Frugal beauty tips?

**2ndGenGranola** · 04-01-2009, 08:11 AM

I use the baking soda for washing hair. I usually combine it with a pea size drop of olive oil.

Baking soda is also a good all over scrub.

I buy loose face powder in a dark color then combine a couple scoops of it with corn starch in a separate container and use that mix.

Instead of using petroleum based products like baby oil or Vaseline, I will use Olive oil or my new favorite Coconut oil. I use the coconut oil on my face, lips, hair, body, feet...While the initial cost is a couple dollars more, I'm buying fewer products and taking up less space.

**Judi Dial** · 04-01-2009, 09:03 AM

I make my own sugar scrub: olive oil and sugar. I only use it about once every couple of weeks and follow it with an oil-based soap to wash (lemon, rosemary, peppermint) but it helps keep my perpetually dry skin less so without scents (allergic) and a lot of expense (also allergic LOL).

I have made up my own mud masks with fuller's earth (see a good drugstore) and used cornmeal as a scrubber too.

I had a friend who used vaseline instead of mascara.

The how to wash your face book the doctor who wrote it said vaseline is a the best emollient.

Also, there's a book of these that I've used off and on for years:

International Beauty Secrets

I'll see if I can't find my copy and post more info. There's 2 different books available used, and I"m not sure which one this is!

Judi

**PinkWolf** · 09-20-2009, 10:12 PM

Great tips everyone

**shoiji** · 09-21-2009, 02:51 PM

I like using salt mixed with olive oil as a scrub. It really works great on the feet during the winter time.

Witch hazel as an astringent. My skin seems to be sensitive and this works great.

I will steam my face by taking some camomle flowers and putting it in water. Then boil. The best part is you can poor some in a cup and have a cup on tea after the facial.

I buy vitamin e and peach oil and mix some together. This works great as an evening moisturizer especially in the winter.

Virgin coconut oil makes a great moisturizer in the winter time.

I also bought some cosmetic clay. It works great to bring out impurities in the skin. If I have a breakout I will mix some clay with water and put on my skin overnight. It seems to work better than any acne medication.

**cab54** · 10-04-2009, 12:35 PM

Anyone ever use the Aspirin Mask? (for the face)

I always keep the super-cheap aspirin around. The kind you can get for $1 a bottle. I made aspirin in HS chemistry class, believe me, you don't need Bayer. It's all the same.

Take 6-to-8 aspirin and crush 'em up good. Mix in the palm of your hand with water or Whatever cleanser you use for your face, OR some soap lather. A lot of people like to use that Cetaphil liquid cleanser for this. (Or the WM equate version of this ---will save you $$).

Rub around on your face like an exfoliating cleanser. Keep out of eyes. (DUH

) Leave on (if you used soap lather--I wouldn't recommend leaving on) for 10 minutes. Rinse off.

Supposed to be REALLY good for oily/problem skin. But I have dry skin with an oily T-zone and it works well on me. Cleans out pores, exfoliates GREAT, supposed to bring the blood to the surface.

No more buying buff puffs, exfoliators, etc.

Disclaimer---DON'T use this if you are ALLERGIC to aspirin!!! (like my dh)

**cab54** · 10-04-2009, 01:05 PM

And I agree with the coconut oil for moisturizing. Goes really far, and is light but works! Sinks in well.

**MyMelody** · 10-04-2009, 06:13 PM

I have dry skin and after I apply lotion, I like to rub a tiny dab of baby oil on my knees and elbows to lock in the moisture.

Never really had acne til I was 25 -- bummer! With my skin being dry, I have yet to find a regimen that really works for me. One mask I do like to use periodically is the Burt's Bees green clay mask in a jar. It's sold as a powder and you add your own water. I mix mine fairly thin, and it's been lasting me pretty well!

**cab54** · 10-07-2009, 01:02 PM

One thing I've noticed is that our society (and advertising) makes you fell as if you have to do THIS and THAT and HAVE all kinds of products for doing so.

Like lotions and oils. Do we NEED them every day?? I am fairly dry-skinned (and old, lol), but I only need to moisturize the really dry parts daily. Face, hands, maybe feet, knees. In the summer, even less, maybe NONE. I feel absolutely YUCKY when I slime...I mean moisturize...myself all over daily. Only in the dead of winter do I really oil up all over much. And not every day. LOL.

I have been (as I run out of things) using less expensive items I have here, like vaseline, baby oil (or just plain mineral oil), less hair styling products, making do with what I have, or buying more multi-usable things. Just soap instead of fancy facial cleansers, and WTH is toner for anyway? If you really can't live without it, witch hazel is the main ingredient in most of them, use that. I find that no matter what face cream I rub into my face, I wake up looking like a 55 year old woman, anyway. I've tried some really good ones (in my spendy days). I'm still 55. So now I use baby oil. (scented mineral oil). Takes off eye makeup really well too.

Before anyone flames me for suggesting vaseline and baby oil because they are petroleum derived, read what Paula Begoin says about them:

http://www.cosmeticscop.com/skin-car...type%3acontent

I know has her own line of fairly expensive items, but a lot of them contain petroleum derived substances. A girl has to make money, I guess, LOL.

I also have gone to the CW method of hair wash. Cheapie conditioner. Saves $. I shave with soap lather. I've let my hair go gray and letting it grow long. No cuts. (I'll put it up in an up-do when I have enough, lol.)

**ravenmaniac** · 10-07-2009, 05:46 PM

Great tips everyone. Thank you!

**jontue** · 10-07-2009, 10:00 PM

i do the darker color loose face powder thing as well. have for years ! great to see someone else does as well. nice to know i'm not so odd

**cab54** · 10-10-2009, 07:49 PM

Baby oil has lots of uses. I love it. I buy the cheapie kind, the nn kind. Equate from walmart. It is just scented mineral oil, anyway.

It takes off makeup---especially eye makeup. Even waterproof mascara. It doesn't hurt or sting the eyes, either. Tissue off, or use cotton ball to remove, or TP.

I moisturize with it when I don't want heavy creams or lotions. Put it on while you're wet from the shower. Once you towel off, it feels light.

A teensy-tinsy bit of it rubbed between your hands, can be swiped on hair to shine it. VERY small amt. Works like a serum.