If you think you need to give up on quality makeup and amazing beauty products in order to save some money, you couldn’t be more wrong.
It’s not that hard to tighten up your budget – you just need to follow a couple of really simple tips and tricks.
Here’s what you need to do:
Make your makeup work overtime
One of the easiest ways to save some cash is to cut down on the products that you are using. Before you run out and buy the newest latest-and-greatest product, check your stock.
If you see a new color that you love, make it on your own. Experiment with blending different shades until you find one that you love.
Remember mixing watercolors in school? Follow that same idea with all of your cosmetics. Want a new rose shade? Mix brown and pink!
This is especially easy with eye shadows but can work with anything. If you want to experiment with new colors, try to make a variation at home to see if it suits you before you spend your hard-earned cash on it.
Try adding some powder onto your lipstick. Add one coat, dust on some pressed powder, then add another coat. You will get an intense matte color. It only takes a couple dabs of makeup to create something amazing.
If you’re bored, try a mixing a bit of everything. If you’re sick of pushy salespeople at the cosmetic counters, it’s the best way to find something new.
Everything is multipurpose
Don’t make the mistake of thinking that lipsticks are just for your lips or that eye shadow is just for your eyes. You can use them anywhere!
Use lip liners for your eyes or eyeliners on your lips. Bursts of crimson eye shadow have been all over the runways lately but that doesn’t mean that you have to go out and a buy red shadow. Use your lipstick or a lip pencil!
Love nude lips? Try foundation! Dap just a little bit onto your lips then let it dry. Finish off with some gloss and you will have an amazing nude glow. If that is too light, try some bronzer using the same method.
Lip gloss is also great for your cheeks. You can create a rosy, dewy glow by just sweeping a bit over your cheeks. If you want to highlight your cheekbones, just use a clear gloss.
Carry around a colored variety of conditioning balm and you can use it everywhere. It’s perfect for dry seasons when your skin is starting to look a bit pale and parched by midday.
Lip gloss is also amazing for highlighting around your eyes. Go under your brow bone to accentuate the area. Be sure not to use anything too sticky though or you will be pulling your lashes out of it all day long.
Mascara is perfect for creating a perfect brow shape and covering up any sparse areas. Black is typically too harsh but chocolate shades will look amazing. Keep a black mascara on hand for evening looks and make your brown shade do double duty during the day.
If you bought an eye shadow palette and don’t like all of the shades, use them somewhere else! Flesh tone shades are perfect for under your eyes. Dab a bit on when you find yourself running low on concealer.
You can use shimmery eye shadows on the center of your lips to create the illusion of fullness. Just dip your finger into the shadow then dot it onto the center of your mouth.
If you have some metallic shadow, you can use it as bronzer. Mix just a little bit into your foundation for an amazing glow.
Samples! Samples! Samples!
Samples are so important for making informed choices on cosmetics.
You can get them at almost any department store and there are a ton of websites that will send them to you. Stay on the lookout all of the time. It’s the perfect way to test out new colors and brands.
Search the rest of your house for products
There are so many products that seem to have endless uses. You don’t always have to search the cosmetic section for great finds. You probably already have some amazingly useful resources in your house.
Petroleum jelly is great for just about everything. You can use it to add a glow to your skin or soften it. You can also use it as a foolproof makeup remover.
Even better than petroleum jelly, though a bit more expensive, is extra virgin olive oil. You can use it from head to toe for just about everything. It will make your skin incredibly soft and your hair lush. It’s also great as a makeup remover.
Warm weather can wreak havoc on your skin. If your skin is an oily mess by midafternoon, plan ahead. Oil blotting paper can save your face and prevent you having to reapply your makeup. You can also use toilet seat covers or those brown recycled napkins in a pinch.
If you’re dealing with a breakout, reach for the honey. Honey is great for acne as well as dry skin. Just wash your face and slather on some natural honey. Let it sit for 15 minutes then rinse it off.
Be careful not to add too much or you will have a sticky mess. Just cover your face with a thin coat.
Plan Your Shopping Trips and Stock Up
One of the best times to go shopping is after the holidays. Stores always stock up on makeup kits because they are a great and easy gift.
Why not wait until the holidays are over and give the gift to yourself? The sets will be majorly discounted so buy everything you can during the post-holiday sales. Remember to check out how long each product will last before you go crazy.
You can also find great deals at the end of each season. Summer shades will be a great price this fall so stock up! Remember our tips about blending? If summer shades are too light for your autumn look, just create a new shade!
A lot of major department stores and beauty supply shops will give you special deals for your birthday so sign up for membership! It’s well worth a few annoying e-mails to get major discounts.
Deciding If It’s Cheap or a Good Deal
It can be hard to distinguish cheap, low quality makeup from the good quality stuff that they sell at a reasonable price. You don’t want to find out in the middle of the day after your makeup has smeared into a mess so test it in advance!
Pigment is critical. Low quality makeups tend to have a lot of filler, which is definitely a bad thing.
Wipe some onto your hand and look at the intensity. If it’s too sheer, it’s not good quality. This is so important because it means you won’t get a good value from your makeup. If you need to keep coating it on, you could end up spending more money than you would on better quality product.
Make sure the makeup glides on. Foundation should disappear onto your skin. Liner shouldn’t pull at your skin nor should it smudge too easily. The same goes for lip stains and glosses.
You don’t want it to be too sticky or too dry. If you struggle to get a good application, you are using the wrong product.
Your cosmetic brushes are also super important. You can lose a lot of product by using just your fingertips so it’s important to get the right tools. More often than not, you are going to end up getting what you pay for when it comes to brushes.
Don’t go for cheap brushes or you’ll just wind up replacing them. The good news is that a high quality brush can last forever. Invest in a good kit and take care of it. Just washing every few days with shampoo or brush cleaner will make a major difference.
Make It Last
Conserve your lipstick by using a lip brush. There is no need to slather it on then blot it off. Use a small brush to get a perfect application with minimal waste.
If your mascara is almost empty, warm up the tube with a blow dryer. The mascara caked onto the sides of the tube will drip down to the bottom and it will be like new again.
Be Open-minded
Don’t get stuck in the habit of always buying the same brand. Drugstores and department stores have tons of great sales throughout the year so take advantage of them.
If you are trying something new, be sure to check out the return policies. A lot of places will allow you to return cosmetics even after you’ve used them. Figure out which local stores have a consumer-friendly return policies then do your makeup testing there!
Always be on the lookout for good deals. Dollar stores often get in discontinued products so be sure to check out your local shops. The inventory changes often so stay on the lookout for amazing brands at major discounts.
Cover photo: trendland.com
