I’m always looking for a good bargain, especially when it comes to skincare. From making my own natural masks and scrubs at home to shopping the drugstore aisles with my eagle-eye trained on ingredient labels, I’ve become something of a pro at cutting costs on my beauty care products.
If you’re still struggling to part ways with that $50 moisturizer, or you have absolutely no clue why some products can cost 100 times more than others, you may be in need of some beauty budgeting overhaul. Check out these great tips I’ve rounded up to help you cut costs on your skincare and beauty products
1. Simplify Your Beauty Care Routine
If you’ve got a 12-step program standing between you and the bathroom door each morning, it might be time to downsize. In reality, there’s no real benefit to loading on serums, toners, treatments, and lotions. Mostly, too much of a good thing is just a waste of money. If you’re overloading your skin, chances are good that NONE of those expensive products can get the job done. As beauty expert Valerie Monroe says at Oprah.com, saving money on skincare is as easy as developing a simple regimen. She recommends a mild cleanser and a hydrating product with extra perks like SPF, hyaluronic acid to plump away fine lines, lots of antioxidants like green tea and vitamin E, and maybe even some alpha hydroxyl acids to fight off dead skin cells. You may pay more for that one product, but it can do the job of FOUR products, so it’s worth it!
2. Substitute For Less Expensive Brands
Can’t live without your face scrub or specialty acne mask? You don’t have to, as long as you know how to find the right replacements. A lot of the pricey designer brands out there have much cheaper (but no less effective) knock-off versions you can shop. Save hundreds each year just by swapping out your favorites for the “generic” versions. Collect all those precious labels from your expensive products and head down to the local drugstore. A quick comparison of the ingredients lists may open your eyes to how similar those two lotions really are! Find the best ones and start shopping!
3. Pack More Punch with 2-in-1 Products
Sure, we’ve all tried the shampoo and conditioner combos once or twice. In the world of beauty, there are a lot of great 2-in-1 products to try for yourself. Shopping for some of these can help you achieve tip #1, as well. Look for any product that gives you extra benefits and try them out. She Knows recommends some common combos to look for:
- Tinted moisturizers to tackle the job of a lotion and a foundation
- Lotion with SPF to add the benefits of sunscreen
- Creamy shower gels that double as a shaving cream or bubble bath formula
- Foundations with acne-fighting ingredients
- Balms to help with your lips, hair, and skin
There are others, but these will get you started. Read labels and start educating yourself on which products will “pack more punch” during your beauty routine.
4. Stock Up on Versatile Products
Some products can be used for lots of things but aren’t exactly advertised as such. If you stock up on the right inexpensive products, you’ll be able to do lots of things without spending a ton of money. For example, keep a big box of cotton swabs on hand at all times to do a multitude of tasks, including nail polish removal and detailing, eye makeup application, nail whitening, brow shaping, self-tanner tidying, lip gloss application, and more. Skip the expensive makeup brushes and specialty beauty tools in favor of the plain old cotton swab and you’ll save hundreds.
Toothpaste is another surprise contender for most versatile bathroom accessory. With a long list of its own beauty uses, toothpaste is an invaluable tool to have on hand. Try using your toothpaste to fight off pimples and breakouts, strengthen your fingernails, or tame flyaway hairs. You can even use toothpaste to clean most jewelry, polish up your shoes, and fight stains on your clothing!
Another product I keep on hand is inexpensive hair conditioner. I often shop for products like V05, which cost less than a dollar in most places, to double as a shave gel. Instead of paying nearly $4 for a can of specialty, glycerin-based shaving gel, I save big on these inexpensive products. They smell just as nice, leave my skin feeling smoother, and even do less clogging damage to my razors. Plus, I haven’t had razor burn since I switched! Try it yourself; you might be pleasantly surprised.
5. Make It Yourself
Scouring the internet, I’ve learned dozens (if not hundreds) of ways to make my own natural remedies and skin care products with ingredients already in my bathroom or kitchen. From teeth whitening to hair lightening, there are lots of ways to save yourself a trip to the store in favor of raiding those cabinets! Some of my favorites include:
- Rubbing orange peels on your teeth to whiten them! You can also crush dried orange peel with ground bay leaves into a paste and brush!
- Mix lemon juice and tomato juice for a daily facial treatment that fights acne breakouts.
- Combine chamomile tea with lemon juice and apply to your hair for a natural sun-lightening effect on your locks.
- Apply olive oil to your hair, let it sit for two hairs wrapped in a hot towel to steam, and then wash away with yogurt or buttermilk. Rinse, shampoo, and your split ends are on the mend!
6. Shop with Coupon Codes
Of course, you can always cut down your beauty costs with a good dose of coupon codes from ShopGala. Visit often to see what our latest Skincare coupon codes have to offer you. Current deals include some of the top-selling brands and retailers, such as DHC, Be Beautiful, Clinique, Cosmetic America, Lancome, Murad, and more. Start shopping with coupon codes to see how much money you can save on your skincare products.
