Six Secrets For Saving On Beauty Products

I tend to be a luxury girl, especially when it comes to skin, hair and make-up.  As my skin has changed a bit, I’ve gone on a hunt for new products that work well with my aging skin.  While my collection is still pretty high end, I’ve found several drug store and inexpensive favorites I won’t do without.  I’ve discovered I can save up to $300  per year using my drug store items.(Which frees up money for one or two more luxe items on my wish list).

1. Cera Ve cleanser.  My dermatologist turned me on to Cera Ve over ten years ago and I’ve been using it ever since.  Sure, I’ve tried high end cleansers which are often amazing, but I always go back to Cera Ve.  The reason:  my skin loves it, and it’s affordable.  Why spend a fortune a face wash?  I’d rather use my savings for hard working serums and treatments. I’ve tried amazing facial cleansers selling in the mid $30 per bottle, where as Cera Ve is about $10.  If I use two bottles per year, I save $40 using Cera Ve.
2. Covergirl and L’Oreal mascaras.  Both are long wearing, non-flaking and have a variety of applicator brushes to choose from.  I’ve tried Chanel, YSL, Lancôme…you name it.  I always go back to the drug store.  Why?  Because they work just as well, some times better, and since we are supposed to toss mascaras after 3 to 4 months, and I can save up to $82 per year buying drugstore mascara.
3. Real Techniques makeup sponges.  I get them for $8, and usually buy one or two per year.  Say I buy 2 makeup sponges a year, I save $34  per year by buying Real Techniques over Beauty Blender, and I like the beveled edge of the Real Techniques sponge better, anyway.
4. I’ve spent $15 per bottle of makeup brush cleaner, and a similar amount on brush cleaning soaps, but baby shampoo does the job just as well, and is $5 for 20 oz.  20 oz is much more than a year’s worth.  I save $25 per year by washing my brushes with baby shampoo.  
5. I no longer purchase eye liner pencils, I was struggling with them anyway.  Instead, I use powder eyeshadow.  For a soft look, I use a small brush along the lash line. For more drama, I use a wet brush.  Before this discovery, I was spending from $7 to $20 on eye liner pencils, and, of course needed them in several colors.  In recent years, I purchased several brands looking for ones that wouldn’t skip and smudge, and would wear for more than a few hours.  Eyeshadow performs very well, rarely needing touch up.  So, maybe I’d buy for or five eyeliner pencils a year, totaling $100 or more.  Now, I don’t spend on eye liner at all.
6. Coconut oil is my final money saver, I use it to moisturize my hair, rub it into cuticles, and as a mouth rinse every morning.  I go through two 14 oz containers per year at $7.00 per container, rather than spending $15 for cuticle balm, deep conditioner $15 or more, and $5 per bottle of mouthwash.  When I was using mouthwash, I’d go through about four bottles per year.  Using coconut oil, I save $36 per year.

I’d love to hear which beauty items you love from the grocery or drug store, we can all learn so much from each other!

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