Save and Still Be Beautiful
Posted by Gail | Filed under Smart Shopper
Women spend a fortune to be beautiful: as a group we blow about $7 billion dollars a year trying to look good… or maybe just look better. Individually, we’re spending about $600 a year on average. From hair colour and extensions, to make-up, to facials, to cosmetic surgery, staying gorgeous can kill your savings. Can’t go without a weekly mani or pedi? Wouldn’t dream of heading to a date without stopping for a blow-out?
Girls aren’t the only ones dropping big bucks on beauty. Guys are getting into the swim in a big way. Hair styling, skin care and the pursuit of rock-solid abs are no longer strictly the domain of the double x chromosome crowd. Ys are jumping in with both feet.
Want to make sure your savings are suffering for your self-esteem?
DIY-dye: Head to the salon for a touch up and you’ll drop $60. DIY with a box and not only won’t you have to pay for parking you’ll spend just $10. Do that six times a year and you’ve got $300 to save.
Pedi-me: Depending where you go, you can spend from $10 to $50 touching up your toes. (Ditto your fingers.) DIY or have a mani-pedi party and swap services with your sisters by another mother, and you can save $50 a month.
Drugstore deals: Some of the most popular skin care and make-up products live at the drugstore. If you’re paying top dollar for skin care at a department store, you’re a sucker. Did you know that most of all beauty and hair products are made by two giant cosmetics companies: Estee Lauder and L’Oreal? Even the fanciest dermatologists and skincare specialists recommend basic drugstore cleansers and moisturizers to their clients.
Skip the gimmicks: vibrating mascara and spray on foundation are two examples of the lengths to which manufacturers will go to grab your attention. Don’t be a sucker.
Make it last: Do you have four or five lipsticks that are almost done. Scrape similar colours into a clean container and mix. If you add a little Vaseline, you’ll have a gloss. Using a lip brush lets you get right down to the bottom on the lipstick. And if you use disposable mascara wands, you won’t have to throw away your mascara as often because you won’t have to worry about the six-month rule for mascara safety.
Supermarket finds: Many of the healthiest ingredients for your skin can be found at the supermarket and will cost far less than if you buy a pre-made product. Mis oatmeal, oilive oil and sugar together for an in-shower facial scrub. Hit the internet for recipes so you can DIY.
Dollar store treasures: Why spend more for staples like cotton balls, makeup remover pads, hair clips and all the other basic stuff you blow through when a trip to the dollar store means you’ll save you anywhere from 50-70%?
Okay, your turn. How do you save money on those must-have beauty products that you count on to make you gurgus?
May 15, 2012 at 4:24 am
Right on!
If I was paying $60 for the dye job I would be grey. Right now I can get it done for $25.
Because of my knees I can’t reach my toes so when I get them polished I seek out my kids or they go bare. Footcare (necessity) part of healthcare – again I can’t reach my toes – and my feet are awful. Nail polish – Avon on sale.
As for the basic skincare – soap & water, rubbing alcohol on a damp cotton ball, and moisturizer from Avon when its on sale. Basic lipstick = Avon on sale, 3 or 4 colours. Blush – 1 creme, 1 powder – Avon on sale. Mascara – don’t wear – got lucky since my eyelashes are long anyway.
Never wear full “warpaint”. Must be lucky since nothing seems to be necessary.
May 15, 2012 at 7:22 am
I buy my make up remover at Dollarama. I use to use a Mary Kay product for removing make up, but it made me break out so I stopped. I haven’t had a break out since I’ve been using Dollarama cloths.
May 15, 2012 at 7:25 am
I wash my skin in the shower, use some lotion on dry skin. I wash my hair and brush it. I tried makeup a bit in my 20’s, seemed like a lot of work to make myself not look like myself anymore. Then I stopped wearing makeup and mousse on my hair, and I couldn’t believe the difference in how easy life is when you just wash and go. Saves time, money, and mental energy
if you enjoy makeup or hair stuff, go for it and have fun – just recognize that it’s a hobby,ot a necessity and if it’s feeling like a chore or a burden, it’s time to quite the hobby.
