Frugal Fridays: Beauty on a Budget - Part 4: Skincare and cosmetics
The area of skincare and makeup is probably where I save the most money, namely I spend next to nothing on it. How?
Well, here are my "secrets:"
1) Develop healthy lifestyle habits. I know, I know, just what you all wanted to hear, right? But I really think that what we put into our mouths affects our skin and appearance in a big way. Not only does overeating cause obesity, so putting vast amounts of artificial flavorings and chemicals and eating an unhealthy, unbalanced diet will eventually start to show itself in our outward appearance. So, eat a balanced diet with ample wholegrains and fruits and vegetables, drink plenty of water, kick the caffeine addiction, exercise at least a few times a week, get enough rest, and avoid stress. You'll be healthier for it and you'll look healthier and more radiant for it as well.
2) Keep it simple. I think this is my all-time life mantra, but it makes my life so much more, well, simplified. In my beauty and skincare, I've found that simple means wearing the same color and kind of makeup everyday. For some of you this might seem really boring, but do you know how much time and effort it saves? I also try to keep "putting on my face" to under two minutes or less. I rotate washing my face with soap and water and with facial scrubs (my favorites are the St. Ives scrubs). I do this as part of my shower routine. Then, I stick to very simple makeup - foundation, blush, shimmering eye cream (I love this stuff!), eye shadow (I only use one color instead of messing with the whole three-tone thing.), lipstick, and lip gloss. If I'm really in a rush, I can just do foundation, blush, eye cream, and lip gloss.
My advice is to find out what works for you and stick with it. Instead of spending time and money trying out lots of different things, if you've got something good going, don't change it.
3) Get it free whenever possible. Most of my cosmetics and facial scrubs, I have not paid but maybe a few pennies for, if even that. If you have a CVS, Walgreens, or Rite-aid in your area and you learn to shop the deals there, you'll find you always have more makeup than you can ever use. And did I mention that it was free? They run deals very regularly on many different brands, so if you have a certain brand that you like, you will probably be able to get it. You can also check dollar stores that accept coupons as this would be another way to get very inexpensive makeup at a fraction of the cost.
I have to confess that I'm very partial to a few Mary Kay cosmetics and because of this, I've gotten really creative in figuring out ways to be able to use these favorites of mine without spending an arm and a leg to buy them. One of the ways I've done this for the past few years is to find a consultant who I can barter with. I've found that many of them are actually really keen on bartering and it can be a great win-win situation for both of you. (As an aside, if you are a consultant for any type of beauty business and would be interested in bartering for advertising on my blog, I'm always open to considering it! Just contact me!)
4) Think outside the box! If you have a specific brand and shade you always prefer to buy and the getting it free or bartering for it option doesn't work, try eBay or look around online to see if you can get it on another website at a reduced price instead of buying directly from the company. And be on the lookout for consultants who are "closing down shop" and might be able to sell you some stock at a very low price.
Or, maybe you might consider signing up to be a consultant with a beauty company so you can take advantage of the good deals you are able to obtain by doing so. Just be careful to check out all the ramifications ahead of time and be sure it's something you want to take on. I've known a lot of people to sign up as a consultant with various beauty companies only to lose a lot of money in the process. On the other hand, I know many who have done really well with it and found it to be a great side business they can take on while still being first and foremost a wife and mom.
I'd love to hear any tips you might have on getting name-brand makeups at a fraction of the cost or any tips to inexpensive beauty and skincare you have to share. I'm always learning new things!
Still to come in this series: Hair care and accessories. (By the way, if there's anything specific I haven't addressed that you'd like to see addressed, email me.)
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To join in Frugal Friday, just post a frugal tip or post on any subject of frugality on your blog, link to this post in your post, and then post the direct link to your Frugal Friday post below. Any link or post which does not adhere to these rules will be deleted at my discretion. If you do not have a blog, but have a tip to share, please post your tip in the comments section. And, remember the rules: Must be family-friendly. Thanks! I can't wait to read your tips!
posted by Crystal Paine at 7:54 AM
29 Comments:
I love the bartering idea! How smart!
