Cheap Thrills

By Sunday, May 30, 2010

I have always been frugal (thanks dad), so as a result I'm always out for a deal or a way to save some money. I thought I would compile a little list of great tips on saving some beauty cash so you can go spend more money on the pricy makeup you cant live without and have a hard time justifying (you know what I'm talking about).


Homemade Lip Scrub - This is a classic, mix sugar with Vaseline (or lip gloss), rub around to scuff off dead skin on lips. You can also use your toothbrush to exfoliate the lips.


Aspirin Mask - How this has alluded me for so long is beyond me. Praised for how cheap and easy it is to use, as well for how great it is for treating acne and ingrown hairs. Steps: take 3 or 4 uncoated aspirins and mix with a bit of warm water (or Jojoba oil if you have dry skin) and mash up. Then ad ether a teaspoon of honey or cetaphil soap (I like soap), mix. Spread on face (avoiding eyes), leave on for 10 minutes (some people say 15), remove with a warm wet face cloth.

Cozy Milk Bath - Years ago when I was a child in the 80's I remember my mother running me baths with The Body Shop's goats milk powder, I remember loving that little pouch and how it made my baths perfect and left my skin soft. A few years back my naturopath 'prescribed' a bath a day with 2 cups of milk, thats 3.5L a week! This was a crazy amount of milk and it cost me a lot of money to taking baths. I went to my local Bulk Barn and grabbed powder milk. Now I sprinkle a few table spoons of it in my bath, it is cheaper, wont spoil and takes up a lot less space. I even add a little lavender extract to it to make is smell great. Bonus, the lactic acid will mildly exfoliate you skin while leaving it soft.


Deep Cleansing Shampoo - Adding a teaspoon of baking soda to a cup of water and applying that to your hair once a month will remove any residue. Rinse and shampoo as usual.


Toner / Eye Makeup Remover - Rosewater makes an excellent eye makeup remover and toner for the face. 


Dry Shampoo - Trendy right now, also pricy. Try using a bit of cornstarch and dab it on sparingly using your fingers. Wait a bit and then brush out.


Brighten Dark Elbows/Knees - If you have dark elbows or knees you might know this tip already, rub a lemon on them. 


Lip Stain - I heard this works, mix some jello or kool-aid mix with a bit of water on you finger, spread on lips and get a lip stain.


Homemade Bath Bombs - Mix 2 parts baking soda with 1 part citric acid, then add whatever essential oils or smells you like (rose water? mint oil?), mix all together. Spritz with a spay bottle of water just enough to get it slightly damp (not too wet or it wont work), ball together and set aside. Your done, and you bath wont cost you $4 if you got the ingredients at the bulk store.



Other saving tips :

-Check out your local Winners and see what they have. I often see purfumes and beauty sets there for a fraction of what they cost in other stores.

-Check out your local dollar store, often discounted items that you love and can't find anymore end up in there. If not for that, cotton balls, cotton swabs, rubbing alcohol, hydrogen peroxide and other bathroom necessities are there at great prices.



Do you have a frugal tip??? Let me know and share with the rest of us. 

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