For the last 14 years I have had access to a significant discount on top-of-the-line skincare and makeup; either by selling a product line or working at a spa (after getting my cosmetologist license).
But then I became a stay-at-home mom working on a limited budget.
I am blessed beyond measure and have had NO regrets in exchanging my “spa life” for my “wife and mommy life”! But I wasn’t willing to accept that having a small budget or no longer having access to top brands meant I couldn’t have good skin and a professional looking makeup application.
Continue watching for a post on makeup…I’m still experimenting and deciding which “Wal-Mart brands” I like the most.
But after taking my professional knowledge and researching inexpensive/natural alternatives – I have found a skincare regiment not only good for the budget, but also EXCELLENT for your skin!
As I start giving you my list I want you to know that I have oily skin that is prone to breakouts. It evened out a little bit with my pregnancies but I still tend in that direction. I also don’t have any skin sensitivities but will be offering some modifications for those that do.
At first I researched DIY cleansers but found them to be too complicated and time consuming. So after weighing some different options I chose Desert Essence Thoroughly Clean Face which is less than $10 for a 8oz pump bottle that lasts me a couple months. After ordering the pump bottle once I ordered the 32oz refill bottle for just $15!
I have been very pleased with this brand and even though my husband does have sensitive skin, he has been able to use it as well. Desert Essence does have face washes for Sensitive, Dry, or Trouble skin as well.
My selection for moisturizing was actually a homemade body butter that I use for any dry areas on my body but also for my nighttime facial moisturizer.
Notice that I said that it is a night cream which means it is a little on the heavy side. This is a positive thing, in my opinion, unless you are trying to put make-up on right after. While teaching skincare professionally, I ALWAYS said to cleanse/moisturize twice a day…but I’m going to be honest with you – I only do it at night.
Nighttime is the most important time anyway and I have found that if I do a good cleanse/moisturize at night I can just put on a moisturizing BB cream as my foundation in the morning and I am good to go. Now, if you have a really hard time with breakouts, you might still be better off with morning and night routines.
Makeup remover/eye moisturizer
This probably isn’t new information to most of you…coconut oil is an amazing thing! I gently massage in into my eye area, wipe it away, and it EASILY removes my makeup and leaves the area feeling soft and moisturized!
When I used to sell Mary Kay, one of my favorite products was their Microdermabrasion set. And I have not changed my mind about it at all…it is a great product and is MUCH cheaper then getting the same treatment in a spa setting. But I have found an even CHEAPER way!
Once or twice a week I put a couple tablespoons of baking soda in a small container and add just enough water to make it into a thick paste. Then, after moistening my face in the shower, I scrub my face/neck/upper chest with the paste for about two minutes. After rinsing, I cleanse my face as usual, then reapply the baking soda paste and leave on while I finish the rest of my shower. The longer it stays on the more it will brighten and purify your skin! Make sure to follow up with a little extra moisturizer afterward since it can be a little drying.
As I mentioned earlier, I have very tough skin that can take pretty much anything. But if you have more sensitive skin I would suggest adding a little more water to your mixture. The higher the baking soda ratio the more intense the treatment.
My biggest problem area has always been my feet…no matter how good the rest of my skin is doing, my feet are always trying to crack and peel!
After trying MANY different treatments and combinations, this is the routine I have found that works MIRACLES!
The first step is a quick scrub with a pumice stone/foot file EVERY day in the shower. If you do it in the shower your skin will already be soften and a short scrub will make a big difference. Also, doing it a little every day instead of a more intense treatment less often will be much more helpful because if you file too much at once it can make your skin sensitive and it will actually respond by making MORE calluses!
If I’m going to a special appointment or to meet a girlfriend for lunch I put on a cuter pair of shoes. But for my normal stay-at-home/run errands/going on outings with the kids day, I find the most convenient thing is a pair of shoes that tie and socks. It not only is convenient if you need to run out to the store but it also discourages walking around barefoot (one of the worst things for your feet).
So as soon as I get dressed in the morning I put a generous amount of my favorite lotion (usually the same body butter I put on my face). Then I put on my shoes and socks and let the magic happen all day!
This method is also good because I’ve never cared for sleeping in socks like most feet-softening suggestions say.
This is something I just started doing recently to take my cleansing up a notch and to stretch out the life of my actual cleanser.
I take a basic squeeze bottle and fill it up halfway with cleanser, a little bit of water, and then the rest of the way with baking soda. It is the same concept as the weekly scrub I mentioned earlier but with the cleanser added it is gentle enough to do every day and makes your cleanser penetrate much deeper into your pores!
There you have it! My low-budget beauty tips. Try them out yourself and see what you think. I am looking forward to hearing your thoughts!
Since writing this post I have made a YouTube video featuring my evening routine in which I use a lot of these products. So here it is!
Links from the video: