28 Ways To Save Money on Your Beauty Routine Without Sacrificing Quality

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shopping for skincare products
shopping for skincare products

Beauty spending knows no limits. I know all about overspending on beauty products and not even getting the results I wanted. Luckily, that’s not the case for me anymore. So it’s time to tackle this issue once and for all.

We’ve researched and listed several ways to save money on your beauty routine. With these tips, you can take control of your routine and stay under budget.

Yes, really. You don’t have to spend big to get your ideal beauty routine. See the list below and learn how to achieve your beauty goals while keeping your budget intact.

beautiful mature 60s woman grandmother moisturizing
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Go for Multi-Purpose Beauty Products

One of the best ways for you to save money on your beauty regimen is to use multi-purpose products. For example, you can buy a lip and cheek tint, a product that does two jobs. And, the best part, you only have to purchase one product instead of two.

The same goes for your face cream and moisturizer. Why purchase two different items when you can get them in one item? By doing those things, you can save time, money, and space.

Use DIY Face Masks

mature women using face mask
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Of course, a spa experience is never complete without a face mask. You can choose a soothing, calming, brightening, or energizing face mask; they are simple to make ahead of time at home

For maximum detox, you could place your face mask in your fridge for at least an hour before putting them on. Next to your under-eye patches. This gives them a cooling effect, allowing your skin to depuff and recharge. 

Use Coupons and Join Rewards Programs

happy senior couple with smartphone
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Take advantage of beauty retailers’ coupons, discounts, and loyalty programs. These are great ways to save on your beauty purchases without sacrificing quality. Coupons, for instance, can cover almost half the cost of your beauty items. 

Statista shows that 177.9 million American adults redeemed digital coupons in 2022 alone. If you’re not a digital person, you can always find some coupons in newspapers and magazines, cut them, and exchange them for your beauty purchases. 

Buy Big Sizes or Multipacks Products

Another way to save money is to buy big sizes or multipack products. Doing so helps you get more items at a lower price than individually or in a small pack.

For instance, I always use the same night cream. They’re rarely on sale, but when they are, I buy multiple because I know I’ll use them before they expire. 

Make Your Own Body Scrub

diy lemon body scrub
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Your body develops dead skin cells as part of the renewal cycle that your skin goes through. While it’s harmless to leave it that way in most cases, body scrubs can help to give your skin that radiant, soft, and smooth glow again. 

Once in a while, you can delight yourself with a body treatment like scrubbing. It allows you to remove any dead skin cells, revealing a natural glow. Just ensure that you moisturize afterward to hydrate the newer skin that is exposed after you apply the scrub. 

Opt for Drugstore Brands

You don’t always need beauty products in high-end stores or malls. There are skincare products without the high price tag. Try alternatives like Aveeno, Simple Skincare, Dove DermaSeries, and Cetaphil for your skincare routine. 

In addition to their prices, these brands offer a wide range of options to match your needs. They also undergo several tests to ensure safety and effectiveness.

Shop During Off-Season Sales

Check out and buy at off-season sales to save some money. Beauty products are offered at significantly reduced prices at such sales. 

The downside is that you may want to buy everything that catches your eye. Remember to save and only buy items you need most. That way, you can maximize sales and avoid unnecessary expenses.

Buy Cosmetics With a Purpose in Mind

shopping for skincare products
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When you buy cosmetics, make sure you actually need it. Because once you enter a beauty shop, it’s easy to get sucked into the newest lip balm with this new ingredient. And it lets you forget you already have three lip balms at home.

So, go in with a purpose and stick to what you need. For instance, if you only want to have an effective wrinkle cream, go for that. Or better yet, make your own wrinkle cream for a fraction of the price. 

Avoid Impulse Buying

Try to avoid impulse buys where you can. I know they can’t be avoided 100% of the time, and that’s okay. But when the travel-size moisturizers on the counter may appeal to you, try to stay away. 

Those items are there to tempt you to buy, they’re not at all tailored to your skin type or needs. You want to maintain the rest of your skincare routine and use items that suit your skincare goals.