May 15, 2012 at 7:25 am
One important beauty tip is to wear sunscreen every day, even when it is not sunny. It will save your skin, and help prevent wrinkles.
May 15, 2012 at 7:28 am
I have found a lot of great DIY beauty videos on Youtube. You can find everything from how to cut /colour your hair to giving yourself a french manicure.
I admit that doing your own manicure can be a challenge
, so a few friends and I have learned how to do it and have pot a luck beauty session. We do each other’s nails. It saves a lot of money and you get to spend time with friends.
Pinterest is also a great source for DIY beauty ideas. Most are very economical and the ingredients are available in your grocery store. I have even found some great home made body scrubs that I plan to give to friends for birthdays & Christmas.
The biggest tips I could give for beauty are 1) don’t smoke – it ages your skin by years and 2) always wear sunscreen. It can help prevent premature aging of the skin not to mention protect against skin cancer.
May 15, 2012 at 8:07 am
I recently started washing my face with baking soda and it works better than my Burt’s Bees facial scrub! Bonus if you’re a frequent traveler because you can find it anywhere.
May 15, 2012 at 8:14 am
I buy quality cosmetics, your skin is the largest organ you’ve got. I will never buy from a dollarstore or cheap out to save a dollar or two at the expense of my skin. I save money because I don’t give into marketing. All you need is all you need. I use every last drop and stick to the essentials. You can afford the very best, because the best will last a long time. It’s only when you start experimenting (how many bottles of shampoo does a girl REALLY need) that you start spending your dosh on products you don’t need. (ie. Exfoliant = add sugar to your cleanser)
May 15, 2012 at 8:51 am
I don’t wear any makeup. I never liked how it felt on my face. However I do enjoy the occassional mani/pedi maybe 2 or 3 times a year.
May 15, 2012 at 8:51 am
I almost take offense to this blog post today. I work in the esthetics field so this is how I make my living. If everyone stops going to the spa, I stop receiving a pay check. How, pray tell, will I fuel my RRSP, or even feed my family if I don’t have a pay check? What I do for work is not against the law, its not unethical, I don’t rope people into services they didn’t want just to make a few extra bucks. People come to escape their rowdy children, their stressful jobs, the bad news the doctor just gave them, their bitchy spouse, because they are getting married,etc. Granted, some come b/c they are going on vacation. But its not always about how much money you can add to your RRSP, folks. What good is retirement if you have a heart attack before you get there?
Gail, you preach over and over that people need to get jobs, or make more money, that saving is important, so why would you pick on someones career? And for hair coloring, my boss is a stylist, and without her I wouldn’t have a building to do my work in. But I bet no one thought of that, did they.
(Don’t even get me started on skin care products from drug stores. You know what people are paying for when they buy a $20 cream from there? ADVERTISING.)
May 15, 2012 at 8:53 am
I use Norwex face cloths because the silver in them tones my skin and removes make up so I don’t have to purchase toner or make up remover. I got two of them for $35 four years ago and haven’t had a bad blemish and they remove my make up perfectly. I know it’s expensive but in the long run it has saved me mucho bucks. They are quite like anti bacterial cloths for your skin. You can use them all over for body acne. I had a friend who had really bad acne and these cloths got rid of it.
May 15, 2012 at 8:54 am
I have mixed feelings on this. I spend top dollar on my shampoo; the difference in what it does for my hair is nothing short of miraculous. It helps retain any colour in my hair, and, for someone that’s always had fine STRAIGHT hair, I can get my hair to do just about anything. That said, the cost also may work out cheaper in the long run. I literally use a dime sized amount, and use it every other day, and don’t need mousses or hairsprays.
You also need to be wary of what chemicals are found in ingredients in your regular products. Cetaphil was recommended to my daughter as the best skin cleanser for her. I experiment with a few. My foundation is also a facial sunscreen with a SPF of 60. Well worth it for someone who has skin cancer in the family.
I think it’s about choice; where you choose to splurge, but remaining conscious and open to trying other products.
