Some of my clearest, fondest childhood memories are of watching travel shows on PBS with my mom, and I think those great times we spent together exploring the world via taped broadcasts from the comfort of our couch at home are why I’ve had such a fierce case of wanderlust as an adult.

Back then my mom and dad were busy making ends meet and raising my brother and I, but now that they’re both retired, and my brother and I have flown the coop, Mom and Dad have been able to embark upon more travel adventures.

Later this month, they head to the Philippines for a visit, where they both still have lots of family, and next year, they’re hoping to explore the Great Wall of China!

They’ve yet to make it to Italy, but just as soon as I win the lottery (fingers crossed!), I’m sending Mom on an all-expenses paid, luxury vacation to explore the Italian countryside.

Until then — until my lucky numbers hit! — Tocca’s new Bagno Profumato Body Wash ($18) and Crema da Corpo Body Lotion ($20) will have to do.

If your mom dreams of faraway lands and international adventure, take a look at Tocca for Mother’s Day this year. Their products are some of my favorites for gift giving all year round, not only because they always look lovely sitting on a counter, but also because of their fragrances, whiffs of which whisk (say that fives times fast, haha!) me away on day dreamy adventures.

I think my mom will like Giulietta. One of three new Tocca Body Wash and Lotion fragrances, it’s a light and crisp fruity floral with notes of pink tulip and green apple.

(Psst!. They’re also available in a grapefruit and cucumber scent called Cleopatra and an Italian blood orange scent called Stella — ya know, in case you also feel like picking up a little something for yourself.)

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Shortly after finishing college, I started working a regular job — not an amazing job, but it was enough to allow my beauty habit to go somewhat unchecked for a while. Then, everything changed when life happened, and I quit my job and moved to the U.S.

It took me a while to find another job; my days of carefree shopping sprees were over, and to be honest, I didn’t take to beauty budgeting all that well. If you had called me a pampered brat, I would have had to agree.

But something very good came out of that time. I discovered some excellent wallet-friendly beauty and skincare products, and not just those tempting cute packages strategically placed beside the checkout counter, or the last-minute dollar deals I add to my cart to reach the free shipping threshold (don’t tell me I’m the only one who does that!), but products I’ve consistently purchased over and over, just because I love them.

Here are 10 of my favorite skincare treats, each of them $10 or less, to leave your skin healthy, glowing and fresh, without making your wallet unhappy.

1. Shiseido Facial Cotton ($9.50)

I know, fancy facial cottons might be the last thing on your mind when you’re on a budget, but hear me out. Shiseido’s version is thicker and softer than the average drugstore cotton, and it doesn’t leave behind any stray fibers on my face.

But those aren’t even the reasons it’s on my must-have list. What I recommend using this for is something called “the lotion mask.”

It’s an idea I picked up from a book called the Japanese Skincare Revolution, by Chizu Saeki, and it’s a fabulously simple way to healthier skin. Here’s a video from the author, but to break it down…

Shiseido’s cotton is much thicker than regular drugstore cottons and withstands a little stretching. It also separates easily into thinner layers.

Start by taking one of the cotton pads, soak it in water, and squeeze out most of the water by pressing it between your palms.

Then, pour a few drops of any alcohol-free toner on it (I think rose water works great), stretch the cotton a bit, and separate it into three thinner layers.

Next, place them over your face, and relax for about 10 minutes. When you’re done, even after just one use, your face will feel hydrated, smooth, and have a noticeable glow.

Try it! It could be the best $10 I’ve ever spent, and if you have a Japanese store nearby, you might be able to find an even less expensive version of a similar idea.

2. Olay Daily Facials Cleansing Cloths ($7)

These are carried in most drugstores, and having tried many different cleansing cloths and washes — including some crazy expensive ones — I have yet to find one that leaves my skin in a condition as good as these.

If you’re new to them, here’s how they work: They’re small square towelettes that you wet, and when you rub them against your skin, they work up a lather. Just gently scrub with them to cleanse.

I use them like a washcloth, and then use lukewarm water to rinse off most of the lather from my face, before rinsing any residual cleanser with cooler water.

There’s not a lot to them, but I think these cloths really work only up to their potential if you follow the directions.

Thrifty tip: Half a towelette should be sufficient in most cases (unless your normal day involves mud-wrestling alligators). Just snip them in half and store. The smaller size makes them easier to use, and this way they last longer. Store in any air-tight container, so they stay moisture-free.

3. Lush Toner Tabs ($2)

I’ve tried just about every Lush product out there and have loved most of them. I’m a Lushie. My favorites, though, are their fresh face masks, which are made with natural ingredients. Pair them with one of Lush’s Toner Tabs, and you’ve got yourself a nice relaxing at-home facial, all for less than $10.

First the toner tabs, which look and feel like macro-versions of regular tablets (some have petal bits in them).