DIY Manicures and Pedicures

Young woman giving herself pedicure at home
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Why go to a salon for your mani and pedi when you can opt for the DIY route? You only need a couple of tools: a nail cutter, a cuticle pusher, and your favorite nail polish. 

DIY manicures and pedicures are great to help you save money. Plus, you can try out different colors and styles. If you’re new to this, you can watch free how-to videos on YouTube before you paint your nails.

Get a Low-Maintenance Hairstyle

Feathered Pixie hair, killer hairstyle
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Hair products are expensive, especially for long hair, where you use more product. That said, consider a low-maintenance hairstyle. 

For instance, you can choose chic short or mid-length hair to save on haircare products. However, if you want to keep your long hair and save at the same time, use only the haircare products that you really need.

Wait for Sales and Promotions

Do you use the same product? Or do you have a brand that you absolutely love? It’s great to try these out when they have a sale or promotion. Subscribe to your favorite companies’ newsletters or follow them on social media, and they will never fail to send you the latest deeds. 

You may also look for online flash sales and selected item sales from beauty retailers. These can allow you to buy high-quality items to satisfy your beauty needs without breaking the bank.

Opt for Free Samples

Test products before you make full-size purchases. Some beauty products offer samples, that you can use to test to see if they feel good on your skin. 

So, test out the sample first and see what it does with your skin. That way, you won’t waste your money on a product you may not like or have any allergic reactions in the process.

Take a Bath with a Bath Bomb or Soak

basic diy bath bombs
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While certain businesses may sell bath bombs for nearly $10 a pop or more, you shouldn’t and don’t have to pay that much to take a nice bath. Investing in materials to make your own bath bomb, soak, or bubble bath will stretch your dollar further, and making these products yourself will likely be kinder to your skin, too.

My Bath Bombs: DIY Bath Bombs For Maximum Benefits & Fizz

Use Essential Oils or Light a Candle

Lavender Essential Oil
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Essential oils are a great way to relax and fill your home with an uplifting scent. You can purchase readymade essential oils and candles or learn to make your own. This will allow you to control what is going into your products and their smell.

Beauty Hacks Using Simple Household Ingredients

Beauty routines can often feel like they empty your wallet and consume too much of your time. But what if you can meet your beauty goals using just what you already own?

Household items can surprisingly double as beauty tools. It helps you save time and money, while it also helps your self-care ritual. 

Let’s dive into beauty hacks that use the items from your kitchen. These small tips are easy to follow and promise to uplift your beauty routine. 

Olive Oil as a Makeup Remover

olive oil
Photo Credit: Deposit Photos

Olive oil safely dissolves makeup, even the waterproof kind. It leaves your skin smooth, and it doesn’t have chemicals. Because it’s all-natural, it’s a good substitute for store-bought removers.

Simply dab it on a cotton ball and wipe gently across your face. To finish, make sure you cleanse as usual because you want to remove any oiliness that’s left behind. I also use olive oil on my hair, it has so many benefits.

Baking Soda as a Teeth Whitener

Baking Soda as a Teeth Whitener
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Baking soda whitens teeth effectively. It’s a mild abrasive that removes surface stains from teeth. 

Use baking soda and water mixture to brush your teeth. Follow up with your regular toothpaste to clear the baking soda flavor. It’s a simple, at-home tweak to your routine for a whiter smile.

Coconut Oil for Hair Conditioning

There are many oils that are great for your hair. Coconut is one of them, use it to nourish your hair. It helps get your hair that intense moisture it needs. It can reach deeper into hair strands, which sets it apart for hydration benefits. 

This versatile oil is easy to wash off too. Warm up the oil slightly before you apply it, to help the absorption. For deeper treatment, you can leave it on overnight and rinse in the morning.

Cucumber Slices for Puffy Eyes

senior woman, holding cucumber piece over one eye and smiling
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Cucumber slices offer a quick fix for puffy, tired eyes. They come packed with antioxidants, which soothes your skin at the same time. Simply cut a cucumber and lay the slices over your eyes. 

