15 beauty tips to help you save money and reduce waste!

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Updated January 2023

Beauty products and treatments can be so expensive, so it helps to cut corners and save where possible. Here are 15 simple ways to save money on your beauty regime…

1. Buy reusable

Replacing essentials like cotton wool pads with washable alternatives is a great way to reduce waste and save money in the long run. Prices on Amazon start from around a fiver for 10-15 large pads, and I LOVE mine! They’re so soft and each one is really large, so you don’t get through them anywhere near as quickly. They get thrown into the wash with my normal load every other day, and come out clean and ready to be used again. They’re great for cleaning up grubby kiddies too!

 

2. Use what you’ve got

There are plenty of recipes for making your own face and hair masks online – usually from the contents of your kitchen or bathroom cabinet! This is a great money saver, as well as being much more environmentally friendly than buying packaged products, so it’s a win win!

A quick search online and you’ll see tried and tested recipes from all the big women’s magazines like Marie Claire, Elle and Cosmopolitan; they’ll even tell you which ones to try for your skin type!

 

3. Heat up your mascara

There’s nothing more annoying than a tube of dried out mascara – especially when you know that there’s wasted product inside. A friend gave me this tip, and it’s halved how often I replace my mascara – yay! Simply hold your mascara tube under the hot tap or a hairdryer for just a few seconds; it will heat the tube and soften the mascara. It works a treat!

woman applying eye makeup

 

4. Chill your nail polish

In reverse, nail polish does better in cool temperatures and it can last a lot longer in the fridge! Refrigerating nail polish helps to prevent clumping and slows down the discolouration which naturally happens over time.

 

5. Touch up your roots

If you colour your hair you might find yourself spending a fortune on trips to the salon or home colouring treatments. To lessen how often you colour your hair, try a root touch-up kit or cover-up spray to hide your roots (and the greys!) and extend the time between expensive hair appointments.

 

6. Recycle old packaging

Some companies will reward you for returning old product casings to be recycled. Win, win for your wallet and the environment!

MAC is one of these, so if you’re a MAC fan then this is definitely worth doing. The Back to MAC recycling program has been around for some time now – they ask customers to take six old product casings into any store to receive a MAC lipstick of their choice.

Similarly, Lush’s 5 Pot Program will score you a free face mask when you bring back five empty pots to be recycled and reused.

lipsticks

 

7. Ask for samples

It may not be widely advertised, but a lot of companies will happily send out samples upon request.

Due to sensitive skin I stick natural make-up brands, buying most of my make-up from Natorigin, but it isn’t cheap and it can only be bought online. They’ll send me colour samples for foundation and eye make-up so that I can make an informed choice without wasting money on the wrong colours.

Similarly, another company were happy to send me mini samples of their entire skincare range, when I emailed them to explain that I often have a reaction to new products. It’s always worth asking, that way if a product isn’t great or it upsets your skin, you haven’t lost anything by trying it.

 

8. Compare prices online

There are so many online pharmacies and stores, so don’t forget to check on the web before you hit the high-street. My favourite make-up brand is made in France and so often it actually works out cheaper for me to purchase it from a French online pharmacy, and get it shipped over, than to buy it directly from the UK.

 

9. Think multi-purpose

Purchasing fewer products means less cost, less waste and less storage. For instance, blusher can be used as eyeshadow or to colour lips. Or, eyeshadow with a liner brush makes a great eyeliner without a harsh line.

Looking beyond make-up, hair conditioner also makes a great shaving cream! Instead of purchasing shaving foam, slather some conditioner onto your legs and they will be super smooth and shave beautifully – you’ll probably be able to skip moisturiser too!

makeup bag filled with makeup

 

10. Check the gift aisle

If you have a favourite brand, then consider purchasing what you need in a gift set. Gift sets are often reduced, particularly after Christmas – the Boots 70% off sale could save you a fortune! So stock up when things are cheap, and remember check the gift aisle when you need new cosmetics or perfume.

 

11. Cut the tube

Even when the product stops coming out, there may still be a decent amount stuck at the bottom of the container. Get out the scissors and cut the bottom of it to get every last drop! Don’t bin it until you’ve used it all.

 

12. Don’t fall for brands

So often the ingredients doing the hard work are natural products or essential oils. For instance, tea tree oil is amazing for blemishes, and it’s in a lot of skin care products. The Body Shop sell 10ml of tea tree oil for £8.50 but a 10ml bottle of tea tree oil from Amazon is less than £3 – that’s a massive price difference!

Similarly, Aldi have a face wash range which has near identical ingredients to branded Simple products. Do your research, and check the ingredients before you buy.

essential oils on hand

 

13. Think inside out

Products and potions can’t be the answer to improving our skin and hair on their own – don’t forget that we are what we eat (and drink) so we have to think about what we’re putting into our bodies.

Green tea can be picked up cheaply online or from any supermarket and it has lots of body and health benefits. It’s a natural, chemical-free way to improve the skin and balance out hormones, and for me a few cups a day has drastically reduced breakouts and made my hair glossier too.

A glass of lemon water is also a great antioxidant, to help your body from the inside out; and it’s a tasty, refreshing drink too – bonus! A few healthy swaps in the weekly shop can help your body to help itself.

 

14. Try budget wax strips

A few years ago I decided to try some budget wax strips I found at Home Bargains as I was sick of paying the high price tag for the leading bands. I discovered ‘Vital’ wax strips for just 99p for 36 face / underarm strips or £1.29 for 20 body strips – and they are the best wax strips I’ve ever tried!

As someone with lots of allergies and sensitive skin – I get no reaction to them, and very little soreness.  They are large and very effective, which has cut down the amount needed per waxing session. I simply cut them into smaller sections to make waxing easier. They also contain aloe vera which I think accounts for how quickly the redness disappears.

budget waxing strips

Online, I’ve spotted them on Ebay for around £3 – so if you can’t find them in store, that’s still a much cheaper option than the big brand equivalents.

 

15. Boycott beauty treatments

Brow tints, facials, waxing and all sorts of other expensive treatments can soon add up. Take the time to reassess what you can do without, and what you can do at home yourself – simply painting your own nails could save you £20 a month, and colouring your own hair could save you £80+ every time!

With the internet at our finger tips (and a You Tube video for absolutely everything!) it’s worth taking the time to learn some new skills. Love a salon blow-dry? Why not learn how to recreate it at home? If you get creative, and DIY your beauty routine, you could save hundreds of pounds every year!

 

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4 comments
  1. Hello Natalie.
    I have just discovered your page.
    Thanks for the tips. I like to find ways to save money on beauty treatments etc love your blog xx

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