A few weeks ago I posted about Payless’ new bath and beauty collection. Some of you were left scratching your head as to why the budget shoe retailer was entering the world of beauty. I was a bit skeptical as well but last week I popped in to a local Payless {they’re only sold at select locations, not online} and checked them out for myself. The line features nail polish, perfume, body butter, lip balm and more with most items under $10. Luckily it was BOGO {buy one, get one half off}, so I decided to buy a few products from each line: Zoe & Zac Naturals and Unforgettable Moments.

Blackberry Honey Body Butter {$7.99}: I love yummy smelling products but I hate smelling too sweet so I just used the body butter on my hands, elbows, knees and feet, the areas that tend to get the driest in cold weather. It was thick and creamy {thicker than the butters at the Body Shop} and melted right in my skin versus leaving a layer of greasy residue. The scent wasn’t too overpowering and my skin was still soft and moisturized the next morning. It also has natural ingredients like shea, cocoa butter and grape seed oil.
Strawberry Lip Butter {$3.99}: This was another product that smelled as good as it sounds. It has a soft, creamy consistency and went on my lips like, well, butter! I can’t really say that it provided any more moisture than the tried and true ChapStick, and at $4 for such a small tub, it didn’t really win me over.
Nail Polish {$1.99, though they’re listed on the site as $2.99}: Some of the polishes are sold in a set of three, but I bought two individual shades, Precious Metal {above, left} and Platinum {above, right}. I tried the Precious Metal and I’m head over heels! I was initially concerned because the polish looked a bit thin but that concern quickly went away. Two coats were enough for a glossy finish. I added a topcoat, but certainly didn’t need it for added shine. I’ve had the polish on for three days and I’m chip-free. At just $1.99, I plan on trying other shades.
Bottom line: If I was picking something up from Payless, I wouldn’t mind adding a cheap polish to my basket or maybe even a lip butter if I left mine at home. However, the products weren’t amazing enough to make me pop in just to buy something from the beauty line.




