Bargain Basement Beauty - recommend us some products

Cazzdevil

I'm not talking 'budget' beauty, I'm talking absolute rock bottom beauty.

Whilst writing a blog post about this very topic I thought it might be a useful resource for all of us who are on more than just a shoestring budget but those who need to cut back to the absolute bare bones without swapping our necessary products for those which are frankly false economy. I'm hoping this will become a poor-sister [sic] to the Fight Back thread

I've got a couple of 'starters for ten' to get the ball (hopefully) rolling:

Soap - I've recently rediscovered the wonder that is soap. I bought a Wrights Coal Tar soap for 80p at Tesco and it's an utter revelation! It doesn't dry my skin out the same way some shower gels do, it leaves my skin far cleaner feeling than shower gel does and it's working wonders on my face! I'm not having to use moisturiser any more which is great because as an oily skin sufferer getting a decent oil-free moisturiser is costly. Soap is my new favourite thing.

Salt scrub - Fill a kilner jar with some <£1 coarse sea salt from Aldi then put baby oil in so that it covers the salt plus a bit. Hey presto, worlds greatest exfoliator.

Value range toothpaste - The extra fancy bits in expensive toothpastes are a bit of a con, as long as it's a fluoride toothpaste then all the other stuff is superfluous. Brush regularly and replace your brush every 3 months like you're supposed to and cheap toothpaste is more than adequate.

Water - I know this is a cheat, but I find that my face looks like c rap if I'm dehydrated. I make sure I drink plenty even if it's downing a pint of fruit & barley juice when I get in from work. Water is the best beauty secret that's not really a secret!


Remember, we're not talking £3 face washes here, we're talking pennies and stripping the use of beauty products back to the bare bones or swapping 3 products for 1 which does the same thing. That kind of thing.


So. Anyone else got any rock bottom beauty secrets they'd like to share?

Amanita_2

Astral moisturiser.

Absolutely dirt cheap so you can slap it on everywhere and it works brilliantly on my dry skin.

I've tried many far more expensive moisturisers but still keep coming back to this one.

Jessie11

Value toothbrushes - from 10 to 20p for two or four in a pack.
I use absolute bargin Value shampoo and conditioner, and shower gel if it's a tight month.
Make up from Aldi - can't recommend it enough.

Youdontseeme

Oil - most kinds work but my personal fav is Grapeseed 1lt for under £4 (the normal cooking type, I have bought the better stuff, still works out pretty cheap but to be honest I cant see a difference)

Can be used as a cleanser, eye makeup remover, hair treatment, moisteriser, massage oil, night time hand lotion, add salt for a body scrub. Add essentail oils for your specific needs / or jst to make it smell nicer although there isnt much of a smell anyway.

Tesco Apple and Aloe Conditioner is great for my fine hair and smells lovely all for 63p

YDSM

guineapig

soda bicarb with a tiny bit of water, makes a gentle but effective facial scrub, it also cleans the sink, work tops and is an all around work horse!

Youdontseeme

You can also add toothpaste to a damp toothbrush then dip in bicarb, its supposed to whiten your teeth, while I'm not convinced, it does it certainly makes them feel very clean!

Caster sugar added to your normal shower gel works well as a body scrub too.

YDSM

glowgirl_2

Exfoliating gloves - 2 pairs for 99p or less sometimes, nothing works like them and of course they are resuable.

Uniscots97

a teaspoonful of oatmeal with a little water makes a great facial exfoliator.

shandyclover

Soap - actual bars of it. Works out cheaper than most shower gels and since I've switched my dry itchy sking problem has cleared up - cutting down on the need for more 'potions and lotions' as my hubby calls them. I also notice a subtle scent all day, whereas shower gel smells fantastic till you get out of the shower - then it's gone. I bought a 4 pack of I*perial Leather extra care 6 mos ago for a £ and I've still not finished them (I do shower every day - honest!)

Wilko anti dandruff shampoo and conditioner - a pound something, can't remember how much exactly. Actually leaves my hair in better condition than head and shoulders.

Henarra Conditioner - Thick goopy stuff sold in a tub in 99p shops. I met a man buying 10 tubs of it for his wife who runs a salon and charges £30 for the deep conditioning treatment.

Oil cleansing method - I used almond oil and castor oil mix bought both from ethnic shop. Paid under fiver for both and has lasted me almost a year - also gave a sample to DD's to use.

Baking soda and scrubby gloves for exfoliating.

Hydrogen Peroxide - bought from a chemist, diluted with water and fill up an old 'sun in' bottle. Spray on hair and comb through. Its not for everyone and you do have to know what you're doing. This is what works best for me though - brings nice golden highlights out in my dishwater blonde hair. I have tried dying it but more often than not it has gone ashy and horrible. The one superdrug's own shade that did work they discontinued. Not sure what I'm going to do in the future as now I'm getting greys.

Supermarket/superdrug/boots own value brand shampoo - I usually get a coconutty one. I dilute it as you don't need masses of foam and bubbles, and that way is less harsh on my long thick hair - works fine.

Investments - things that cost a bit intially but end up saving you pennies

Phillips epilator. First few attemps with it were painful but now doesn't bother me. Has saved on the expensive razors as I always cut myself with cheap ones, hubby got a friend to buy it when she visited France he was worried about my laccerated legs. I use the Silkymitts too.

ELF mineral makeup.I bought some mineral makeup for DD21's birthday last year. She had been lusting after the big brand mineral stuff but it was really out of my budget. I waited till there was free shipping and got her concealer, foundation, blush, mascara, and little travel brush kit for under £20. With the spf it has it was perfect for her 6 mos in volunteering in Colombia. She is very happy with it.

Two discoveries this month...

Wilko Baby Bum Butter - I bought this originally for DD15 very chapped hands (from delivering papers in all weathers - doesn't like wearing gloves!) Amazing stuff, cleared up her hands right away. I checked ingredients and they are all natural - olive oil, bees wax, chamomile oil, vanilla oil, no mineral oil or parabens - yeay! Since then everyone in the house has used it for hands, heels, knees, elbows etc.etc. Mum used it on excema of the downs girl she fosters, SIL used it on the chapped cheeks of my niece - both cleared up and interesting both had been using very expensive stuff and not responded well to it. Cost £1.85.

Stephanie Laurens Skin Toning Serum - presently in the 99p chain of shops. I was very skeptical (wierd pakaging, unknown name) etc. at first but bought it for my mum to try as she usually gets LUSH stuff but it's a bit pricey. Theres a list of 14 different oils in this product so I won't type them all out, but it appears no nasties - she loves it and has asked my to get more.

Amanita_2

If you keep unused soap bars in the airing cupboard they last an awful lot longer when you do come to use them.

shandyclover

[QUOTE=shandyclover;

Stephanie Laurens Skin Toning Serum - presently in the 99p chain of shops. I was very skeptical (wierd pakaging, unknown name) etc. at first but bought it for my mum to try as she usually gets LUSH stuff but it's a bit pricey. Theres a list of 14 different oils in this product so I won't type them all out, but it appears no nasties - she loves it and has asked my to get more.[/QUOTE]

Yikes! I just found the package and its actually Claudia Stevens Skin Toning Serum. Not sure how I got that so wrong nor where my brain has been today!