This week, we’re going to touch on some of the items that can take up a lot of our budget if we let them: entertainment and beauty (Makeup, hair, spa). I happen to think that both of these things are important factors in a balanced life, but they don’t have to cost a lot!
So for today, don’t you think it’s time to spoil ourselves? I think so! I guess this one is mostly for the ladies, but here are some tips for beauty on a budget:
Make your own body scrubs
Take a cup of olive oil and about 3 tablespoons of sugar and mix the two together. You can also use coarse salt if you want something a bit more rough. Then apply to your body in circular motions for 2 minutes and rinse off. Your skin will be so smooth! You can also add a few drops of your favourite essential oil if you like! Here are some more of my favorite scrubs:
Make your own cream blush
Grab an almost empty lipstick tube, dig out the remaining lipstick and put it on a plate. Next, put it in the microwave and warm it at 30 second intervals (don’t exceed 2 minutes!) until it’s slightly runny and then mix a few drops of moisturizer into the lipstick on the plate. (you may want to use a paper plate) Play around with the mixture to find the right consistency. Add more moisturizer for a more sheer shade. Quickly pour your new creation into a container that you have lying around or find one at the dollar store.
Turn Lipstick into Lip Gloss
Again with a nearly empty lipstick tube, squeeze a small amount of Vaseline into a ziplock bag and close the bag. Mash the two together and throw it into the microwave and warm for 30 second intervals, don’t exceed 2 minutes! When it’s slightly runny cut a small hole in the corner of the zip lock bag and squeeze the new lip gloss into a small makeup container.
Make you own Hot Oil Treatment
Click here for a great tutorial!
Use Apple Cider Vinegar to Brighten your Hair
An apple-cider vinegar rinse works like a clarifying shampoo and leaves your hair with great shine. Add a small amount to your hand then spread through your hair. Rinse.
Go For a Walk
It’ll make you feel wonderful and bring a nice glow to your cheeks!
Give Yourself a Pedicure
Here’s a great link on how to do one at home!
Use Epsom Salt
Pour a cup of Epsom salts into your bath full of hot water. Soak in it to relax your muscles and remove toxins.
For more great ideas, click here for a big list of homemade beauty recipes!
What are your favourite homemade beauty treatments? Do you regularly do it at home or do you splurge and have your beauty treatments professionally done?
Favourite beauty products
Facial masks. Four ingredients together or separate .
Egg whites
Avocados
Oatmeal. (Best in a paste with either two above ingredients)
Or my favourite, milk of magnesia. ( Can buy a bottle at dollar store – if you don’t have already ) have clay masks for years
I want to say thank you for how to beuatify on a budget. One thing I find I spend most of my money is on makeup and stuff. It’s nuts how much we spend as women on this stuff. I love this page. now I just read this. I love that you are going back to your roots and teaching us to be frugal. I am trying to live the more frugal life for some time and I am finding it hard but every once in a while I find your tips so pratcial. This last week I had to throw out old liquid liner. I didn’t really want to buy more but I had none!! guess what I have black shadow and if you use a drop of liquid and a liner brush voila you have a liquid liner. It looks just as good. Then the next day I ran out of foundation. Well what do I do? I steal my daughters. Hers is on a pump so there is no cross contimanation. Why didn’t I think of that before why did we each have our own bottle??
so thanks to you I’m thinking of ways to be more frugal. thinking outside of the “purchase, purchase” mind frame we have been tarught from tv, ads, even on the internet. Thank you for your encouragement and for keeping us on track!!
Kathryn, you have no idea how happy it makes me reading your comment! It seems like you're doing an amazing job already, way to go! If you ever have any questions, please don't hesitate to contact me! simplyfrugalcanada@gmail.com
I just wanted to say thanks for changing the way I spend money and live my life. I read your article at Yummymummy.ca about 2 months ago (I'm not sure exactly when it was). Up to this point, I had been spending our money like there was going to be an endless supply of it. So what if I couldn't pay cash for everything? I could just put it on the credit card and pay it off … one day. Well after 3 years of living like this, with 3 kids, fancy cars and cleaning ladies, that credit card debt built up to a point where I realized that I couldn't just pay it off. I had to change the way we were living. Luckily, I found your "no spend challenge" and I was on my way. It has not been an easy road. I budgeted all our income and realized that I was over spending by a LARGE amount. I cut back on everything from eating out, activities for the kids, unessential groceries, and even talking on my cell phone. I started making all our meals at home and trying to keep our house "clean" with out any help. I stopped buying so much junk that we just didn't need. I receive daily updates from your website and it has really helped me to stay on track and to remember my goal of living a better, debt free life. It is probably going to take some time but it's nice to know that you are there to help me along the way. Thanks so much!