May 15, 2012 at 8:59 am
Well, while I don’t wear tonnes of makeup or am a spa fanatic, I refuse to go cheap or give up what little I do.
makeup, I’ve learned is best when purchased in quality. Olay is my fave skin cars regime, and it lasts. My makeup is a bit of a few big names but I don’t wear much. Hair…I have a gal who runs her salon from her home, and we’ve been together since I was late teens, and was in a salon. She only charges me less than half for everything. And basically nothing to add the kids cuts. Spa…I find deals on groupon, dealfind, etc for massages etc and use those. Never pay full price. I do my own toes and don’t do nails.
May 15, 2012 at 9:07 am
Gail, I saw you on the Steve Paiken show last night and I was so impressed. You really gave it to those bankers! I was so proud.
May 15, 2012 at 9:07 am
Rachael-I don’t think Gail was saying never to enjoy spa services, she was pointing out that if your budget is tight, and you can’t afford it, there are alternatives. I agree with you-if you get enjoyment and stress relief from these services, and you can make them fit into your budget, they are worthwhile, but not everyone can afford the luxury, and when you make it a habit, it’s easy to see it as a necessity rather than a treat. If you’ve watched Princess, you’ll see people who spent hundreds a month in spas and didn’t have enough to pay their utility bills!
I used to enjoy seeing Paula Begoun on TV-she has books titled “Don’t Go To The Cosmetics Counter Without Me” (and similar titles) where she outlines which products are worth the money and which do the same job for less.
Personally, I spend a wee bit more on quality moisturizer with SPF, because of my fair, sensitive skin, but I don’t buy much else to put on my fair, sensitive skin.
May 15, 2012 at 9:14 am
I think the key, as with everything, is moderation. Do we all deserve a little pampering now and again? Yes, provided we’re not putting it on credit. If I treat myself to a manicure or a pedicure is that horrible? No, because I can afford it and work it into my budget along with all the other smart things I’m supposed to do with my money. I think the point Gail is trying to make is that some people spend excessive amounts on beauty and they don’t even realize it, if they added all the mani/pedis, make up, hair, etc. that they spend money on (in some cases money they don’t have) they would be shocked at the total over the year. And some people feel these things are necessities rather than luxuries. I buy good quality cosmetics because I breakout otherwise, I do get my hair highlighted a few times a year and indulge in the occassional mani/pedi. But I also do a lot of my own manicures (you can do it on yourself with practice) and pedicures at home.
May 15, 2012 at 9:19 am
@rachael: i think you might be reading more into this than is here. I don’t think Gail is saying “never go to the spa!”. The point is if you go all the time (not as a treat) or buy every product under the sun (rather than splurging selectively), you may be spending more than you can afford, and only because media has told us that we need to focus on our appearance. I prefer highlights to overall hair dye, so I pay a stylist to do my hair every 3 months. That where I spend. I buy makeup from the drugstore. That’s where I save. It’s like anything: if you save up and spend consciously, that’s one thing; consistently blowing money you don’t have is another. I read these as various tips you could adopt as suits you, not that all are required for Gail’s approval!
Adding to ‘don’t smoke’ and ‘wear sunscreen’, I would add ‘wash your face’ to the core beauty tips tht make a difference. In terms of makeup, I remember listening to someone on TV who advised that the only makeup you really need (if you’re a makeup wearer, which I am) is blush and a colored lip gloss. Those two items make a world of difference in appearing made up and ‘pulled together’ so they argued that you don’t really need the rest unless you like playing with makeup. I’ve taken that to heart and now I only wear those and a mascara every day. Definitely saves $$
May 15, 2012 at 9:30 am
Gail, you’re a mensch!! Last night you said, “Bite me” on national TV! Almost wet myself laughing.
May 15, 2012 at 9:33 am
I have fine hair and not a lot of it. I found that it fell out more just after a dye job. I stopped dying it. I now have beautiful silver highlights. I’m 41 and while I still have more pepper than salt, my 47 year old sister is almost all white and my mother is all white too.
I actually love the look on us.
So I say try going natural. You might not hate it as much as you think.
Also, buy in bulk for spa treatments. I bought 10 laser hair removal treatments when the spa was having a half off sale. Not only did I get the bulk discount, but with the promotion I got 10 treatments for the price of 4. Score!