I love paragraph one. The less additives the better.
I'm delurking to tell you about my favorite Mary Kay product that saves time and keeps things simple and beautiful. They've got a wonderful new tinted moisturizer that has 20 spf (3 products in one tube). It's not greasy like most mositurizers with SPF and adds just enough tint to even out my complexion. I use just this and a bit of blush and lip gloss. I'm not a consultant, just a big fan.
I love your blog Crystal. You're such an encouragment. Thanks for keeping it real.
Thank you, Crystal.
Crystal ~ many hugs to you, dear one(make that two with baby); hope you are feeling better every day!
On the skin care/makeup aspect, when I read ingredients on many products it makes me wonder about hormone overload/interference/imbalance as some of the ingredients are reported to cause such issues(parabens are estrogenic, for example). Does anyone have experience with the mineral makeup powders? Larenim is a product in one local health food store but it all gets so intensely confusing with advertising online/infomercials/brick-and-mortar stores/mail without personal experiences.
Maybe this is a topic for a separate post, Crystal? Feel free to not post it now if that idea is more to your liking.
I've tried mineral makeups before and didn't like them. Maybe it was just me. One reason I keep it simple regarding skincare and makeup is because I don't want to be putting a lot of harmful chemicals on my skin.
This is one reason my favorite facial scrub is natural soap and water. :) Cornmeal mixed with water is also a good scrub. Another facial masque I love is from Full Circle Herbs (I love their homemade soaps, too!):
http://tinyurl.com/2tscz3
Great tips, Crystal
Castile soap lathered and then a little baking soda added for a scrub is what I use prior to mixing a mask made from Redmond clay with goldenseal and white oak bark added(as needed: more often when weather is warmer). I've used oatmeal powdered with water and other "creative ingredients of choice" as a mask, too. A little raw honey and plain yogurt left on for a few minutes and then rinsed is healing and moisturizing. Less is more for me, too, Crystal; the more natural and health-promoting rather than detracting and less complicated ~ the better.
Not sure what Bo Derek thinks or does these days but I remember once thinking after seeing & hearing her on TV that portraying inner beauty outwardly without multiple layers of fakeness(don't know why that reminds me of theatre and masks of hypocrisy) on the outside is a good thing.
Thanks for sharing your experience with the mineral makeups!
Great ideas, Crystal. Four of my sister-in-laws are Mary Kay consultants. They just joined in December and are rather gung ho about it. One perk is that they like giving Mary Kay gifts for birthdays and Christmas. (Maybe I can barter for my requests?) :)I shall have to check out the eye product you mentioned.Have a blessed weekend!
I just read this about cosmetic companies, Crystal. Thought you and others might find it interesting, as I did.
http://www.thinkbeforeyoupink.org/Pages/CosmeticCompanies.html
Crystal,
While I tend to be conservative with my makeup brands, I found out that doing some experimenting can be good. Sticking to only one brand might make us not notice cheaper brands that might be just as good.
However, I'm willing to pay more for environmentally friendly products, and products that haven't been tested on animals. I really believe there's no justification to torturing rabbits or mice so that I can enjoy a certain brand of lipgloss or shampoo.
My favorite scrub is a teaspoon of olive oil with a bit of salt. I rub it gently on my skin for a few minutes, then rinse with warm water. It works miracles.
I couldn't agree more with your statement of keeping it simple! I find a color I like, and I stick with it. As you said, it may sound a little boring, but I've learned that fewer choices makes life so much easier! Besides, if I know a color looks great on me, why try something else?
I do tend to go a little more expensive with my makeup. I wear mostly Clinique, but I only buy it when I'm truly in need of replacement. I don't buy just because something looks fun to try. Also, I go with the more expensive stuff because I have a highly-acute sense of smell that is easily tied to my migraines. Clinique makeup doesn't smell. Most cheaper brands do.
