24 Favorite Frugal Beauty Tips-Be Beautiful On A Budget

Let’s face it, beauty CAN be expensive, but it doesn’t have to be.  I’m here to tell you that looking fabulous doesn’t have to break the bank!  There are several different tips and tricks that I have been using since I was a teenager and I swear by them.  Some or most of these frugal beauty tips can cost pennies or are completely free!

So, without further adieu, here are some of my favorite frugal beauty tips that I use and swear by.

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Frugal Beauty Tips & Tricks

Thicker, longer eyelashes

One of my favorite frugal beauty tips is Castor Oil.  Applied at night before bedtime, on your eyelashes, will help to thicken and lengthen your lashes.   I have been doing this for years and I can attest that it really works.  Take your finger or a cotton swab and apply to the ends of the lashes.  Do not put in the eye.  Do this regularly and you will notice a big difference in a few days to weeks.  A bottle of castor oil will last for years.

Shaving your legs

A bottle of the cheapest hair conditioner, used to shave your legs, will give you the smoothest shave ever.  Because of the conditioning qualities, it doesn’t dry your skin out and all you need is a quarters worth of conditioner for each leg.  My hubby has used this in a pinch, in place of shaving cream, as well.

Makeup Remover

I have used Baby Oil to remove my makeup since I have been wearing makeup.  My mom has used it forever and started me doing this when I started wearing makeup and I’ve never changed because it works great and is less than $2.00 a bottle!

Take your makeup off!

Never, never, never sleep in your makeup!  It can cause eye irritation, breakouts, premature wrinkles and brittle eyelashes.  Even if you’re tired, take a few minutes and remove it.

Nightime Moisturizer 

I normally use a great day and night cream from Avon, but I have also used Coconut oil as a nighttime moisturizer.  It goes on a little greasy at first, but it absorbs in a matter of minutes.

Another favorite is Fruit of the Earth Vitamin E cream. It’s super inexpensive and makes your skin look and feel amazing. It’s available on Amazon and also at Walmart.

Whiten your teeth

Good old baking soda works like a charm.  It’s frugal, effective and it works!  I’ve done this for years.  Put about a teaspoon in the palm of your hand, wet your toothbrush and dip it in the soda.  Brush like normal.  It takes a little getting used to, but baking soda is a great item to have in your beauty arsenal.

You might also be interested in: 25+ Uses For Baking Soda Around The House

Get Your Hair Squeaky Clean!  

Hello baking soda!  Baking soda makes a great hair clarifier.  Wet your hair, pour a handful in the palm of your hand and put it on wet hair.  Work it thru from the scalp, down to the ends, for about a minute or two.  Rinse and shampoo as normal.  It breaks down and dissolves hair products, like hairspray and sebum (oil that your scalp produces.).  Do this a couple times a month and your hair will be very shiny!

Make Faces!

Yes, you read that right!  Making faces stimulates the blood flow to the face.  It’s brighten the complexion and work the muscles in the face.  I do this all the time, but only when I’m alone because I don’t want to scare anyone! lol The muscles in your face are like muscles in any other part of your body.  When you work them out by stretching and moving them, it’s going to help to get blood into them.  If you don’t use them much, they will eventually atrophy (shrink), leaving the skin sagging.  So when you workout, don’t forget the face!  Pucker up, raise your eyebrows and open your mouth as wide as you can.  Do this for about 10 minutes a day.  You’ll find that this actually feels really good AND it’s one of the best face lifts you can have!

All Natural Face Masks

Bananas are a wonder fruit!  Mash a medium banana into a smooth paste and apply to the face and neck.  Leave on for 10-20 minutes and rinse off with cool water.  It moisturizes and leaves your skin as soft as a baby’s butt!

Egg facials are great, too!  If you have normal skin, beat the whole egg and apply to the face.  Leave on about 30 minutes and rinse.  If you have dry skin, beat only the yolk.  If you have oily skin, use the white.

Facial Scrubs

I have a couple of favorites, here.  Take a teaspoon of sugar and make a paste using coconut oil, olive oil or honey.  Apply to the face, gently scrubbing, using a circular motion.  Rinse with tepid water and gently pat dry.

I’ve also used baking soda as a facial scrub and it works great!  Add a little water, making a paste and  using the tips of your fingers, gently scrub in a circular motion.  Splash with lukewarm water and pat dry!  Your face will glow!

Hair Treatments

I did these quite often when I was in high school.  I still do them now and then, when I have time.  Mayonnaise is an excellent treatment for dry or damaged hair…and it makes is so shiny!  All you do is apply it to the hair and scalp, cover with a shower cap and leave on 20-30 minutes.  Then, wash thoroughly with a gentle shampoo.

Olive oil is also great as an oil treatment.  Apply it to hair and scalp and cover with a shower cap or wet a towel with hot water, ring it out and wrap it around your head.  Leave on about 20 minutes, then wash with your normal shampoo.  Definitely wash twice.

Don’t Overspend on the Shampoo

I have been using Suave Professionals Shampoo and Conditioner for quite some time.  It cost less than $3.00 a bottle and you can often find coupons for them.  I have been very pleased with how they have worked with my hair and can’t tell the difference between Suave and pricier alternatives.

Brighten Your Eyes

Soak two cotton balls with witch hazel, lie down and put on top of (closed) eyes for about 5 minutes.  It’ll take puffiness away and give you a more rested look.

Drink Water!