As for Gail attacking the esthetics industry that’s insane. She’s telling people that they shouldn’t spend money on things they can’t afford. I work for a car manufacturer. If Gail posted about how people should do proper maintenance on their cars so that they last longer it wouldn’t be an attack on the automotive sales industry or designed to put my job in jeopardy. It’s good money sense. Period.
May 15, 2012 at 9:44 am
I use minimal make-up: some concealer, blush, mascara and eyeliner. I use a combo of Estee Lauder, Loreal and Sephora. As some people mentioned, I found that certain products are worth a few extra dollars. For example: my eyeliner. I’ve used Covergirl before and it doesn’t stay the same way as my Sephora brand.
For my skin: My skin likes Neutrogena products so I use that brand for my cleanser and moisturizer. I’ve had little breakouts with them.
Hair: Since my son loves to pull and tug at my hair…I have it up 99% of the time, haha! I do not dye my hair at all and I go for a cut every 3-4 months. That is about it.
Nails: I’ve never had a pedicure before and the last time I had a manicure was in grade 8: also known as the summer before I started playing the cello. There is no point in spending the $$ in a manicure since I keep my nails short.
May 15, 2012 at 9:53 am
Rachel, you (like many of us) work in a service industry. Just because your job isn’t unethical or illegal and depends on people spending their money on that service doesn’t make buying the services a moral imperative.
The fact is, your job depends on people spending money on luxuries. This is a blog about saving money. When someone wants to save money, the first thing to go from the budget is luxuries. Nobody owes you the obligation to get salon services when they decide their priority is putting the money that would have been going to you in an RRSP (or, for that matter, buying groceries, or spending on a different luxury).
How much of your money do you spend on luxuries? Do you spend 80% of your income on frivolous things to the exclusion of saving for retirement or paying for your housing? I assume not – I assume that you, like everyone else, has decided how much you are willing to spend on unnecessary things based on your own budget and your own priorities – without any thought at all for the incomes of the people who would receive the money if you instead chose to spend it all on the services they offer.
Gail isn’t picking on anyone’s career – she is pointing out an obvious fact: if you are trying to save money, don’t spend it on unnecessary luxuries. You are in the business of providing unnecessary luxuries. If you don’t like that, it is your responsibility to change your career, not the world’s responsibility to spend money on those unnecessary luxuries even if they’ve decided its not in their budget.
You’re right, probably no one thought of the fact that your boss is a stylist and needs people to spend money at his/her establishment to stay in business – because it is not their responsibility to do so.
May 15, 2012 at 9:56 am
I think there is something to be said for quality over quantity. My makeup isnt exactly cheap, but I own ONE foundation, ONE blush, ONE eyeliner, and only 3-4 eyeshadows. It is easy to store and back up for trips and I dont spend a lot of money on makeup! I also wear fake eyelashes and I find the cheap drugstore ones are just as good as the expensive ones.
I enjoy the occasional pedicure, but I find I chip manicures, so I dont bother. I have to use a special facewash, but I use sunscreen to keep my skin healthy as I age.
And I agree with not spending a lot on tools!
May 15, 2012 at 10:04 am
I don’t use make up. I don’t use nail polish (makes my fingernails feels like they’re suffercating — weird, eh?). I use a cheap shampoo as I wash my hair everyday (after my jog). I do use the cheap St Ives expolient/shower gel….it smells nice (great reasoning….). And I refuse to colour my hair — when I go grey, I’ll be grey.
I have long hair….I get hubby to trim/even it off every couple of months.
BUT….I admit my “$600″ in beauty is transferred to my shoe budget. I pay for New Balance jogging shoes, at $140 twice a year…..plus the walking shoes at $140 once a year (or every 2 years)… Those shoes have saved my knees!
May 15, 2012 at 10:32 am
MAKE-UP:
I splurge on good foundation and powder from MAC as I have found that the drugstore stuff makes me break out. The rest (mascara, liner, eye shadow, blush, bronzer) is all cheaper or sale items from Shoppers Drug Mart and I use my optimum points to pay for lots of it. I buy my brushes and lip gloss from Dollarama.
HAIR:
I do my own hair colour using drugstore hair colour, whichever is on sale, about 3-4 times per year. I get a cut and shape 2-3 times a year at SuperCuts.