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Things that cross my mind 30,000 feet above the Pacific Ocean…

1. If the zombie apocalypse went down and all air travel ceased, the only way I’d be able to visit Hawaii would be by boat … and that would pretty much suck.
2. Man, my skin is sooo dry.
3. Did I really just pay $7 for a fruit-and-cheese plate filled with tired apple slices, cracked crackers and sketchy cheese?
4. Man, my skin is sooo dry.
5. I have to “drop the kids off at school,” but the captain just said we’re in for some turbulence… I think I should wait.
6. Man, my skin is sooo dry.

The climate control on airplanes sucks! Literally. Whenever I’m on a plane, I can practically hear the moisture being vacuumed out of my face. Mfsuuuuuuuup! By the end of the five-hour flight back from Kauai, my combo dry/oily skin felt like an old leather wallet.

First thing I did when I got home — well, the second thing, after biscuits with Tabs, of course — was wash my face with Kate Somerville’s KateCeuticals Moisture Milk Cleanser ($58), and I swear I heard my cheeks sighing with relief.

“Ever wanted to meet a superstar? Well, you can—with this superstar cleanser! This rich, creamy blend of antioxidants and fruit extracts is designed to clean, hydrate, and brighten the look of the complexion. KateCeuticals™ Moisture Milk Cleanser delivers comfort to skin with a soothing blend of powerful Vitamins, Orange Blossom, and Orange Peel Extracts that leave skin feeling moisturized and fresh. This sulfate-free cleanser is so gentle that it can be rinsed or simply tissued off.”

– katesomerville.com

Designed to cleanse, quench, brighten and firm dry skin, Moisture Milk is loaded with kukui nut, macadamia and coconut oils to satiate even the thirstiest faces, and after rinsing, I can feel a moisturizing layer of product protecting my skin.

Now, a lot of cream cleansers will do that, but I think Kate’s goes above and beyond. The layer it leaves behind feels thicker and much more hydrating than other cream cleansers I’ve tried. It really seems to lock in moisture and keep the flakes at bay much longer than most.

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With what our faces face on a daily basis — sun exposure being the big one — clay masks are a great way to treat common skin challenges. I like to give my face a good detoxing once a week to make up for not taking good care of my skin during the week (I’m definitely guilty of this!).

Take a night, and treat yourself to a nice, calming bentonite clay mask.

Bentonite clay is here to save the day! — scratch that. The week! This soft volcanic clay is suitable for all skin types. It absorbs toxins, draws out blackheads, kills acne-causing bacteria, and it’s great for spot treatments, too (just mix it with a little bit of water). It also has anti-aging benefits, because as it exfoliates the skin, it helps with cell turnover.

So, are you ready to detoxify the bentonite way? If you are, here’s…

What you’ll need

• A few small stalks of sage
• 2 tbsp of bentonite clay powder
  (carried at most health food stores)
• 1 tbsp of honey
• 1 tbsp of coconut oil
• Half a lemon

Sage (enough to fit in a small bowl)

2 tbsp of bentonite clay (available here and here)

1 tbsp of honey

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I’ve been working on switching over to all natural beauty and makeup products for several months now. It’s not an easy transition, and it can be quite expensive.

Growing up, my mom created beauty and health concoctions with plants from her herb garden combined with common pantry items like olive oil, and I thought it was a bit odd. But as a lot of mother-daughter things go, I’ve learned that her practices aren’t so strange: her natural beauty routine is quite admirable – and now I’m following suit! After all, she is in her 60′s and still has fantastic, clear, glowing skin.

So, when life gives you lemons, make all-natural at-home beauty treatments!

Lemons are fruit; they’re natural. They’re inexpensive. Lemon juice has antiseptic, healing and lightening properties, and can also help with acne.

See where I’m going here?

Combined with the right ingredients, lemons can be a staple in many natural DIY skincare treatments. Here are four easy lemon-based beauty recipes: two for face, and two for feet.

And if you’re like me and don’t cook fancy things very often, I picked recipes that call for a small number of common ingredients. I hope you’ll love these inexpensive, surprisingly luxurious beauty treatments as much as I do!

Lemon yogurt peel

For this super-gentle exfoliating mask, you’ll need 1 tablespoon of lemon juice (fresh squeezed is best), 1/4 cup of plain yogurt (I use Greek yogurt), and about 1 tablespoon of honey. Yogurt combined with honey makes a great gentle antibacterial cleanser.

Mix the ingredients together until the mixture is uniform, and apply to clean skin. Leave it on for 10 minutes, and rinse with warm water.

Oh, yeah. And feel free to eat some yogurt and honey if you’re so inclined (it’s one of my favorite treats!).

Sweet honey lemon face scrub

Combine 2 tablespoons of honey, 1 tablespoon of brown sugar, and the fresh squeezed juice from a quarter of a lemon. Honey’s natural antibacterial quality gives this nourishing and moisturizing scrub acne fighting properties, and my skin glows after doing this treatment.

This recipe yields about four uses for me. Apply about one quarter of the mixture by gently rubbing it on clean skin, and then leaving it in place for about 5 minutes before rinsing.

You can store the rest of the mixture for later use — just not more often than once every 3 or 4 days.

Oh, and if you happen to accidentally taste the mix, I won’t tell.

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