I really enjoyed your keep it simple tips today, Crystal. I am a former makeup artist and oddly enough was never one for a lot of makeup. It was my experience that the more cosmetic and skincare products I used, the more atrocious my skin would become. When I keep my routine very simple & use natural things rather than products, my skin looks much better and getting ready is a five minute routine rather than a big ordeal. :o)
Anna, thanks for that suggestion of olive oil and salt. A friend's daughter always mentioned her skin being better after ocean swimming(sea salt?). Olive oil is wonderful(use it on chapped hands and after soaking and pumice on feetsies). What a great combo!
Another awesome Frugal Friday with so many great ideas for me to try!
PLease bear with me as I try to figure this all out. Don't think I did this quite right. will try again next week!
I'm the opposite - I tend to spend a bit more here but it lasts me for forever. I weare Bobbi Brown foundation but only where I really need it - I don't just put a mask on everyday. I also use Bobbi's concealer, I use MAC eyeshadow and everything else is storebought. As in drugstore.
But my Mother always raised me that yes, indeed, your healthcare and natural beauty should shine through and less is more. Most husbands prefer their wives with less makeup anyways.
One thing we should all wear is sunscreen. A lovely complexion goes a long, long way in looking good.
Oh, and I have also learned from Bobbi Brown who belives women look best as their natural selves, enhanced, that no matter what your skin tone is, a yellow base looks more natural in any foundation. Pink (which is the base of most drugstore foundations) looks really unnatural and I have found this to be true. That is why I am willing to pay a bit more for her foundation. Keep foundation in a dark, cool place and it should last for up to 2 years.
Thought I'd a add a tip of my own that I've recently been using: aloe! I have rosacea and adult acne (thank you, hormones!), and while I am under a dermatologist's care, my prescription stuff just hasn't been hacking it lately. I recently had a nasty sunburn on my neck, and while slathering myself with aloe, I was reading the bottle. It mentioned being good for blemishes, so I decided to try it. Not only has my skin not been as pink lately (rosacea), but it actually is looking better in the acne department, too!
I have a big bottle of pure aloe gel. No coloring or scent or anything else added to it.
As far as Mary Kay products,I too am partial to several. I absolutely love the microderm abrasion kit they sell, the facial wash, and lipstick.You can become a consultant for a start up fee and from that point on get the products for half price. I think if you place an order every couple months you can maintain an "active" account and qualify for the discount. That's what I did, and although I have never hosted a party or tried to have a thriving business from it, I do pass around the catalogs to other moms or friends when I have them. Sometimes I get a few orders to put in with mine.But I mainly just do this for the discount and opportunity to sample the new products that come out.
Thanks for sharing your great tips, Crystal! I like to use baking soda mixed in a bit of water as a facial scrub. It works very well and is soooo cheap!
I also believe less is more. I think my make-up routine takes less than 3 minutes. I don't mess with foundation although I probably should just for the sun protection factor. I think a touch of color on eyes, cheeks and lips goes along ways in brightening up a face.
Marilyn,
Thanks for the great suggestion with the Mary Kay moisturizer. My skin tends to be dry more than oily. I have been wanting to find a light-weight moisturizer with an SPF. I have a little tube of Eucerin cream with SPF 15 but it is almost gone. I can't seem to find it in any of the stores. Your suggestion sounds just like what I am looking for. Thanks so much!
Crystal-
No mascara? My most basic look involves powder (I've been using Clinique's compact powders for years, mascara, and lip gloss. Mascara is the one thing that really adds to my face, even without eye shadow, but of course it's different for everyone. My favorite is Maybelline Great Lash (the pink and green one) :)
On a sidenote, and Crystal, you may bring this up in a future blog, but does anyone else get their eyebrows waxed? This is one thing that really makes a difference when I have it done professionally - I really don't do them well on my own :(
I wear very little makeup, but I always have several lipsticks rolling around in my diaper bag. I love to pick up Clinique and Elizabeth Arden lipsticks for a quarter at yard sales--it's amazing how often I find unused free samples that came in gift sets. I cut the top layer off to be on the safe side.
