5 Personal Care Essentials Under $5 That Last for Months

Personal care essentials can be pricey – but at the same time, many may just cost a few bucks and last for months.

These types of items are often sold in big-box retail stores like Target and Walmart or convenience stores like CVS and are designed to complement hygiene for facial, dental or the rest of the body.

We compiled a list of personal care products that can be had for $5 or less. Keep in mind that prices can vary by store and location.

Dental Floss String

Many dentists will recommend using floss strings over picks. While less convienient it’s generally more of an economical option too.

For example, Stop & Shop under its CareOne brand sells a 55-yard floss for just $1.99 or four cents per yard. Assuming you only floss, just once per day, this product should last you a few months.

Lip Balm (Petroleum Jelly)

Part of the preferences when it comes to personal care and grocery products is avoiding artificial colors. According to studies, this ingredient could cause neurobehavioral issues and hyperactivity, especially in young children.

If you’re familiar with Vaseline, you’ll find that some of them include dyes such as Yellow 5. However, Target’s up&up does not contain them and only costs $2.39 for 7.5 ounces.

I’ve been using this same up&up to deal with chapped lips for about two years now and have yet to run out of it. Compare that to other stick lip balms, which can run out in months. All you need is a fingertip portion of petroleum jelly for each use.

Trader Joe’s Shampoo

Another thing I like to avoid when shopping for personal care products is fragrances, which can irritate the skin and offer an unbearable scent at times.

Finding fragrance-free shampoos in retail stores can be tough. But of all places, grocery giant Trader Joe’s actually sells a couple of options for less than $5. This includes the Lemongrass Moisturizing Shampoo ($4.99 for 15.2 fluid ounces) and the Tea Tree Tingle variety ($3.99 for 16 fluid ounces).

Both, however, are vastly different. The Tea Tree Tingle version offers more of a mint scent, while the other brings more of a fruity scent.

But still, these are great budget-friendly, fragrance-free options compared to others on the market. For example, Odele Ultra Sensitive Shampoo at Target sells for a whopping $11.99 for just 13 fluid ounces.

So give the Tea Tree Tingle and Lemongrass Moisturizing Shampoo options a shot at Trader Joe’s and see if they are worth the savings.

Colgate Toothpaste

Many single toothpastes on the market can often sell for at least a few bucks. But at Target, I found the budget-perfect option – Colgate’s value pack Cavity Protection Toothpaste with Fluoride.

It comes with three six-ounce tubes of toothpaste, costing just $4.99 or 28 cents per ounce. Many other Colgate three-packs in comparison at Target are available for north of $7.

But keep in mind that some brands may accomplish different goals, whether that’s fresher breath lasting for longer or teeth brightening.

Soap at Dollar Tree

For those who already have soap dispensers at home, consider buying refill bottles at Dollar Tree for $1.25. Under the Spa Soap brand, these sell in 32-ounce containers at the stores.

The deal is far better than buying the small Softsoap 5.75-ounce hand soap dispense containers, which cost the same price for far less at Dollar Tree.

The only issue is that Spa Soap and many other soap brands contain fragrances and artificial colors. But it’s hard to argue with the budget-friendly cost.

Ideally, it’s a good idea to look for fragrance-free alternatives to avoid allergic reactions. However, your budget might be tight and fragrance options might come across as a cheaper alternative.

But every person is different and reactions will differ by individual.