For added coolness, refrigerate the slices beforehand. Aim to unwind for 10-15 minutes with them on to reap full benefits. I like to apply a facemask at the same time, to get even more benefits in the same timespan.

Honey as a Face Mask

Honey serves as a natural moisturizer and an antibacterial mask. It draws moisture to your skin and helps any skin dryness you may have.

Apply honey with your fingers or a brush for ease. Use it on clean, slightly damp skin for the best absorption. I like to combine it with cinnamon to get a DIY face mask with anti-acne solution.

Sugar In Lip Scrubs

brown sugar
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Sugar can exfoliate chapped lips, which leaves them softer and smoother. The small granules remove dead skin without doing any damage.

Mix sugar with olive oil to form a homemade lip scrub. Apply this blend to your lips in circular motions to exfoliate. Do it carefully, you don’t want to press to hard. Then, simply rinse with warm water and follow with your favorite lip balm for hydration.

Avocado as a Moisturizing Mask

Avocado is a deep moisturizer because it’s rich in natural oils and vitamins. Its high levels of antioxidants and anti-inflammatory shield your skin from environmental harm, too, which gives you a healthy complexion. 

Mash avocados to make a mask and apply directly on your face. For additional hydration, combine it with honey, which leaves your skin soft and revitalized.

Milk Bath for Soft Skin

milk bath and flowers
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Milk hydrates and exfoliates your skin, which leaves it soft and smooth. Plus, the lactic acid in milk gently clears dead skin cells.

Add milk to your bath water for a luxurious experience. Opt for full-fat milk to make sure your skin gets as much moisture as possible.

Lemon Juice for Brightening Nails

Lemon juice acts as a natural stain remover and nail brightener because of its acidity. Apply it directly to your nails for local treatment. For application, a cotton swab does the trick neatly. 

Alternatively, soak your fingertips in a mix of water and lemon juice. Always rinse your hands thoroughly after the treatment. When you’re done, don’t forget to follow up with moisturizer to nourish your nails and skin.

Aloe Vera for Soothing Sunburn

When sunburn strikes, aloe vera has a soothing effect. It also deeply hydrates your skin, which speeds up your skin’s recovery through better blood circulation to the burn area.

Slice an aloe leaf and smooth the fresh gel onto the affected areas. If you want more relief, chill the aloe beforehand. Apply with a gentle touch to prevent further irritation from burns.

Oatmeal as a Soothing Facial

Oatmeal does more than fill your breakfast bowl. It offers a gentle touch to ease your irritated skin. Plus, it’s packed with antioxidants, which helps fight off everyday environmental stresses. 

You can mix oatmeal with water to create a soothing face mask. Apply it, then take a moment to unwind for up to 15 minutes. After that, rinse with warm water for a revitalized, calm complexion.

Turmeric for Skin Brightening

The spice turmeric isn’t just for cooking, it’s really great for your skin. Its key ingredient, curcumin, works wonders for skin enhancement and battles the bacteria-causing acne.

Mix turmeric with yogurt to create a face mask that brightens your appearance. Keep it on your face for 15-20 minutes before you rinse off. Wear gloves because turmeric can leave stains on your hands when you apply it. Turmeric also works really well in a face scrub.

Vaseline for Taming Eyebrows

Vaseline, a hidden gem, works wonders for eyebrows. Its thick texture conditions and tames them effortlessly. To groom your eyebrows perfectly, apply it with a clean mascara wand.

A little goes a long way to dodge that greasy look. It’s perfect for a natural, glossy eyebrow style. Achieve that with minimal effort and watch your brows transform.

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Angela Wills

Angela is the founder and driving force behind Savvy Homemade. With over fifteen years experience in DIY home crafts, and a Diploma in skincare formulation, Angela brings a wealth of knowledge and dedication to every post she writes. She is fearlessly dedicated to creating tried, tested recipes & products that will work for everyone, and she infuses each DIY product with her passion and expertise.

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