In today’s sour economy, skincare is typically the first to go. But, you don’t have to put a stop to years of conscientious caring for your skin. Instead, spend the New Year by saving money, while still maintaining your healthy complexion. Here are six ideas for downsizing your skincare without giving up a cent of stunning skin.
- Try at-home treatments.
It might be tough to eliminate your days at the spa, because that’s your time to relax and rejuvenate. So, instead of purging pedicures and forgoing facials, you can alternate between spa treatments and at-home remedies. Eventually, you might want to stay home permanently after trying these DIY beauty projects.
- Make your own body scrub by mixing one cup each of brown sugar, raw oatmeal and olive oil [in Glamour from blogger Julia Coney of All About the Pretty]
- To soften dry elbows and knees — and even lighten dark spots — gently rub a cut lemon on these areas [in Glamour from Lianne Farbes of TheMakeupGirl]
- For an exfoliating facial mask, use a food processor to blend ½ cup of diced, unripe papaya, one teaspoon of honey and one teaspoon of plain yogurt; leave the mask on for eight to 10 minutes [in body + soul]
- Ask for spa gift cards.
Got a birthday, anniversary or another special celebration coming up? Ask your loved ones to give you a spa package to your favorite retreat. You can choose from a soothing massage, a pretty pedicure or hydrating facial — all valuable treatments that didn’t cost you a penny.
- Save on certain skincare.
There are certain products you can splurge on and others that you don’t need to. Invest in high-quality, antioxidant-rich serums and night creams, but save on your cleanser, toner, day cream and sunscreen. These options are effective, yet price-wise, they’re a steal:
- Be greedy.
All of us are guilty of being too generous with our skincare. Oftentimes, we scoop out so much cleanser and cream that we don’t just go through our products too quickly — we also harm our skin.
For instance, too much cleanser can leave skin dull and dehydrated, so much so that skin starts compensating for this dryness by churning out more oil — contributing to breakouts. Excessive amounts of moisturizer can also trigger acne.
Avoid hurting your skin and wasting money by:
- Using a dime-sized amount of cleanser
- Applying a dime- to quarter-sized amount of cream, depending on how much hydration you need and how rich your lotion is
- Putting on moisturizer when your skin is slightly damp
- Investing in a richer moisturizer, if your skin still feels dry
- Multitask.
It might not be fruitful to multitask in the workplace, but using multitasking skincare saves every budget. So, when shopping for skincare, look for products that do double-duty. Instead of buying a separate sunscreen for your face, try a day moisturizer with SPF protection. Rather than purchasing a body wash, shampoo and bubble bath, check out Philosophy’s best-selling line of 3-in-1 body products. Choose from delicious flavors like Vanilla Birthday Cake, Peach and Raspberry Sorbet.
- Care for your skincare space.
How many times have you bought a new product only to find you already had it stashed away in a safe (forgotten!) place? Or worse, how often have you discovered a misplaced product that’s past its expiration date?
More often than not, our skincare space is the first place to get cluttered and the last one to get organized. Not surprisingly, a messy area makes it especially difficult to know what products you need and which you don’t.
The solution? Begin by browsing your skincare and toss out old products. Next, don’t leave products in direct sunlight or in a hot place (car, anyone?). This ruins your skincare, rendering it ineffective. Instead, store your products somewhere that’s cool and dark and don’t forget where that place is!
Learn everything you need to know about budget skincare in our Beauty on a Budget Handbook.