Now before I touch on this topic, I have to admit I’m the first to spend on cute little makeup packages, gift sets and unnecessary prod- ucts that I don’t need at the time and end up sitting on my shelf. Yes I’m a marketer’s dream and I have no regrets. However, over the past few months I’ve decided to take a more frugal approach, use what I already have and look for some cheaper alternatives or products that can do more then one thing. Here are four ways to save money on beauty products.
Wonders of Olive & Coconut Oil
Olive and coconut oils are more than just a salad dressing or cooking supplement. Not only are they filled with rich nutrients, but they save you money due to their versatility.
Olive or coconut oil can be used to soften your skin or deep condition your hair. When taking a bath, put a few drops of olive oil in your water, this will soften and moisturize your skin, leaving you feeling rehydrated. You can also use it as an eye cream by taking a few drops and using your ring finger to gently tap it all around your eye.
A personal favourite I use during the winter months is coconut oil. If you feel like your regular nighttime moisturizer just isn’t quenching your skin’s thirst, coconut oil will be your saviour. Apply on your dry or cracked heels as well and then cover your feet with socks for maximum moisture.
Hair feeling a bit brittle and dry? No problem, brush out your unwashed tresses, heat up ½ cup of olive oil in the microwave for 30 seconds (make sure to check on it at the 20 second mark, you want it warm not hot) and start massaging it into your scalp and then the rest of your hair, leave on for 30 minutes. Wash your hair with soap, no conditioner and then rinse again with cold water sealing your hair’s follicles. For very dry hair, do this once a week otherwise a few times a month is suffice.
Alternative Eye Makeup Removers
Eye makeup removers can be expensive, but are still an important part of our daily routine. When you consider all the other products you want to buy, makeup removers move to the bottom of the list. A cheap but effec- tive alternative is ‘no tears’ baby shampoo or baby oil. Both are gentle but strong enough to remove stubborn water proof makeup and considering the size of the bottle and the price tag, it’s definitely a bargain. Another option is hair conditioner; a few drops on a cotton ball should do ya!
Eye Shadows Can Be Multi-purpose!
Instead of buying separate products geared towards different regions of the face, use your existing eye shadows (this will depend on the colours in your kit and the finishes).
For instance, matte brown eye shadow is perfect for your eyelids, eyeliner, eye creases, eyebrows and contouring of the face. Rosy pink or peach eye shadows work great as blush!
Smashbox’s Full Exposure Palette features 14 essential neutral shades with seven shimmer finishes and seven matte finishes, making it truly versatile.
Sephora Collection’s No. 88 Morning Mocha is a dark chocolate matte finish eye shadow and No. 37 Prom Queen is a flashy pink matte finish. Both are highly pigmented, long lasting and go on smoothly.
Brush Cleaners
Need to clean your makeup brushes? Use shampoo! You already have it in your bathtub. Makeup brushes should be washed at least once a week or if you’re a light user then once every two weeks max. This means you may be using your brush cleaner solution quickly. Use a sulphate-free shampoo, this will make it easier to wash out all the soap without leaving any residue. With synthetic brushes, you’ll have to work at it a little longer because they won’t move smoothly as natural hair makeup brushes. After you’re done washing and the brushes are fully dried, spray 99.9% alcohol on a cotton pad and rub your brush back and forth. This will get rid of any excess makeup or oil that might have been missed as well as killing any bacteria.
Best ways to save money this year on beauty products is to buy a product that can offer more than one purpose. Look for value and practicality when thinking about saving money and don’t hesitate to look for beauty products outside the department store and specific beauty aisles in the markets, check out your local grocery stores as well. Like the saying says, you are what you eat!