Being beautiful does not have to cost a fortune – Beauty Bible has put together some low budget beauty solutions that will help both you and the bank balance look and feel great...
Recession friendly beauty tips every smart girl should know (that also make excellent dinner party convo starters)
Makeup
- Head to the $2 shop for brushes and tools. Most dollar stores have a great range of makeup brushes and tools that will do the trick. Don't forget to check the brushes in the art section too as you can often find some great brush shapes here too - especially thin tipped brushes that are great for lining the eye.
- While you are at the $2 shop - grab some flash lashes - they can be cut up and applied individually to the outer corner of the eye which looks AMAZING. There are instructions on how to apply false lashes here.
- Dark eyeshadow makes an excellent eyeliner. Just wet a thin-tipped brush, dip it into the eyeshadow and line your upper lid. This is a great tip for those who like the liquid eyeliner look by struggle to apply it. ( FYI: great guide on how to apply liquid eyeliner here)
- Whilst lengthening mascaras are good, they are also more expensive. Curl you eyelashes and dust them with translucent face powder, then apply mascara, this will help to thicken and lengthen the lashes. There is an amazing eyelash curling tip here
- Natural looking flushed cheeks are very trendy right now - and are normally created with a gel or cream products. Lipsticks are excellent substitute products for creating this look. Just apply some to the apples of your cheek and blend out towards the cheekbones.
- If you buy any new makeup, make it a loose powder, neutral coloured, highlighter (soft gold or peach) as this is a great multi-tasking product. Use it all over your face when you need a boost, on the top of your cheekbones and under your brows, down the centre of your nose to make it look thinner, mix it in your your foundation to create a luminous look, with a clear lip gloss on your lips, and on your body for some shimmer at night.
- Hold a makeup trade event with your friends. Someones trash may be your treasure, and you may find the perfect home for the bright green eyeshadow you own, but never wore. Remember you cannot swap mascara, lipstick or gloss in a sterile manner - pump products are find to swap.
- Primers are a great way to save money on makeup. Although you have to outlay the initial cost of the product, they make your foundation bottle last twice as long as using primer means you don't need to apply as much foundation.
- Using a sponge to apply foundation can create a great finish, but be aware that a lot of your product is going to be sucked up by the sponge. Use a brush or your fingers instead.
- Nice nails say so much about a person and they can really finish off a look. You can get your nails just polished (without any of the other treatments you would get in a manicure) for anywhere between $7.00 and $12.00 at most shopping mall nail bars. This is great for special occasions or giving your self a little beauty treat and gives you access to many more colour choices than you would have at home.
- If you do get a salon manicure or paint job - make it last longer by adding some clear top coat every two days to stop chipping.
- Nail schools need training models too - why not ring up and volunteer yourself. If you are into acrylic nails this is a great way to get them.
- Make nail polish last longer by keeping it in the fridge and adding a drop of nail polish remover to the bottle when it gets too thick.
- DIY manicures and pedicures are easy - Beauty Bible tells you how to give yourself a great pedicure here.
- If you need to save money and you don't need highlights, dye your hair at home. Read Beauty Bible's guide to colouring your hair at home.
- If you are between colours and need a freshen up but don't want to fork over the full amount, pop into your salon for a few scattered highlights. They will freshen up your colour, help to hide regrowth and mean you can wait another month before you hit the hairdressers again.
- Find out from hairdressing schools in your area if they need training models. The classes are closely supervised and for no cost, or the cost of any product used you can get a fab new cut or colour.
- Always losing hairpins? Bend one prong of the pin in a “V” about halfway up and insert in hair. It will stay put and help to hold your 'do' better too.
- Make shampoo last longer. You really don't need to use that much - in fact an amount the size of a 10 cent piece will do the trick. Same goes for conditioner and masks. Also, always cut the bottles open when you think they are done - there will be LOTS of product left inside - waste not want not!
- If you own expensive, salon brought hair products, why not use them every second or third wash and alternate using them with cheaper, supermarket products. You get all the benefits and they will last longer.
- Rinse dark hair with a 50/50 bath of apple cider vinegar and water to make it shine.
- Use 10 minute touch-up products on your roots so that you can extend the time between hairdresser visits. We love Nice’n Easy Root Touch Up which features a multi-tone colour matching system which works with each strand’s natural tones. It can even match other at home colourant brands and salon shades – extending the time between salon visits. Available in 11 shades, from blonde through to black, there’s a Root Touch Up™ colour to match every tone. RRP of $11.99

- If you own a makeup primer, it can also be used in place of a smoothing product on the hair. Use it to seal ends and smooth down flyaway hairs for a smooth, glossy finish to your blow dry.
- Dust talcum powder or cornflour if you are a natural girl onto the roots of your hair, rub gently and then brush out. This will help to soak up excess oil if your hair is looking greasy and you don't have time to wash it.
- Next time you draw yourself a bath, add a dash of olive oil to intensely hydrate your skin, a cup of milk to soften skin and gently remove dry patches, Epsom salts to give you an all over glow and sooth any aches and pains, or essential oils for a luxury, spa-like experience.
- Beauty therapy schools need training models for all manner of things - waxing, massage, facials, treatments etc. It may cost you a small amount but is a great way to pamper yourself for very little money. We like Elite International School of Beauty & Spa Therapies.
- Keep two table spoons in your fridge at all times. If you wake up with puffy eyes, whip them out and hold over your eyes until they are no longer cool to reduce swelling.
- Make your own exfoliators! As a beauty editor I get sent almost every new exfoliator on the market, but I still think nothing beats the results you get from a home-made one. For face I mix white sugar in with my regular face wash with a dash of sweet almond oil, and for body I mix sea salt in with my body wash - these are both great pre-fake tanning. Honey is also an amazing natural exfoliator - just apply a thin layer to the face and leave for 20 minutes. Rolled oats made up into a thick paste with water and massaged gently in to the skin make for a great soothing mask that exfoliates and nourishes sensitive skin.
- Honey and sugar make a great hand exfoliator for hands and feet.
- Olive oil is a fabulous all over body moisturiser and great for using straight after a shower- just apply to wet skin. It’s a natural humectant so continues to draw moisture to the skin over the day.
Waxing
This amazing tip was supplied by Brianne West of Ethique - she has some amazing products and amazing ideas! Her website is well worth a browse for very well priced beauty products
- A cheap alternative to waxing is boiling up a sugar and lemon solution like below:
Two cups of water
Three cups of white sugar
Two teaspoons of lemon juice
Heat over an element until it starts to turn brown and hits the 'soft ball' stage (drop a drop of the sugar solution in water and if it forms a ball which flattens when you lift it out of the water it's ready).
Wait till cool, then use as a wax - will need heating slightly to apply.
Cheap Beauty Treats
Here's a novel idea if you like to be pampered - but don't want your wallet to take a hammering... Investigate at your local beauty school to find out the costs of the treatments. Of course the students have to practice their manicures, pedicures, facials and massages on someone - heck, it may as well be you!
We love the treatments at Elite International School of Beauty & Spa Therapies
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