Glam on a budget

MinnieSpender

How do you all manage to stay glam while budgeting and debt-busting? I thought I'd start a thread to share tips and ideas, basically because I'm extremely vain but very reluctant to spend a fortune on make-up, clothes and liposuction.

I'll kick off with a few ideas:

1. Use rosewater and glycerin to take off make-up. Very gentle and it moisturises too. Only about two or three quid a bottle and it lasts for ages.

2. Start an "inspirations" scrapbook. If I see a good "look" in a magazine or newspaper, I cut it out and try to adapt it to my wardrobe or use it as an ideas book for shopping, especially in cheaper shops like Primark or charity shops.

3. Shape your eyebrows. Instant facelift!

4. Always make sure your hair is clean and simply styled. Scout around for cheap cuts at hairdressing schools.

5. Eyes or lips when making-up. Saves on time and make-up and looks more stylish than the full mask!

6. Make friends with your iron. Use spray starch for shirts. Well-pressed = smart.

7. Replace cheap plastic buttons on bargain jackets and coats with glam new ones. You can pick these up cheaply in most department stores and it instantly gives a jacket a bit of va-va-voom!

8. Look after your shoes! Polish them regularly and re-heel when needed.

9. Accessories - hunt out pretty scarves, brooches and costume jewellry at car boots, jumble sales and in charity shops. Instant transformation on simple clothing.

10. Have a swaps party - gather your chums around to swap clothes that they no longer like. Everyone gets something and it's a cheap night in.

phizzimum

I used to love having facials but you can do a reasonable DIY job as I think it's often the time you take and not the products you use that make a difference. Take your time massaging in your cleanser instead of your usual rush! Then exfoliate (there are lots of recipes for homemade products with oats or sugar) finally put on a face mask. Don't forget your neck as well. I make my own toner using cold green or jasmine tea and witch hazel.

It's the same with washing your hair. Think how long a hairdresser takes massaging in the shampoo and the same with the conditioner...no wonder it looks so good afterwards.

looking forward to lots more tips!

reverie

I use aqueous cream to moisturise, it is £2 or £3 for a massive tub from the pharmacy and it lasts ages. I actually use it because I am a sensitive soul and it is the only thing that doesn't make my skin itch, but it's also a bargain!

moiracm

I used to have a bikini wax, legs and eyebrows wax once every few weeks at a very posh local beauty salon - tonight I have just tried Immac shower cream for bikini line, legs and under arms and it has worked really well. It only cost £4.99 for a tube that will last months, that doesn't even equate to the cost of one eyebrow shaping!!!!! Also bought a pair of tweezers for £1.99 for that (ouch). But in the long run it will save about £200 a year

spaghetti_monster

I don't think I'm quite so well groomed as some, but I did used to treat myself to some nice beauty/toiletries type things (before budget conciousness and debt awareness hit home!)

Anyway, the other day I found myself doing a bathroom cabinet (like store cupboard) challenge. There were so many little things I'd forgotten about - nice moisturiser samples, foot balm (christmas pressie I think!), exfoliating stuff etc etc - enough to last for quite a few evenings of pampering!

spaghetti_monster

just read about the waxing.....have to say that I can't bear to do the bikini wax meself - but I find my local salon quite cheap. I went to a posh one a few times (£15/25) but the local charges £7.50 (worth it I think! Seems to hurt less than doing it yourself!)

outrageous_monkey

why not try the freebies board, you can usually apply for lots of 'glam' bits and pieces. I've had waxing kits, shower gels, shanpoos, body lotions, make-up, toothpastes etc. I usally store them all up and then put them in the caravan for our summer hols.
aqueous cream is a good buy. When I was at college I took a small course in aromatherapy, and this was all the teachers recommended. Just add a few drops of essential oils for different treatments. Acne skin, add 3 drops of tea tree. Rose and Geranium for a lovely face/body lotion and for anti ageing try francensence, bit pricey but it works, alledgedly.

amosworks

Uh concealer sticks can sometimes be a girl's best friend if you have a blemish and don't want a full slap on. Also just plain lip loss if you don't want the full lip treatment adds that little something needed. Jewellery is essential, you can often buy it at most charity shops also for quite cheap money. Not too much or you look like a w-o-e though, something tasteful.

Of course, never underestimate the power of smell. Spend several minutes in Boots or Beales sampling different scents to decide on the one you're not going to buy then leave smelling gorgeous before the sales staff try and sell to you.

If you've having a bad hair day, a tropical trilby is the ultimate solution to look uber-cool when going out, although some places are funny about admitting persons with hats because of security camera "concerns". Bribing door staff helps.

bulchy

I love to dye my hair, and am constantly looking around for bargains on hair dye. The first shop I check now is the pound shop. On saturday I got my daughter the 100% colour dye in copper gold, its turned out lovely. Also Poly tint colours, I think thats what there called, I always look at them and think there so old fashioned. £1.99 in Savers, well I was so skint just before payday last month and my roots were showing, so I risked using one in lightest brown, and the colours turned out lovely. The only difference I noticed with this particular hair colourant is you dont get a sachet of conditioner in the box, which is no trouble as I always have a decent conditioner in the house in anyway. I then went back and bought a black one for my daughter, and she now has her hair done black on the top and copper gold underneath, not to my taste but shes only 15, (showing my age) all her friends love it, and it cost £3, plus the bleach I used to lighten her underneath, which we'd had lying around the house for a while, so it has cost less than a tenner, her mates would have had to pay £20+ at the hairdressers.
Other than my hair, I dont really bother much with make-up, but am always looking around for bargains in moisturisers, I have sensitive skin, especially around the eyes, so will try the aqueous cream, I have it in for my sons eczema, thanks reverie.
Sue

goanmad

Here's my money saving beauty tips:

1. Dye your eyelashes. The 28 day kits cost around £8 in Boots/Superdrug and my last one lasted for 18 months. It's easy to use especially if you apply it with an old mascara wand to get up close to the roots.

2. Make your own intensive hair conditioner. Warm up (not boil) a couple of tablespoons of olive oil in the microwave , apply to wet hair, wrap hair in a carrier bag and cover with a warm towel for 1 hour. Shampoo as normal.

Lillibet_2

I use both Goanmads' tips & can vouch for them;) I use Vaseline's hand & nail cream every day on both my hands & feet (!) which really keeps my hands in tip-top condition & I file my nails 2-3 times a week to keep looking nice. I always keep my toe nails painted in sandle season (nothign worse than scruffy dingy toe nails pointing out of sandles:p) I shape my own eyebrows & I always dye my own hair BUT I have my lowlights done at the hairdressers (parting only to keep it cheaper. Well, that's the bit you see most) Dose anyone know of a good home system for high/lowlights? I would willingley try it myself if I knew of a system I could trust?

Thanks