BODY:
I get pedicures during sandal season only. I used to have gel nails and they were costing me a fortune to upkeep, so I removed them and now have manicures done 5-6 times a year. Waxing 5-6 times a year. Massage 3-4 times a year. Facials 3-4 times a year.
All in all, I would say I spend at the most $2,000 per year on keeping myself beautiful. I think that if I didn’t watch what I spend it would be double that.
May 15, 2012 at 11:03 am
I do get my hair done at a salon every six weeks because I do not like the colour or the texture of my hair when I use drugstore product. That is my splurge. I use a drugstore moisturizer and eye cream and usually only wear lipstick and mascara. If asked what I would like for birthdays, Christmas etc., I always ask for a gift certificate for a pedi.We can look the way we feel comfortable looking by prioritizing where to spend the beauty dollars.
May 15, 2012 at 11:17 am
I buy high end foundation from MAC and then cheap out on most everything else. A great base makes all the difference and will help it stay put. I pay about $40 for it and it lasts 6+ months.
May 15, 2012 at 11:21 am
Make up: Sephora stores can be a very dangerous territory for me, I have to say they are marketing geniuses there. Not only is the look and lay out of the store very inviting but their make up experts are very helpful and well-trained. That being said I only actually shop there like twice a year. I only buy new when I run out of something old, no make up hoarding!
Hair: I have tried to dye my hair myself or with the help of a friend and it just never gets nice and even like it is by a stylist. So after a few hair fiascos I am now only allowing a stylist I trust to colour, highlight, cut etc my hair. That being said I only go about every 5-6months because they are so expensive and I can’t justify spending 100-120 bucks on my hair more often than that.
Body products: I don’t buy anything fancy really, for face creams, lotions I buy from The Body Shop because their products work for me, other than that I can’t even think of much else I buy.
May 15, 2012 at 11:24 am
Oh and I used to get gel nails done every 3 weeks for almost a year, then I decided to keep those $35 bucks for myself because I had to admit I rather go on a vacation than have perfect nails every day of the week.
May 15, 2012 at 11:39 am
I had a home colouring disaster in the fall. Since it was a “temporary” colour, I had to strip the colour out. After several different attempts, the best solution was brushing generous amount of olive oil onto my scalp and hair, and wrapping my head in saran wrap. I left it like that for several hours. When I washed it out, the excess colour came out, my hair was silky soft, and my scalp was so healthy.
Since I used olive oil, I don’t now if this would count as a budget treatment…..
(but it was certainly cheaper than having to get it professionally stripped).
May 15, 2012 at 12:27 pm
Olive oil to remove makeup, sea salt/lemon juice/olive oil for a great face/body scrub, vinegar to strip product build-up from my hair, & baby oil to moisturize after my shower.
May 15, 2012 at 12:38 pm
Is no one concerned about the safety in your products? http://www.ewg.org/skindeep/ Every product you put onto your skin has the potential to penetrate and do damage.
That’s why I use unrefined shea/cocoa butter and coconut oil on my skin. Get the butter on eBay, very affordable and it lasts a long time.
I scrub my scalp once a week with brown sugar/peppermint oil to remove product build up and prevent the itchies.
Shampoo with organic shampoo and deep condition with avocado, honey and coconut oil while in the steam room at my gym. Hopefully with learn to make my own shampoo soon with castille soap and glycerin. Again, no chemicals and affordable.
After I steam, my pore are open so I deep cleanse my skin with an egg and sometimes other concoctions courtesy of the Internet.
I use baking soda and peroxide 3 times a week to keep my teeth white.
May 15, 2012 at 12:39 pm
My two big beauty savings are 1) I mix baking soda with my facial cleanser in my shower a couple of times a week. Saves me money in buying facial scrubs and 2) In summer, I need a lighter foundation, so I mix a little moisturizer with my regular foundation. I also use hydrogen peroxide to disinfect the problem areas around my nose and chin.
I do like makeup, but as I’m getting older I find I don’t need to constantly purchase the latest and greatest. I’ve found what works for me, and I generally stick to it. My makeup tray consists of drugstore and higher-end brands. As for other luxury salon services, I’m pretty DIY when it comes to manis and pedis (although on my last visit to Chicago, I got the best pedi I’ve ever had in my life. I’ll definitely go back there!) The one thing I will spend money on is my hair. I like a more funky look when it comes to color, and that’s not something I can do on my end.
