Luckily, there are ways to cut way back on your beauty spending (even down to almost nothing) and still look great. Check out these budget beauty tips below for inspiration. Bonus: using natural ingredients like the ones below means less sketchy ingredients like these on your skin and hair, yay!
Four Amazing Uses for Baking SodaNo. 1: As a Clarifying Shampoo: Mix 2 teaspoons baking soda with 1 cup water and use as a final rinse after shampooing.
No. 2: As a Facial Cleanser: Mix 1/2 teaspoon with your favorite cleanser for extra exfoliating (no need to buy a separate scrub!). This is fine for all skin types to do weekly, but dry skin may need to follow up with a rich moisturizer.
No. 3: As a Foot Powder: Sprinkle some baking soda into your workout shoes for stink-free and sweat-free feet.
No. 4: As a Teeth Whitener: It has a salty taste but baking soda is a classic tooth cleanser and whitener -- sprinkle on a damp toothbrush and brush as normal.
A Spa Treatment for Free! (Seriously)
For simple in-home hydrotherapy, start out your day with a hot steamy shower and just as you are finishing switch the water to cold for about 15 seconds. Repeat the process for two minutes. This hydrotherapy technique will revitalize your skin and give it a glow by stimulating the flow of blood through the skin. (The price of this treatment at a spa: $95!)
Use Strawberries to Fight Acne
Mash together 1/4 cup fresh strawberries with 1/4 cup sour cream or yogurt, spread on clean skin, let sit for 15 minutes, and then rinse well. Strawberries are a natural source of salicylic acid (the same stuff found in acne products).
Finally, Something to Do with Leftover Mashed
Potatoes
Yes, it sounds bizarre but you can cure swollen feet with a mashed
potato foot soak! Just purchase a box of dehydrated mashed potatoes
and follow the recipe. Once you have your mashed potatoes add
lukewarm or cool water to get the temperature to the right level to
soak your feet.
The potatoes will retain heat longer than a traditional footbath and they help reduce swelling and soften skin. To make the experience more glamorous, add essential oils before you put your feet in. Then indulge feet in one of the best soaks you’ll ever experience!
Bonus: This same concept can be used with Oatmeal. Oatmeal will soothe and deeply restore dry, cracked and painful feet.
Get six more budget beauty tips here! It's everything you need to look fab for pennies!- Digging the whole natural beauty thing? Then you'll love these at-home, all-natural recipes.
- Not up to the DIY challenge? You'll still save cash with these products (no assembly required!)
- Are you good at spotting a bargain? Test your smarts (a la "The Price Is Right") with this quiz.
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