If you find yourself suddenly out of a job or in an immediate need to stretch out makeup & beauty products you already have on hand, I have 5 tips you can use today to start saving money!
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1. Containers
Get another 1-2 weeks of use of products in soft, flexible tubes with this tip! After you have squeezed out as much product as possible, take a sharp pair of scissors and cut 1/3rd off the end of the tube. Your goal is to use product inside the end portion of the tube first since that will become the “cap” to close your container. Use a spatula to access any product that is hard to reach. Once you have cleaned out the inside of the “cap”, you can curl it to close over the larger portion of the tube. (see video below)
2. Concealer
If you use a liquid concealer, this tip will really help you get an extra 1-3 weeks of use out of this product! Squeeze a tiny amount of concealer on to a palette and use a concealer brush to apply. Using the brush, apply a very thin layer of concealer to your skin. Less is more! You can always apply another thin layer, if needed. You can also add a tiny drop of face primer to a drop of concealer to thin the product even more. Your palette (that now has concealer on it) can be placed in a food storage container with a snap on lid to keep it free from dust so you can use it again tomorrow.
3. Foundation
Now is the perfect time to be creative! When I am running low on my liquid foundation, I often mix in other colors that are close to the shade I already use. (Note: I only use about 4-5 drops of foundation on my brush – so it’s very easy to use 2 drops of one color and 3 drops of another color. This also works great for seasons when your skin color may become lighter or darker based on your time outside in the sun.) You can also mix products. Use lighter coverage and top off with a powder to help conceal any skin imperfections. This will help your products last longer, as well. Likewise, if your foundation is in a bottle and not a tube, you can use these great funnels to get every last drop into a new container!
4. Mascara
Mascara should be replaced every 3 months to prevent spreading bacteria to your eyes. But I’ll be honest… I’ve stretched my own mascara to 4-5 months when necessary. But I also do a couple of things to make sure that I’m preserving the integrity of the product, as well. Never pump the wand in and out of the tube – that injects air into the mascara and will make it break down and deteriorate in quality faster than normal. Instead, use the wand to scrape the inside of the container to get more product on to the applicator. Likewise, fill a cup with hot water and let your (closed) mascara tube sit in the water for 10 minutes. This will help soften and loosen the product and help thin it for better application. It will also help you get an extra couple of weeks out of your mascara!
Another way you can save money with mascara, is by mixing colors or types of formulas. Don’t be afraid to use a coat of brown and top with a coat of black… or use a basic mascara with a waterproof version, as well.
Mascara can also be applied just lightly to the tips (only) of your lashes if you are in a pinch to stretch out your product even more. If you are trying to save money, this is the best time to get creative! Using an eyelash curler will help your lashes look bigger and longer and may need less mascara on them after being curled.
5. Lipstick
If you’re looking for just a hint of color, try using a lip liner pencil by shading it onto your lips. Hold the pencil on its side so you create more of a shading effect, rather than a dark lining appearance.
For any lipstick or lip color product, try using a lip brush. Even if you have a product that uses a sponge- tipped applicator (ie lip gloss, liquid lipstick, powder lip stick, etc) you can use a lip brush to take minimal amounts of lip color off the applicator. Use less with thinner coats! For a regular lipstick, use a lip brush to lightly brush color across your lips! Don’t have a lip brush? No problem! Use your finger to dab the color on to your lips instead! Less is more… and you will stretch out your makeup!
BONUS: See how I stretch out my salon visits with my favorite hair products here… and how I use ordinary coconut oil in my beauty routine to save even more money!
You can watch the video I recently created at Glam Lashes Galore to discuss all of these money saving tips!
Have money saving tips you’d like to share with others? Drop me a comment below!
