And then there’s me. Although I pride myself on being somewhat low-key when it comes to my appearance, my routine is an entirely different story. An average morning looks something like this: Wake up about 35 minutes before my husband to take a shower. Shampoo and deep condition hair, wash face with special scrub, shave legs and use a scented body wash. Exit shower and apply toner and lotion to face. Apply make-up. Style hair with blow-dryer and round brush, and finally, apply hair-spray to finish. Overall an unhurried but brisk morning requires about 45 minutes and approximately $4 worth of make-up, hair products, and lotions.
So what is a girl to do? Does budget have to come before beauty?
As a newly-wed on a student’s budget I started getting creative. The first thing that had to change was my salon routine. As you women know, an average trip to the salon (for a cut and color) generally costs between $75--$150. I was spending an average of $110 every 6-8 weeks. This was no longer an option for me so I started looking for alternatives.
I like my hair dark, so although I was initially terrified by the thought, I started researching home hair coloring kits. And I was pleasantly surprised. I was worried about the harsh chemicals in these at-home kits so I found one that didn’t contain ammonia. I use L’Oreal Natural Match No-Ammonia hair coloring. Within 2 dyes I found my best color, and not only does it look professional, but my hair is healthier and my wallet happier. I now pay a meager $45 ($35 professional haircut + $10 home color kit) every 6-8 weeks to keep my hair looking fabulous. *Another brand that came highly recommended was Clairol’s Nice and Easy which you can find for $13.99 at Walgreen’s.
Being something of a hair novice I was surprised by how easy to use these kits were. In the words of my husband (which he immediately regretted) “If you can do it, anyone can!” ($35 savings/month)
And then I really started getting creative. Face-wash, toners, and face-masks were just adding up too quickly. So remembering my teenage fondness for home beauty remedies I did a little research and found some incredible recipes for inexpensive natural body care. My best find was a book published by Klutz called “The Body Book: Recipes for Natural Body Care” by Anne Akers Johnson (2001). This fun book is full of recipes that use inexpensive ingredients, many of which you’ll find in your own kitchen. Here’s a sample of my favorites:
1. Natural Face Scrubs. Rather than spending $15 a month on a facial wash I’ve started making my own with much gentler natural ingredients. I’ve tried several of the facial scrubs in this book but my favorite is the almond scrub which is made with ground almonds and a little water. To add variety you can add other items like baking soda or rosewater (another website even recommended adding honey!). This softens and exfoliates the skin. ($12 savings/month)
2. Soothing Facial Toner. This book touts many recipes for facial toners that use Witch Hazel as a base. Witch Hazel can be found at most grocery stores and pharmacies and has excellent astringent (pore tightening) qualities. Anything from essential oils to lemon juice makes your toner complete. ($10 savings/month)
3. Face Masks. Another place to save money is with homemade face masks. Everyday ingredients like bananas, yogurt, avocados, honey and oatmeal can be mixed to create a great facial routine. My favorite is made from honey and oats—it makes my skin very soft and is great for clearing pores! I just have to be careful not to eat it! ($8 savings/month) Check out Anne Akers Johnson’s book for the complete recipes and a “home spa kit”! I found the book on Amazon, where as always there were some great discounted copies. This book also has great ideas on making inexpensive “spa gifts” for friends and family.
Home Pedicures and Manicures. Rather than a $30 professional manicure or pedicure why not try one at home? I soak my feet for about 10 minutes in a basin full of warm water mixed with Epsom salts and a few drops of lavender essential oil. I then exfoliate with a pumice stone. After cleaning and trimming my nails I use a thick moisturize that I can leave on overnight. And men—don’t be shy about getting in on the action; my husband loves these foot soaks (sorry I’m ratting you out honey!). Also, many sources claim that lemon juice is just the thing for whitening and strengthening your fingernails. Try soaking your fingertips in lemon juice for a few minutes as part of your weekly manicure and notice the great results! ($30 savings/month)
The Miracles of Olive Oil. Maybe it’s my Italian blood, but I have found olive oil to be the best beauty ingredient out there (think of how many commercially-made beauty products feature “With Olive Oil!” as their main selling point.). For a really deep conditioner I run a few teaspoons of olive oil through my hair, let it sit for about 10 minutes and then rinse it out thoroughly. I also regularly rub olive oil into my hands, cuticles and feet for a deep moisturizer.
Girls’ Night In. As an extra tip, rather than spending upwards of $30 for dinner and a movie with the girls, why not hold a “Girl’s Night In” and share your new-found beauty tips? I’ve done more of these nights than I can count and I can tell you for a fact that you’ll have a fun, relaxing night.
Research. I’ve shared just a few of the things I’ve found to work in my beauty routine—but there is so much more out there! Try scouring your local library or doing an internet search on home beauty remedies, you’ll find tons of information.
So yes ladies, budgeting does factor into our beauty routines. But with a little creativity, research and everyday kitchen items we can bring our beauty expenditures down while still maintaining our beautiful, glowing selves. And don’t be surprised when you have a ball doing it.
Happy Beautifying!
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