Money Saving Beauty Ideas

Save on Shaving Cream

"There's nothing I hate more than going away and leaving behind my expensive shampoo in the shower stall," says Real Beauty associate editor Colleen Moody. "This shampoo lathers really well so it can double as a shaving cream whether you're at home or on vacation."
She uses V05 Tea Therapy, why not try out your shampoo and see if that would double as a shaving cream too :)

Conserve Your Product
Natalie DeStefano, makeup artist at the Rita Hazan Salon in NYC, recommends wetting your makeup sponge slightly before you dip it into your foundation. The dampness will cause the sponge to absorb less product, thus leaving more in the bottle.

Divide and Conquer
"I use cotton rounds to apply my toner and take off my nail polish," says Real Beauty associate editor Ariana Finlayson. "Since they provide more surface area than I usually need, I cut them in half to save product and money."

Pamper Parched Strands
Instead of shelling out $40 or $50 for a salon hair mask to rejuvenate dry hair, try an at-home avocado mask. All you'll need is a fully ripened avocado mixed in with one egg yolk and a teaspoon of olive oil. After stirring well, apply the mixture to your hair in sections and leave on for 30 minutes or so. Afterward, your hair will feel luscious and healthy.

Preserve Your Hair Color

Extend your hair color and keep it looking healthy and vibrant with this great tip from The Office star Angela Kinsey: "To make my hair color last longer, I wash my hair every other day. On the weekends I give it a break from heat styling and just put it in a ponytail. Once a month I use this deep conditioner. I apply it in the morning, slip on a shower cap, then do the laundry."
Aussie 3Minute Miracle.

Run Damage Control on Your Blemishes
"If you feel a big blemish coming on, take an aspirin and make a paste of it with water," says Kinsey. "Apply it to the pimple before you go to bed and the next day the swelling will be gone."

Double Your Beauty
Invest in some multitasking makeup. This pencil functions as a lipstick, eye shadow, and blush — all for under $10. Not only will you save space in your makeup bag, but you'll also save time in your routine.

Jillian Dempsey for Avon Professional Multi-Pencil, $8; avon.com


Big Beauty Bang for Your Money
Eyes Lips Face (e.l.f.) may be one of our favorite brands for beauty on a budget. This all-in-one palette comes with 14 eye shadows, an eyeliner, a shadow brush, and an eye-makeup lesson to boot, all for a price that is so good, it'll make you blush.

e.l.f. Beauty Encyclopedia — Everyday Eye Edition, $5; eyeslipsface.com
They do this for the uk too girls :) x

E.V.O.O. Everywhere
"Olive oil is actually my favorite beauty secret," says Real Beauty director Deanne Hess. "It’s great for taking off makeup, calming frizzies in the summer, and moisturizing your skin. I keep a bottle in both my kitchen and bathroom."

Squeeze More Swipes
Get a few more uses out of an almost-gone mascara by standing it in a glass of warm water or heating it up with a hair dryer.

Save Your Mascara Wand
Wash it thoroughly and use it to tame unruly eyebrow hairs or to separate and de-clump lashes. Oftentimes, great mascara application comes from the brush. If you aren't too keen on a newly purchased formula, use the wand from your tried-and-true to see if it makes a difference.

Make Your Own Exfoliating Body Scrub
Combine 1 cup coarse sea salt with 1/2 cup baby oil. Stir the ingredients together in a bowl and put into a screw-top jar. Leave for 24 hours, then stir the mixture and apply to any areas of the body you wish to smooth out. Massage into the skin for a few minutes, then shower off and pat your skin dry. (Makes multiple applications.)

Deodorize Your Kicks
Stinky soles can ruin a good pair of shoes, not to mention smell up a room whenever you kick them off. To get rid of odors, sprinkle some baking soda in your shoes and vacuum up before you slip your feet into them.

Use Coffee Grounds on Cellulite
Mix dry grounds with your body lotion and rub into your problem areas. This stimulates circulation, making it easier for trapped fat to surface and be broken down. Plus, the caffeine tightens skin. Leave this coffee-lotion combo on your skin for about 30 minutes, then wash off.