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The Ultimate Beauty Bargains —Nothing Over $10!
Calling all recessionistas! Look your best without paying a fortune.
Lip gloss, mascara, facial lotion, nail polish — by the time you get your beauty products to the cashier, they can add up to a serious bill. But looking like a million bucks doesn’t need to cost it. Here are our favorite beauty finds, all for less than $10.
Start right. The best base for makeup is a great facial lotion. Try Dove® Deep Moisture facial lotion, available at drugstores and supermarkets. It provides serious hydration for your skin but is light enough to be worn every day. Best of all, with SPF 15 UVA/UVB protection, you give your skin daily protection from the sun’s damaging rays.
Radiant skin. Are red splotches wrecking your complexion? Fair skin tones can benefit from Boots No7 Colour Calming Make-Up Base, available at Target stores. The green-tinted product is designed to cover up red and even out your skin tone. Apply just a dab to nose or cheeks, and follow up with your foundation or powder as usual.
And to hide dark under-eye circles, try Almay Bright Eyes eye base and concealer, available at drugstores. Dab it on with the convenient built-in brush, then smooth it with your fingers (go easy — a little goes a long way.) You’ll look refreshed instantly.
Elegant eyes. Eye makeup should always be easy to apply, smudge-proof and easy to take off again. That’s why we love these two eye products, which are all you need to get glamorous eyes, every day. Start with Almay Intense i-Color eyeliner, available at drugstores. The soft pencil goes on smoothly with just one pass. Plus, it comes with a handy built-in sharpener at the end of the pencil. (Why didn’t they think of this before?) Follow up with Boots No7 Stay Perfect Mascara, available at Target stores. It makes lashes longer and plumper but is still subtle enough for everyday wear. And true to the name, you won’t end up with raccoon eyes at the end of the day.
A splash of color. Brighten up your cheeks with Blush Me! by Sephora, available at Sephora stores. The shades vary from peach to raspberry to apricot and have just a hint of shimmer that gives a luminous quality to your skin. For lovely eyelids, try E.L.F. Custom Eyes, available online at www.eyeslipsface.com. Each shade is the unbeatable price of $1 — and pops into a compact (sold separately) so you can design your own color palette. And forget the expensive brushes — a Q-tips® cotton swab is perfect for applying and blending eye shadow.
Lovely lips. Keep your lips well-hydrated and shiny with a tube of E.L.F. Super Glossy Lip Shine, available at www.eyeslipsface.com. The gloss is long-lasting and gives a hint of color. Plus, what’s not to love about the $1 price?
Premier polish. Do-it-yourself manicures require nail polish that won’t trap you for hours while it dries. Try Rimmel Play Fast Quick Dry Nail Polish, available at drugstores. It comes in rich, bold hues with microglitter. Our favorite is the shimmery bronze Scene Stealer. Another great nail polish is Sephora by O.P.I., available in cutely named shades like Note to Self (orange), Rumor Has It (pale eggshell) and What’s a Tire Jack (black).
Let us know your affordable beauty secrets — post a comment below!
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My mom's dermatologist SWEARS by Aquaphor Healing Ointment for an under eye creme and Aveeno mousturizer with SPF. If it is good enough for her, it's good enough for me!