@psychsarah, Paula Begoun is actually the one who gave me the ideas mentioned in my first paragraph. Her books still are a great resource for those needing some guidance on what lives up to the hype and what doesn’t.
May 15, 2012 at 1:33 pm
Like an earlier post I also gave up wearing makeup altogether quite a long time ago (1991 to be exact). I just found the whole process exhausting and figured I could trade off by catching up on all the sleep I was losing by standing in front of the mirror.
In the past few years I have started to colour my hair because my vanity is just too great to allow the few grey hairs blossom into a bouquet. I have tried a few DIY colours and haven’t really liked them (or the smell of them). I go to SuperCuts where I make full use of their stamp cards and other deals (free cut with colour) every 2 months. Because it’s something I want to do I make room in our budget for it.
May 15, 2012 at 1:49 pm
@Lynn & @ Anotherdawn, after getting the taste of baking soda in her mouth, my daughter switched to a scrub of sugar and cleanser. I’ve skipped the cleanser and added a vanilla bean to my sugar pot. The scrub smells heavenly, isn’t offensive if you get it in your mouth and is perfect for tea in a pinch.
I’ve highlighted my hair myself for almost 30 years (yikes) and I have saved a bundle. Because I am a blonde, the colour isn’t dramatic and the grays , when they appear seem to blend in. I Highlight about once every 5 weeks and I only need to use half of the box.
May 15, 2012 at 1:52 pm
Such a timely topic for me! Thanks to Gail I am now debt free and in my attempt to reach my savings goal I am seriously trimming the fat by getting rid of my landline and my automated skin care payment plan. I definitely understand paying for quality products rather than wasting money on cheaper products you end up not using because they don’t work. Part of the thrust to stop my skin care subscription was I started ammassing more products then I could possibly use. I am trying to not buy more product until I use up what I have and the results have been incredible. I went an entire year before I needed to buy shampoo and conditioner! I’ve gone half a year without needing to buy new toothpaste. It sure is an exercise in self control! Not only is it spiking my savings it is helping me cut down on my clutter. I have done DIY and drugstore grooming most of my life and am sure that has saved me thousands of dollars over the years. The comparison of the car dealership to the beauty salon is so appropriate! I once had a mechanic try to sell me a $160 headlight restore which you could buy at a store and DIY for $10! It is true that there are some things you can’t DIY so why not take the difference out of your discount grooming savings and put that in a future beauty treatment account? Now that is the beauty of budgeting!
May 15, 2012 at 1:53 pm
I go to a massage therapist every four weeks to treat PMS symptons. I’ve been going for close to seven years and since it has changed my life I make sure that I budget for it every month. I’d get rid of the phone, the TV, just about anything before I’d give up the massage therapy. I don’t wear any makeup and have been fortunate enough to get away with using fairly inexpensive Olay products for skincare. I love spa treatments. But I completely see them as a luxury item (for me based on my budget) and only add them as the budget allows.
May 15, 2012 at 3:18 pm
I just watched your Guest spot on the Steve Paiken show http://ww3.tvo.org/video/177475/deconstructing-personal-debt. I laughed out loud when he thanked you for not dropping the F bomb in his session. You truly keep it real Gail – thank you so much for taking those guys to task on the issue of Consumer Debt and for making the discussion a worthwhile one. See GVO on TVO!!
May 15, 2012 at 4:17 pm
I do my own haircuts, color and pedicures, but I have not had any luck with drugstore makeup products, so I buy a few high-end department store items for my makeup. They seem to last forever, so the cost per day is very low. I use just water and a bit of sesame oil on a cotton pad for nighttime cleansing and a gel cleanser in the shower in the morning, mixed with baking soda a few times a week for exfoliation. I agree with another poster who mentioned being careful about chemicals you put on your skin – I stopped using all lotions and switched to organic sesame oil for that reason.
