Top 9 Ways to Save Big on Your Beauty Routine
Beauty products can bust a budget quicker than this season’s fashion runway finds. A $30 blush here, a $45 moisturizer there, a dozen products with double-digit price tags later and you may be wondering where the personal shopping budget went. Thankfully we have options and a lot of them these days. Here are a few of my favorite ways to save big on your beauty routine.
Shave Cream Substitute – Shaving cream is no longer just for men. Manufacturers have managed to get us hooked on our own specialized shave products. An inexpensive hair conditioner will work just as well, cost less and last longer than that cream in a can.
Home Manicure Musts – If you are already doing your manicures at home to save a few bucks, you won’t want to miss this crucial step. Even if you are starting with clean nails, always give them a swipe with an acetone-based polish remover prior to painting. This will remove any dirt or oil keeping your nail color looking great longer.
Where Did My Foundation Go? – Makeup sponges may be a popular beauty product, but they are sponges. They soak up liquid by nature, and that includes your foundation. Forego the sponge for a foundation brush. You will get great coverage with less product waste.
Makeup Dupes – Some drugstore cosmetic products are just as good, if not better, than their luxury counterparts. For example, e.l.f. usually has a shade to match almost any eye shadow or blush from MAC. And Maybelline’s The Falsies is a pretty good substitution for Lancome Hypnose allowing for a savings of about $22 per tube.
Discovery Boxes – Programs like Ipsy Glam Bag or Birchbox will ship you a box full of skin care and cosmetics on a monthly basis for only $10. This is an inexpensive way to try out the hottest brands and seasonal colors without a large investment. You may not like every product included, but save them up. You will be the star of the holiday show with your high end cosmetic grab bags.
Skip the Costly Cleanser – Facial washes can rack up a hefty bill, but how much do you really want to spend on something that spends 3.2 seconds on your face? You are washing it right off! Cetaphil and Neutrogena are two of my favorite drugstore cleansers. They are inexpensive. They do the job. They have been around forever.
Whatever Happened to Witch Hazel? I remember witch hazel being a skin care product of choice as a preteen. It makes for an amazing toner and not only is it less expensive than many of the alcohol-based toners out there but it is also a lot less drying.
Stock Up and Save – One of my favorite tips for saving money on skin care, cosmetics and fragrances is to take advantage of seasonal sales. Almost every specialty store and brand offers some type of seasonal selection. It may be special scents or it may simply be the cutesy packaging. Regardless, as Easter rolls around they are no longer going to be stocking the shelves with snowman designs. Hit these clearance sales both in-store and online. You may be able to get the leftovers at pennies on the dollar and as long as you are not giving them away as gifts who cares what season the bottle is sporting?
So you still need that luxury lipstick? That’s cool, but you can still make it last longer. Rather than slathering it on, use a makeup brush. A little pigment goes a long way. You may be able to stretch that purchase out for several more months. Sign up for my newsletter to receive my free guide, “Beauty on a Budget: How to Get the Best in Beauty Products Without Going Broke.”
What are your favorite swaps, substitutes and savings tips for spending less on your beauty routine?