I LOVE beauty on a budget.. Lately, I've been "splurging" at my local drugstores. I go through my coupons and usually there are some for MAYBELLINE, COVERGIRL, ALMAY and LOREAL... I check out my WALGREENS monthly circular for extra savings coupons or weekly specials... For example a few weeks ago MAYBELINE products were BOGO FREE.. So, I was able to use 2- $3 off coupons on top of the sale! I got 2-quad shadows, 2-mascara's, 2-eyeliner pencils, and two foundations for UNDER $20 ! I also check out the coupon circular online for REBATES... I've gotten Garnier-Fructis facial moisturizer, Loreal facial wash and other beauty treats for FREE or actually make money by using coupons and mail-in-rebates. The rebates are super simple at WALGREENS you can SAVE your receipts and at the end of the month enter the number into the computer and track your rebates.. If you "load" them onto a WALGREENS gift card you get an extra 10% ! Last year I saved $150.00 and bought myself other things for FREE ! Rite-Aid, and CVS have similar programs.. Walgreens is the easiest one for me...! Also, check product websites for extra money-saving coupons/deals... Good luck
My mom used to sell Avon when I was a teenager and they always seem to have great sales on make-up and such. You need a representative to buy, though. You can search avon.com for one in your area. My rep's website is in the meantime, though. :)
I would like to comment on your statement: "a Q-tips® cotton swab is perfect for applying and blending eye shadow." I disagree. I think you would use a lot on just one eye alone. Also, using them to blend would tug at the delicate skin on the eye. In my opinion, invest in a couple of good eye shadow brushes. If cared for properly they will last a long time and be much better for the environment. I have purchased several inexpensive makeup brushes at Target (Sonya Kashuk) and Harmon's Discount Store (POSH) that have lasted quite well and do a professional looking job. Don't get me wrong, Q-tips have their place. THey are great for 'clean up' but not so much for application.
If you are looking for a great product for a great value Go to marykay.com. You can find a personal beauty consultant close to you and you will be amazed at how reasonable their skin care and cosmetics items are. 90 plus items $10 and less! You will love how you look and how you skin feels!
Take a new look at AVON! There are loads of bargains for grandmothers, moms, and daughters. My teenage girls were spending so much on makeup that I started selling AVON myself. Now my daughters are happy and I am making money and having fun, too. Shopping is easy online, too. If you are interested in products or more, check out my website: www.youravon.com/nbrooks Good luck bargain shopping!
Do you have a local Ulta store? They mail out fliers regularly which have coupons inside. They are also an excellent store to purchse hair products and with their coupons the savings really add up. Try going online and see if they offer the same money saving coupons for online purchases.
I have found that using my pinky to tap on eye shadow works the best, for the pinky finger is the softest tissue on your hand, just a thought.
I am looking for a product that is not terribly expensive to lighten the dark circles under my eyes. by gladys
I sell Avon in the Northern Virginia area and they have great products and wonderful prices. They have a complete line of mineral makeup which is about 1/2 the price of the big name brands in the drug stores. If you are interested please contact me. My website is www.youravon.com/annajensen . You can have the products shipped directly to you for a low shipping fee and there is always free shipping codes. Right now you can get free shipping on all orders or $30.
I have been getting quite a few e.l.f. products lately. Most are a dollar, none more than five (mineral line), and work quite well, if not better, than products much more expensive. I love their body butter. Four bucks and it works better than BBW. Their new mineral makeup actually works well and their new studio line is stellar. It's a line like every other - you either like it or you don't, but for the price, give it a try. Start with the creme blushes! I also get the All You magazine and use the makeup coupons at Rite-aid. Right now through the end of September they have the $5.00 off $25.00 or more, so with that coupon, their make-up specials and the All You coupons, I get really good deals. Rite-Aid also has great clearances on makeup. They go straight to 75% off any time a new product comes out and they have to make room. We don't have an Ulta or Sephora or much of anything around here (which stinks!), so I do a lot of shopping on the internet. I always do a Google search for promo codes. You can always find one for free products or free shipping.
love reading the tips and found helpful information.
Try shopping at Sally's Beauty Supply. I get my finger-nail polish there. A brand called Finger Paints. It doesn't chip easily and there is a wide variety. I have worn Art of the Deal for years. A good basic color that doesn't have to be changed with every out-fit you wear.
my skin looks a little dry and using mineral powder foundation makes my facial lines even more prominent. I smear just a dab of virgin olive oil on my face before brushing on mineral powder foundation. My face looks healthy and glows.
Re your sub-title "Calling all recessionistas!" Per a survey discussed in the New York Times, most people prefer the term "Frugalistas" rather than "Recessionistas" because it represents a genuine change in lifestyle attitude -- the recognition that we must change our spendthrift ways and not merely react to painful financial circumstances. It's easier to spell, shorter, and, I think, imbues a touch more humor.
I have been using E.L.F. produts for over a year noe, and love them. They are not expensive and work great. Anyone trying to look great and save money should try them!!!