Drinking plenty of water is a beauty treatment all of its own.  It hydrates from within, cleanses your body of toxins, increases energy, relieves fatigue, promotes weight loss, keeps you regular, boosts your immune system, relieves headaches and improves your complexion by moisturizing your skin.  It also helps to prevent and get rid of wrinkles!  And the best part??  It’s FREE!!  Even if you buy bottled water, it’s still cheaper than soda or sugary drinks.

Use Vaseline!

This might be known as the eighth wonder…just kidding.  But it is pretty remarkable!  I don’t have enough room in this post to tell you about all you can use vaseline for, but I will tell you a couple of my favorites.  It makes a great facial moisturizer.  Of course, there’s no SPF in it, so use when you won’t be exposed to sunlight.

Makes a great lip scrub.  Put on a soft, clean toothbrush and gently exfoliate.

You can check out Vaseline’s website for even more benefits and beauty uses, here.

Eat Your Veggies!

Veggies and fruits!!  Eating fruits and vegetables as a part of a healthy diet can majorly reduce risk of many chronic diseases.  They’re nutrients are vital for the health and maintenance of our bodies.  They supply us with antioxidants and vitamins that help protect our skin from free radicals and sun damage, which keeps us looking younger and more radiant.

Great sources of these antioxidants and vitamins are tomatoes, strawberries, spinach, broccoli, sweet potatoes, cantaloupe, oranges, lemons, limes, grapefruits, and apricots!

Rough Feet?

A few years ago, I bought a pumice stone from the Dollar Tree.  I keep it in the shower, so every day, before I get out, I scrub my heals and anywhere else that I may have rough spots.  Then, when I get out of the shower, I put moisturizer on the bottom of my feet.  This little $1 stone is one of my favorite beauty tools.

No Time For a Mani?

When you’re running short of time but you don’t want to go out without a manicure, a coat of clear or French pink nail polish and a white nail pencil will give you that salon look in a fraction of the time and money.  I purchased my Flowery White Nail Pencil at Sally’s Beauty Supply but Sally Hansen makes one as well and it’s available at most grocery stores and Walmart.

It’s very simple to use.  Wet the tip of the pencil and just “color” under the nail until you get it covered.  Then, once it dries, which is pretty quick, clean up around the nail for any excess white.  Throw the pencil in your purse when you go out as you may need to reapply if you wash your hands often.

Related post:  Achieve A Beautiful, Frugal Manicure With Impress Nails

Conserve The Lipstick

Use a Lipstick Brush to apply your lipstick and you will use a lot less than if you put it on straight from the tube.

Another advantage of using a lip brush is when you get down to the end of the tube, a lip brush will let you use all of it.  There’s still several applications left in the tube when you think there isn’t any left.

Drug Store Brands Are Great!

One of my favorite frugal beauty tips is to use drug store brands like ELF, Rimmel and Wet & Wild, as they are a great value for the money.  I use ELF Concealer/Highlighter and as far as I’m concerned, you can’t beat it!  It’s only $3.00 and it’s has a light texture with very good coverage.

My favorite lip gloss is from Wet & Wild and it cost less than $2.00. It’s #555B Rose Gold.  It’s a great neutral color that you can wear alone or over your favorite lipstick!

For face moisturizers, I highly recommend CeraVe! Dermatologists recommend for the best inexpensive drugstore brand and I can attest to it! It’s great for sensitive skin and for the money, you just can’t beat it!

Always wear SPF!

Sun damage is the number one cause of premature aging and skin cancer.  Just about all daytime moisturizers have at least an SPF 20, so make sure you start your morning routine by wearing it, whether you wear makeup or not.  Also, don’t forget the neck!  If you do, it’ll be a dead give away of your age.

Exercise!

The benefits of exercising are astounding!  Exercise boost your happiness levels, reduces your risk of heart disease, helps you sleep better, boost you energy levels, improves your memory, increases your strength & flexibility, increases self confidence, strengthens your immune system and helps you to live longer!  You don’t have to pay for a gym membership to get a thorough workout or to do cardio.  There are tons of exercises that incorporate your own body weight for resistance.  Hit the road and walk your neighborhood.  The internet is full of exercise routines that will fit anyone’s needs.  All you have to do is to look for them.

Related post:  Tips On How To Get Healthy On A Frugal Budget

Don’t Smoke

You probably don’t need me to tell you the dangers and health hazards that smoking causes, but I will go over some anyway.

Obviously, we know that smoking can cause many different types of cancer, but it’s also extremely damaging to your skin. Cigarette smoke contains carbon monoxide, which displaces the oxygen in your skin, and nicotine, which reduces blood flow, leaving skin dry and discolored. Cigarette smoking also depletes many nutrients, including vitamin C, which helps protect and repair skin damage.

Smoking causes bags under the eyes, yellows the teeth, causes premature wrinkling, yellowing fingernails, thinning hair, increases chances of tooth loss and skin cancer.  There’s nothing good that comes from it…period.

Smile!

This is the least expensive of all the frugal beauty tips!  Totally free!  Smiling takes years off and makes you very approachable and attractive! :).  When you smile, endorphins, which are triggered by the movements of the muscles in your face, are released.  Endorphins are known as the “Happy Hormone” and are responsible for making us feel happy and lowering our stress levels. So, go ahead and give your smiles away!

Do you have some frugal beauty tips you’d like to share?  I would love to hear from you!

If you’re looking for more frugal living tips, be sure to check out How To Be Successful & Happy in the Frugal Lifestyle

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