May 15, 2012 at 4:21 pm
Some good ideas here for those on a limited budget. For others, as long as your bills are paid, you’re not using credit and you don’t owe others, go ahead and spend what you want. Personally, I’ve always said I’ll do my own
pedicures until I’m too old to bend over – then I’ll pay someone else to do it.
May 15, 2012 at 6:48 pm
I’m a no-maintenance kid of girl. I wash my hair but don’t dry it or use styling products. I rarely cut it but when I do, I literally cut it myself. Maybe every 2 years I pay for a cut. I wear makeup to weddings and all done up is lipstick and mascara. I bought makeup for my sister-in-law’s wedding 5 1/2 years ago and finally replaced my lipstick this January. My ‘beauty’ expenses totally about $50 every 2-3 years
May 15, 2012 at 7:08 pm
I’m with you Tara, I hardly ever wear makeup and only minimal (eyeshadow/ mascara) for special events or if we go out for dinner (which isn’t often). In fact, the last time I bought any kind of makeup was 2010… for my wedding.
May 15, 2012 at 7:24 pm
Haven’t posted in ages but this topic made me smile and chuckle at the pain of being a woman.
I use a total price range of products but reading through comments, I realised that what some people consider their high end foundations, I consider my low end foundation. But I also get about 8-9 months of use out of my foundation, with the investment of my $35 airbrush foundation brush from Sephora, makes my splurge worth it.
I splurge on moisturizer but skimp on mascara since drugstore brands look the same and i usually chuck them after 6 months anyhow.
I find Body Shop cleaners to be both the most effective and the prices are super affordable. Plus lately they seem to have sales all the time.
I don’t do pedi’s or mani’s very often, but usually buy a great new shade of OPI every season which is way cheaper. My hair is long so I only get it cut about once a year.
I do usually get 1-2 laser hair removal treatments every year which is worth it for certain areas, for everything else I just wax myself with Parrissa wax ($10 for a jar that lasts 3 months about)
May 15, 2012 at 9:16 pm
Go low-maintenance, ladies! You’ll save time, you’ll save money, and you’ll feel so much better!
I splurge on a trim and blow-dry at the hairdresser every 6 months; I get a one-length haircut that suits my face and that grows out evenly so I don’t have to go for touch-ups. Beyond that, I have SPF-15 foundation that I replace a few times a year, and a few drugstore basics (lip gloss, mascara). Really, that’s it.
My luxury of choice is travel, which has taught me how to save money (“this day at the spa will set me back on saving for my dream trip”) and has also taught me how to be low-maintenace. When I travel, I take sunscreen, soap, shampoo, comb, toothbrush/toothpaste/deodorant, and maybe an eyeliner pencil and a little purse-sized lip gloss, and I’m done. Too many beauty products weighs down a bag, takes time out from sightseeing, and prevents you from being able to travel carry-on with all the liquid restrictions these days. If you can get ready in 5 minutes in a shared hostel shower with no hot water, and still look fabulously chic, that’s when you know you’ve got it made. Less is more, ladies!
(Oh, and Rachel, none of us have a responsibility to support your career choice. If you’re selling water in the desert and it starts raining, sorry hon, best stop whining and start selling umbrellas.)
May 16, 2012 at 6:41 am
I do the Avon thing which works great for me as I prefer catalogues and online shopping. I buy my face cream and makeup only when it’s on sale. My face cream is pretty expensive (to me) but I wait until it is on sale for $49 in the spring and stock up. One package will last me close to a year as I use it lightly. My face cleanser is $16 a tube, but again I stock up when on sale for $5. I pay $1.99 for nail polish, $3.99 for lipstick, $6 for eyeshadow, $4.99 for mascara and $9.99 for foundation, and I make it last. And since I have an active rep account (though I haven’t sold in years), I get 10% off which generally covers the shipping. If I dye my hair, I wait until Nice ‘N Easy’s on sale at Walmart for $5-7.
Sorry, Rachel, I don’t have too much sympathy for you. You provide a luxury service, surely you realise in tight times this will be the first thing people cut from their budget?
May 16, 2012 at 12:41 pm
@Linda No! Not alcohol on your face!
If you want a cheap toner, buy a $4 bottle of organic apple cider vinegar mix it 1:1 with distilled water in a little spray bottle and you’re good!
