As with many other things, beauty and hygiene products can be quite expensive, depending on what and how much you buy. I’m a minimalist when it comes to my appearance and only spend what I have to to get by. A couple of principles will help cut down the cost of taking care of yourself.
Going Without
I never really liked makeup and only wore it for a few years out of societal pressure. I did attempt making mascara once, but it was unsuccessful and very tedious. Occasionally, I look in the mirror and think I look plain, but then I remember that it costs me nothing and doesn’t take a lot of time in the morning. Win-win.
I also never get manicures or get my hair cut professionally. As a former chronic nail-biter, I have to keep my nails really short. I don’t enjoy getting my hair cut anyway, and when I do, I have my mom do it.
Note: I have nothing against any of these things on principle. Don’t take this the wrong way. I just don’t enjoy them like most women seem to.
Using Less
I used to wash my hair every day because that’s what you’re supposed to do, right? Well, maybe not. I tried the “no-poo” method for a while and was hopeful, but it didn’t end up working for me. Currently, I’m working on the “curly girl” method, but I need more time and a separate post for it. Needless to say, I’m not washing my hair every day anymore, so I save money on shampoo and conditioner. I’m still working on finding the best, most inexpensive products for keeping my hair healthy, too.
I also used to apply lotion every day, but now I save it for once a week. My skin took a while to adapt to a desert climate, but now that it has, it’s not so thirsty.
Making Your Own
A friend of mine once gave me some ingredients for making homemade deodorant, and I was intrigued. They were all things I’d heard of before and actually all edible. I used it all up and really liked it, but I never did get the motivation to make more. It cost me $1.35 per stick to make. My normal kind costs $1.72 a stick, so it’s not a lot of savings for something I don’t have to buy often.
Instead of buying a super expensive lotion for cracked feet or hands, try plain old petroleum jelly (Vaseline). I especially like the one with cocoa butter in it because it smells a lot better than the plain stuff.
Feminine Hygiene
I used to use pads, then tampons, like most everyone else. After a few babies, though, the super size weren’t cutting it anymore. I decided to try a menstrual cup, and I never went back. Though there was a bit of a learning curve, it was worth the $30 that I paid I don’t know how many years ago.
More recently, I added Thinx (period underwear) into the mix. They serve as my backup and enabled me to completely get rid of disposable products. (No more itchy pads!) My strongest recommendation is to wash out both the cup and the undies in the shower. The cup can be a little messy at first.
Even more money-saving tips can be found here. Beauty and hygiene products don’t have to take a big chunk of money (or time) out of your life.