_savings   frugal

Stretching Your Makeup Savings

by Mary Ann Romans | More from this Blogger

17 Aug 2008 04:23 PM

makeup Beauty can be expensive. Just the other day, I was given an "invitation" for a spa event that cost $160! Whew. There are some frugal ways that we can still pamper ourselves and use makeup and other beauty products without going broke. Here are some ideas for stretching your makeup savings.

Take advantage of all of the great deals that are put out by competing pharmacies. Usually if you pay attention to what is going on at CVS and Walgreens, you can get a lot of makeup products for free. Check out the Deals forums here at Families.com and get involved in the conversations to learn how you can participate.

Stretch out the ends of your lipsticks by one of the following methods. You can use a lip brush to dig out the end of the lipstick and apply it to your lips when the lipstick gets to stubby to use. You can also melt the lipstick ends and mold them into a new lipstick. You can stick with the same shade, waiting until you have multiple stubs, or mix and match with new colors.

Speaking of new colors, whether it is lipstick, foundation, blush or eye shadow, take advantage of clearance deals, even if you don't immediately like the shade. If you have a good eye for what looks good on you, you can mix and match the products to create a new color. For example, some trendy white or black lipstick could be used to lighten or darken another lipstick.

If you use pressed powder then you know that the compacts can sometimes crack and fall apart before you have gotten the opportunity to use all of the powder. This is a big waste. You can either break up all of the chunks and use them as loose dusting powder, or turn them back into compacts. To make new compacts, break up the powder and mix it with a little alcohol to form a paste. Place it back in the compact. As the alcohol evaporates, the powder will form a new solid cake.

Click here for more articles by Mary Ann Romans.

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Learn more about Mary Ann Romans
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Mary Ann Romans is a freelance writer, wife and mother of three children. She lives in Pennsylvania with her husband, the kids and a 16-pound cat.

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User Comments

jinxykb (5) 18 Aug 2008 11:58 AM

I whole-heartedly agree with your comments about makeup from CVS and Walgreen's. Luckily I don't wear much makeup any more since I'm not going into an office every day, but I have made do for years just with the makeup I have gotten from Walgreen's free-after-rebate makeup and a few other coupon/sale combo deals. I have to admit though that I do miss the Free Gift with Purchase offers from when I used to shop the Clinique counter!

rbigney352 (10) 19 Aug 2008 06:41 AM

I will have to admit I splurge a bit on my make up and buy it at Nordstrom, but I feel in the long run it is cheaper. It lasts WAY longer (well over a year sometimes) and if I ever end up disliking it, i know that Nordstrom's will always let me return it with no questions asked.

Mary Ann Romans (26876) 25 Aug 2008 03:56 AM

What type of makeup do you purchase rbigney. Any recommendations?

Tashi (1013) 02 Sep 2008 11:17 AM

One caveat about the repairing of broken pressed powder.... Although mixing it with rubbing alcohol works (after you've ground up the remaining chunks that broke out), after you let it dry, it can still break apart again. I've used this method many times. I use a powder brush to apply my pressed powder, as I prefer that manner over using a sponge or puff. Also, too much pwder tends to come out after doing the repair. I'm not sure why. Perhaps I haven't perfected the procedure. All I know is, it can still eventually lead to a little mess, in my experiences.

rbigney352 (10) 14 Sep 2008 11:06 AM

I use MAC. You can get pressed foundation for about $16, same price for one eye shadow. The eye shadow will last me at least a year. The foundation will last me about 6 months.

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