We all love a good beauty bargain, but aside from shopping from more affordable beauty brands, there are also plenty of tips and hacks which will help you to get those most out of your beauty products and save money in the process. If you’re trying to be a little smarter and savvier when it comes to your skincare, haircare, and makeup routines, there are plenty of small and easy tweaks you can try to make budgeting easier.
From multitasking skincare products to DIY hacks and makeup dupes, here are our top money saving beauty tips.
1. Make your skincare multi-task
Got a moisturiser that’s too rich for your face? Use it as a neck cream. So many skincare products can be used in multiple ways to target different concerns. For example, acid- or clay-based cleansers make great face masks, conditioner can be left in overnight (instead of a hair mask), and some say that glycolic acid toner makes for an impressive deodorant…
2. Consider trying dupes
These days whenever a luxury beauty product launches, several more affordable alternatives are bound to follow. The thing is, just because they’re cheap doesn’t mean these products aren’t as good. Sometimes, they’re even better…
3. Try single-ingredient skincare
Single-ingredient skincare has been a huge beauty trend in recent years. With customers becoming more clued up on skincare, and seeking both transparency and more straightforward formulas, these more simplistic products not only make it easier to understand what you’re using and why, but also presents a more affordable alternative to expensive products with long ingredient lists. Why? Because single-ingredient formulas contain fewer ingredients and are therefore much cheaper for brands to produce. Which means that cost saving is also passed onto you, the customer.
4. Opt for multi-use makeup
The trend for multi-use makeup products doesn’t just make your makeup bag lighter and lend itself to a minimalist makeup look, it will also save you money in the process. Why buy a lipstick, blusher, and eyeshadow, when you can use a 3-in-1 product that ticks all of the boxes? Even if they’re not marketed as multi-use, you’ll find that most bronzers, blushers, and highlighters can be used as eyeshadows, lipsticks and stains will double-up as blusher, and eyebrow pencils and eyeliners can often be used interchangeably.
5. Cut tubes open to stop wastage
We’re all familiar with the frustration that comes when you finish up a tube of product and (despite the fact that you know there’s still product inside), no amount of squeezing will get it out. If you’re feeling thrifty, use a pair of scissors to carefully snip the tube in two – you’ll probably find several more uses inside.
6. DIY professional treatments
Manicures, laser hair removal, blow-dries, and facials are some of life’s small luxuries, but they can also cost a lot, especially when you have multiple appointments booked. From step-by-step at-home facials to portable nail lamps, these days there are plenty of helpful tutorials and gadgets to help you replicate the benefits of your professional treatments at home.
7. Try refillable products
Did you know that the cost of packaging a product impacts the price? Product refills are often much cheaper since they’re made with less packaging, so they can be a great option if you want to save money. From fake tan and hand soap, to moisturiser and eyeshadow, you’ll be surprised at how many products have refillable versions.
8. Simplify your routines
Cutting down on unnecessary products in your routine is much easier than you might think – especially now that there are so many great multi-use products out there. Next time a product runs out, consider whether you really need a restock, do you already own an alternative, or is it worth looking for a more affordable dupe? If your skincare or makeup routine contains multiple products, then simplifying it will not only save you money, but also time, and you may even find that a minimal skincare routine suits your skin better than a multi-step one.
9. Split pads in two
Want to make your products last longer? If you use pre-soaked cleansing or exfoliating pads, try cutting them in half and using each half per use. You’ll still get all the benefits but the product lasts for twice as long.
10. Stock up in the sales
Sale shopping can be a risky business, sometimes it’s all too tempting to simply be enticed in by low prices. Instead, to shop savvily, make a wishlist of products you know you’ll use and love beforehand, then when the sales come round, you know you’re not only going to score a great deal, but you won’t have wasted your money on a product you’ll never use. This is also a great time to consider supersize versions of your favourite products, or bundles, which mean you can stock up on your faves.
11. Buy reusable
Opting for reusable cotton pads, cotton buds, makeup remover cloths, and eye patches can save you a lot of money in the long-term. Plus, it’s much more environmentally friendly to buy once – and reuse forever.
