The Lo Down: beauty on a budget

What this means for many of us is that the saving season has started with the looming expense of the December/January period around the corner. Here are some suggestions on how you can cut back on your beauty budget without losing those much needed beauty basics.

1. Forget the salon facial
Forget spending money on a facial this month. Making your own face mask can be a fun DIY project and save you cash in the process. My tried-and-tested recommendation is to, once a week, combine raw honey and natural, non-flavoured yoghurt with a few drops of fresh lime juice and apply to your face for 15 minutes. The anti-bacterial properties in the honey and lime juice help to clear up skin blemishes and the slightly sugary texture of the raw honey acts as a soft exfoliator.

2. Ditch expensive teeth whitening
Cancel your teeth whitening appointment and try out this home remedy. Using baking soda, mix half a teaspoon of the powder with half a teaspoon of water to form a paste. Pop it onto your toothbrush and brush for a minute. Baking soda is a mild abrasive which helps to remove stains on the teeth but only do this once every few weeks as the abrasive properties can damage the enamel on your teeth if done too often.

3. Ain’t nobody got time for gel
This is an easy expense to avoid. Instead of buying a specialised shaving gel, use your conditioner as your shaving cream. Conditioner is creamy and moisturising and will help to make your hair softer and easier to remove without the worry of razor rash. Of course, if you use an expensive conditioner, this tip isn’t for you.

4. Extend the shelf life of your current products
Did you know that all beauty products have expiry dates and your makeup bag needs a regular overhaul? Foundations and powders last between 6 and 8 months before they need replacing whereas anything related to your eyes (eyeliners and mascaras) should be binned at the 3-month mark. To slightly extend these shelf lives, and save you some cash, pop the products into your fridge door to keep them chilled. This helps to preserve and protect their properties, appearance, and formula.

Being able to weigh up spending versus saving is an important consideration for any beauty-holic. Cutting back doesn’t mean you have to give up on all of your favourite products: it just means making decisions on what’s necessary and what’s not. So, if you have a pricey eye cream that you aren’t able to do without; cut back on what you spend on your mascara by choosing the budget-friendly option.

And remember, just as you’re saving up to buy gifts for others; they’re hopefully doing the same for you! Work on a holiday season ‘wish list’ to give friends and family to make their shopping for you that much easier.

Follow Leigh Crymble on Twitter (@Le1ghLo) or read her blog (Le1ghLo.com).