If one of your goals is to up your beauty routine, but you don’t want to spend a fortune, you’re going to love my roundup of budget beauty buys. These products will take you from frumpy to fabulous, all at an affordable price point!
For most of us, keeping up a beauty routine falls so far down the list of essential tasks to accomplish that when caregiving is finally over, and we take a step back and a good look in the mirror, we’re a bit shocked at how we look.
Back in the day, before I was caregiving, I was super conscientious about how I looked and my personal beauty routine. I was always well dressed, never left the house with a hair out of place, and was sure to put on mascara, a bit of blush, and a pop of color on my lips.
But slowly over time, my beauty routine took a nosedive. It was like a black hole swallowed every ounce of motivation to look good.
Gone where the days of high-end beauty products and lotions. A bar of soap and some cheap moisturizer had become my regular go-to products.
But, what I have learned over time is that beauty doesn’t necessarily have to cost an arm and a leg. Over the last several years, I have found a collection of beauty products that are both affordable and that I prefer over their pricey counterpart. Sure, I still love my Neocutis, Nars, Channel, and Tarte, but that doesn’t mean I don’t have a cabinet full of drugstore products I rely on and use daily!
So if money is tight or you want to try some new products that won’t break the bank, here are my favorite affordable beauty buys:
BUDGET BEAUTY BUYS
ONE: Kerasal Intensive Foot Repair – Don’t ask me how this stuff works, but it literally melts off the dead skin from your feet even if your skin is cracked. It has the consistency of vaseline with no color or smell, but with visible results with just one use. If you love to go barefoot and your heels are a mess, try using it before bed. Slather it on, put on a pair of cotton socks, and get ready to be amazed in the morning.
TWO: Tinkle Face Razors – If you’re looking at these and wondering ‘what the hell do I need those for’ – hear me out. I wasn’t originally a fan of face shaving (aka derma planing). But since hitting menopause, I have noticed an increase in facial hair, which is weird considering I have alopecia and have almost no body hair. Go figure, right? These are my favorite razors for at-home derma planing, there super sharp and leave your skin feeling incredibly soft, smooth, and glowing. Give it a try and tell me you’re not hooked after your first go-around.
THREE: Maybelline The Falsies Lash Lift – I have tried hundreds of mascaras. Ok, that might be an exaggeration but it sure does feel like I have and I have hated almost every single one of them until I found this one. I personally use the waterproof version of The Falsies but be warned it takes a lot to remove it. It really has staying power and will last through a shower, a swim and a night’s sleep if you don’t remove it before bed. I love it!
FOUR: Nivea Refreshing Body Wash – This body wash is incredibly clean smelling, and that’s what I really love about it. I stumbled upon it after reading a review from another blogger friend, and I figured I’d give it a shot. Now I have all my friends hooked on it too – that’s how much everyone loves it. I’m pretty sure you’ll agree.
FIVE: Burt’s Bees Almond & Milk Hand Cream – I love using this hand cream at night. It’s thick, so not the right choice for during the day, but if you want to give your hands an extra dose of moisture, this is the perfect cream to use before bed. First, it smells amazing, but second, you’ll wake up with a new set of soft and supple hands.
SIX: Cuccio Naturalé Milk & Honey Cuticle Revitalizing Oil – I used to use another brand of cuticle oil (think the 70’s), but after finding this on Amazon with all the fantastic reviews and great ingredients, I decided to give it a try and I am so glad I did. It’s a lightweight super-penetrating oil with all-natural ingredients. I usually apply this while I’m watching tv and before I put on my hand cream. I love this product. It has transformed my cuticles.
SEVEN: Beauty By Earth Self Tanner – I love me a good tan, but I don’t like what the sun can do to my skin. So, last year I found this self-tanning kit, and after one application, I fell in love. I loved it so much I bought one for my daughter who, because of her lupus, can’t be in the sun at all. If you want a beautiful natural-looking tan, give this product a whirl.
EIGHT: Palmer’s Coconut Oil Facial Scrub– A much gentler formula than most out there. If you are looking for a facial scrub, not only will this do the trick, but it smells heavenly too.
NINE: Sally Hanson Insta-Dri Top Coat – I usually get my nails done at the salon, but since the arrival of the pandemic, I haven’t had them done professionally. So I bought this topcoat in the hopes I wouldn’t have to wait an hour for my nails to be dent-proof – and lo and behold, it works! This topcoat dries almost any nail polish instantly, allowing me to paint and go with no nicks or smudges. Plus, it’s super shiny!
TEN: Hello Whitening Toothpaste – If you’re looking for a natural alternative to whitening toothpaste, I can’t recommend Hello enough. Once you get over the color (it’s black), what you’ll quickly realize is how effective it is in brightening your teeth. And because we all know that yellow teeth make you look older, who wouldn’t want to give it a try and shave a few years off your face?
ELEVEN: Collagen Peptide Powder – As we get older, our bodies natural ability to produce collagen diminishes, so this helps to maintain our healthy skin, hair, joints, and nails. Just one to two scoops a day is all you need. It’s tasteless too!
TWELVE: CeraVe Hydrating Facial Cleanser – If you’re looking for a cleanser that won’t break the bank, I personally love CeraVe. It not only cleanses the skin, but it has hyaluronic acid and ceramides in it which is what keeps our skin plump. My go-to cleanser each morning and night.
THIRTEEN: Australian Gold Mineral Sunscreen – If you’re anything like me, nonmineral based sunscreens are a NO GO! They give me such a rash; it takes weeks for it to go away. So I only use and recommend mineral sunscreens because they are all-natural and much healthier for your skin. My personal favorite is the Australian Gold. I love that it’s tinted so I can ensure it’s getting everywhere it needs to go to keep me safe from the harmful effects of the sun.
FOURTEEN: Cinema Secrets Makeup Brush Cleaner – If you’re looking for a makeup brush cleaner that is fast and easy – look no further. This remover doesn’t use soap or water yet cleans and disinfects your brushes in minutes.
FIFTEEN: Laneige Lip Sleeping Mask – The lip mask smells like fresh berries, which makes sense seeing it’s packed with raspberry, strawberry, blueberry, and cranberry extracts, all of which are high in vitamin C. It also contains a proprietary technology known as “moisture wrap,” which the brand says helps lock in moisture and the active ingredients in the mask so that they’re able to deeply penetrate the lips for the best possible results. And, having used it for several months, I would have to agree.
Ok, so there you have it. I know there’s probably a ton more if I really look around, but these are my go-to products that I purchase regularly and that I love the most. Let me know if you have any particular favorites.
I’m always on the hunt for new budget beauty finds, so if you have one you love, I’d like to know!
Other Wellness and beauty articles:
7 Ways to Reclaim Your Style and Simplify Your Wardrobe Now Caregiving Is Over
How To Prioritize Self Care After Caregiving Is Over
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