Yes, Erin, no mascara - can you believe it?! I own some Mary Kay mascara, but I've only used it a few times in my life - usually for special occasions. Yes, it does make a difference, but it is so much work to put on and take off. I'm sure if I had used it everyday for years and years, I would get the hang of it and be faster at it, but I still don't like the feeling of all that stuff on my eyelashes. I know, I'm weird... :)
I do my own eyebrows, too. (Ahem, called using a pair of tweezers every few days!) I've thought about getting them waxed before to see what it would look like to have them professionally done, but I've never been willing to fork out the money.
Oh and Meredith, yes I was going to mention yard sales!! Some people might be turned off by it, but hey, if it's brand new and still in the package, what can you say? I always sell nice makeup brands at my yard sales (various ones that I've gotten free that my sisters don't want and I can't use) for usually $0.50-0.75 each. I'm sure if you keep your eyes peeled you could find plenty of great deals like this.
Here is my beauty advice: Wash your face every night no matter what! THat makes such a difference. I agree with the gal about mascara. Curl your eyelashes. Simple, but makes the eyes look wider and lashes fuller. Yes, I wax eyebrows and upper lip. IT makes my face look clean and neat. Not that expensive. The hairs actually grow back thinner and finer over time with waxing.
I can leave the house with just tinted powder, mascara and lipstick and feel okay. I usually do more, but this will always do.
For skin care, nothing beats coconut oil, both internally and externally. I encourage all to research. Pure, organic coconut oil is a medium chain fatty acid. The health benefits and healing properties are unreal. I eat 3 tablespoons a day, in smoothies, in hot tea, can be taken on the spoon if you are game - tastes good. I take off my eye make up with it, wash my face and then apply a thin coat before bed. My feet are the softest in years since rubbing some in at night. You will begin to glow. It cures many ailments as it is anti-fungal, anti-bacterial, anti-microbial, and anti-viral. It is truly a wonder. Search online. Books by Bruce Fife - Coconut Cures, Eat Fat, Look Thin, etc...
You'll be amazed.
One of the best and easiest natural face cleansers I've ever used is equal parts milk and clear aloe vera gel, mixed with a couple drops of tea tree essential oil. It's been awesome for my somewhat troubled skin, the tea tree probably wouldn't be as good for mature skin, my mother uses this, but minus the tea tree. It's very inexpensive, even compared to the cheaper face cleansers out there, and, I know exactly what's in it!
Laura
These are such great tips! I'm really glad to read your balanced perspective on makeup, too.
I'm new to your blog - I came here by doing a Google search for blogs on biblical womanhood. I've really enjoyed it so far, and I'm adding it to my blogroll. :)
If you decide to barter, don't forget that you may owe taxes on the value of what you receive. It seems strange, but that's what the IRS says:
"Bartering occurs when you exchange goods or services without exchanging money. An example of bartering is a plumber doing repair work for a dentist in exchange for dental services. The fair market value of goods and services exchanged must be included in the income of both parties."
http://www.irs.gov/taxtopics/tc420.html
Hi Crystal,
Here is AZ, we have swapmeets where consultants sell their overstock. I can get my favorite Mary Kay products there at a fraction of the cost. Does any one else have swap meets? Also, I have a friend who trades me for the items I can't get there, at cost. Additionally, my little brother is a chemical engineer for Este Lauder and I get tons and tons of free stuff to experiment with from him too! Yeah for the perks of a big family!
Am I the only one who NEVER uses makeup?
I love to wear lip gloss though.
My daily routine is just to wash my face and moisturise (with SPF 30 moisturiser)and maybe put on a bit of lip gloss.
I recently went through my make-up (which my Mum gave me for my 12th birthday - yes I still had it all 15 years later) and got rid of nearly everything except a natural/brown coloured eye shadow. There was just no point keeping it all since I never used it.
Now I am feeling like I must be unusual to not wear make-up.
Louise
I don't know if your familiar with Paula Begoun (AKA the Cosmetic Cop). She's written two books--Don't Go to the Cosmetic Counter Without Me, and Don't Go Shopping for Haircare Products Without Me--that unmask the cosmetic industry secrets. She review products by ingredients, irritants, and whether or not they live up to their claims. I borrowed them from the library and have discovered that some of the drugstore brands are exactly the same or even better than the high end brand.
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