How To Stay Beautiful On A Budget

Many brands and products of cosmetics claim to have the best ingredients, break-through technology or a budget price. Today, we are going to "kick it old school" with ancient beauty recipes, new fixes with staple household items, discuss product saving tips and open your eyes to the world of all-natural cosmetics. Whats more, the price of aquiring the ingredients is less than you would pay in one visit to your favorite nail salon.

Most women have some or all of these ingredients in the home already. If not, the approximate cost to buy ALL ingredients in their regular packaging would be around $45.00 USD but would yield many more recipe batches.

Water- Tap water is okay, bottled is better. (Free or $1.59/gallon distilled)

Plain yogurt- Just a small tub (32 oz. Dannon $2.79, but you only need a little)

Fruits and Veggies- Lemons, Oranges, Avocado, Cucumber, Grapefruit, Potatoes, a Fig. ($0.50 cents - $1.50 each. Avocados are about $2 each)

Arm and Hammer Baking Soda- Use a fresh box. The one you have open in the back of your icebox has absorbed food smells. Blah! ($2)

Herbal tea- preferably peppermint (Grab a couple from your barista at the coffee shop, she will charge you pennies if she charges you at all. A box of herbal tea is around $7 but you get 50 bags)

Regular-Caffeinated Coffee- ($7 for a huge can)

Table Salt and Table Sugar- just the everyday stuff (Long forgotten expense)

Oatmeal- plain ($5 for a giant tub)

Petroleum jelly- a.k.a. Vaseline ($3)

Baby powder ($2)

Olive Oil (Extra-Virgin) ($7)

Hydrogen Peroxide- ($0.60 cents)

The prices listed are average in the Midwest (USA). The prices in your area may be higher or lower. Small amounts of these products are needed, so maybe you could borrow from a neighbor if you do not have one or two items here. The prices are for the entire package if you were to go to the store to purchase them. If you want to buy, you will have plenty, plenty, plenty left over for future beauty days.

No time to wash your hair? Use baby powder

Dab a loose powder brush into baby powder. Tap off excess particles to avoid over application. Brush into roots to dry up the oils accumulated overnight or after your workout. Use sparingly, more can always be added.

Leave-In Conditioner

Who wrote the rule that we must wash hair conditioner out thoroughly? Apply conditioner heavily on the ends and sparingly on the rest. Rinse hair lightly. No need for a separate leave-in conditioner and your brush will glide through your locks avoiding breakage and split ends.

Hot Oil Treatment

Trade in your VO5 for your cooking oil. Use Extra-Virgin Olive Oil. (EVOO for Rachael Ray fans) Warm a few tablespoons on the stove-top. Be careful to check the temperature of the oil before applying to your hair to avoid burns. Apply to hair and cover with a plastic shopping bag. Leave on while catching up on Oprah via TiVo, then rinse thoroughly. (30 mins)

Cutting Your Own Hair

You should not do it. Spend the cash on a great cut that suits your face shape, style and desired maintenance level. Be mindful of your hair's texture, waves tendencies and condition. Bring a few pictures of your desired cut to your stylist.

If you want to cut your own hair, do it for trimming purposes only. Designate a pair of extremely sharp scissors to this endeavour. Use this pair only for cutting hair as dull blades will cause split ends and damage. Trim at a 45 degree angling upward. If you are not a professional stylist, go for piecey, haphazard snips to avoid a sharp and uneven hairdo.

Severely Chapped Lips

Apply petroleum jelly liberally to lips before bedtime, repeat every night until lips are healed. Apply Carmex frequently during the day time hours.

Lip Exfoliating

Add sugar to petroleum jelly on your lips. Purse and rub lips together or use finger to scrub away dead skin cells. Repeat a couple of times per week.

Toothpaste

My aunt brushes her teeth with plain Arm and Hammer baking soda intermittantly with regular flouride toothpaste. She has a beautiful smile. Switch off days.

Mouthwash

Swish hydrogen peroxide in your mouth in place of mouthwash. The peroxide will kill germs and leave your mouth feeling clean. Be sure not to swallow hydrogen peroxide.

Exfoliater

Combine Extra-Virgin Olive Oil with regular sugar. Use as an exfoliating scrub in the shower. Rinse.

Do not forget to rinse off scrubs/soaps well and moisturize your entire body using a heavy body cream after showering. Lotion can be used but you will need to apply more of it.

Moisturizer

Use Extra-Virgin Olive Oil as a heavy moisturizer for extra-dry elbows and feet. Rinse.

Yellow toenails and Athlete's Foot

Ever realize you probably forget to thoroughly dry your feet and toenails after a shower? Take an extra 5 seconds to dry your feet well to prevent foot fungus.

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Remember to wear slip on, water proof sandals while in any community shower.

A new way to think about the bathroom drawer filled to the brim with a $100 of cosmetics, don't you think? I consistantly use most of the tips listed here. Granted, it is much easier to spend the $5 on a facial mask or $8 on daily moisturizer, but if you are willing to put a little effort into all-natural beauty you will save some cash too. Remember to use sunscreen!

Do you have a "Can't live without" beauty secret or tip? Please share!