@Rachel You’re really reading into this too much. Like others have said, your services are a luxury. If people can’t afford it, they’ll need to stop going if they wish to live debt free. I can’t afford to get a pedicure every month but I go when I have extra cash and want something special.
I also dye my own hair because I would not be able to afford to get it done every 6 weeks at a salon! I’m 27 with very salt and pepper hair and not ready to ‘let it go’ until it’s mostly white!
Other saving tips:
I bought a $13 jar of all natural coco butter and jojoba oil and I use it for everything! You can use it on your face, on your skin in general and I put it in my hair after my shower as my conditioner. It’s very handy. I’ve had the same $13 har for the last…. gosh, at least 6 months and it’s only half gone. Because it’s solid, it won’t go bad like other oils.
May 16, 2012 at 4:47 pm
When I was married and had ‘disposable’ income, I would spend about 2000$ on my hair every year.. at least 200 to 300 a pop! Now I’m a single mom, and colour my hair at home. I still go to the same salon but now i just get a hair cut. Tried to cheap out on that but nothing compares to a good cut!
And I agree, avoid the spa when you can’t afford it… because when you can affort to treat yourself it’s an even better experience knowing you’ve paid for it in cash rather then credit
and you desearve it!!
May 17, 2012 at 12:30 am
Maybe someone could clear this up for me, I thought you were supposed to replace your mascara after 3 months, not 6 months. Or am I just falling for marketing?
May 17, 2012 at 4:15 am
@Cassie, i don’t look at the months I look if there are clumps forming. That is a sign that the mascara is getting old.
I do believe that if you find the right ingredients you can either save or spend big bucks. I am a Bobbi Brown fan myself. Her foundations are quite expensive, but they are like a 3 in one. A moisturizer, has SPF 15, and a toner.
And hair wise I make sure to add it to my budget, it’s only logical for me to put it in especially if I am going to get a touch up every month. I don’t trust myself to dye my hair, let alone do my roots.
I think as long as we put our makes up etc in our budgets we would be fine.
May 18, 2012 at 10:29 am
I do highlights, not color, so I have to go to a salon to get it done (I’ve tried it at home…just doesn’t come out right, and it takes forever). Don’t be afraid to try a beauty school! I get mine done at an Aveda Institute, and I can get my hair cut, highlights and lowlights for my waist length hair for $60! There’s an instructor there to make sure they don’t mess up. Sometimes they take longer than a regular hair stylist (although I had one amazing student who was super quick and gave me the best cut of my life!…unfortunately she moved to another city), but if they take too long, the instructor will help them out. It’s a great way to save money but still get professional services.
May 21, 2012 at 11:52 am
I bought a set of barber clippers years back and encouraged by my success, later bought a Flowbee. I used to give the kids haircuts, and then started in on myself, and have been cutting my own hair ever since. People are incredulous. The Flow-bee is the real deal although people who never used on laugh at them, and it works very, very well for short layered hair styles. I also dye my own hair. Haven’t been to hairdresser in 20 years, and I constantly get compliments on my hair, so I must be doing something right.
May 23, 2012 at 10:16 am
My trick is very simple… I don’t use make-up. Why? Because my skin already looks great, I have freckles all over my face, why should I hide them? Also, when I wake up in the morning, I look exactly the was I looked the night before so no bad suprise for my boyfriend haha! not using make-up also makes me save on the make-up remover. Oh sure, I do have a littel make up here for now and then on special occasion, but I find Natural look much more sexy then make up. Women shoudl invest in a great soap for a good narutal looking skin than make-up tu covers inprfection. because at the end of the day, if you are hiding your skin with heavy make up, you’ll still have to do it the next day.
May 24, 2012 at 4:04 pm
I spend little on make-up. I think that women are socialized to pay way too much attention to primping under a false sense of what “beauty” is. Pet peeve: “I need to put my face on.” Thankfully, that’s not literally the case.
Even if I did have loads of expendable income, I don’t think I’d spend it on beauty products. People can spend their money however they choose, I’m not judging. I do think it’s worth examining why you have the routines you do… for fun, relaxation, or are you trying to work on the outside instead of the inside (says the social worker.)
(c;