this giveaway, since I am in the Her Campus Blogger Network. I'm not affiliated with, nor sponsored by, Aveeno or Self or anyone else. I just like entering sweepstakes to get free swag, and then sharing those sweepstakes with the world!
