Makeup can be an expensive regular expense. Especially high quality lipsticks and foundation.
Being frugal doesn’t mean going without beauty and cosmetic items that make us look and feel good. What it does mean, however, is buying items at the best price, and taking care of them to minimize waste and extend their useful life.
Store it right
Your makeup touches your skin on a daily basis. Maintaining your beauty care items helps keep your skin healthy and blemish free. Storing your makeup and beauty products correctly extends their life and helps keep them germ-free.
It seems convenient to store your frequently used makeup and beauty products on your bathroom sink counter, but that’s the last place you should keep them. On the countertop, they’re open to constant splashes from sink water, toothpaste sprays, and toilet flush sprays (you keep your toilet closed when you flush, right!!!). The bathroom also can have extreme swings in heat and humidity from shower use. All of this makes a cosy home for bacteria and mold to grow and thrive.
Instead, keep your makeup and beauty products in your bedroom or a walk-in closet, where the temperature and humidity levels are more stable. Take them into your bathroom when you’re ready to use them and then return them to your their home when you’re done.
Keep it clean
Dirty makeup can cause breakouts or make you sick. Dirty eye makeup is a common cause of eye infections. Keeping your makeup clean can save you an unexpected trip to the doctor and extend the useful life of your products.
Never share makeup. Never. If a friend wants to try your lipstick, just give it to them or say “no”.
Keep your makeup application area and tools clean. Before applying your makeup or beauty products, wash your hands and do a quick wipe down of your application area, especially if it’s the bathroom. Avoid putting your fingers on your lipstick or using your fingers to dip into your face cream jars. Use a clean disposable cotton swab or a cream dispenser to scoop out a bit of face cream. Use a clean makeup brush to apply lipstick.
Get into the habit of cleaning your makeup brushes regularly. Makeup brushes sitting out with old makeup, skin flakes, oils and sweat can breed bacteria that can be transferred not only to your face but also your products. After use, be sure to clean your brushes. A quick cleaning and a spritz of cleaning spray will keep your brushes clean and ready to use.
Keep good inventory
Keeping good track of your makeup and beauty product inventory can save you money and prevent breakouts from old product.
It’s tempting to stock up on your favorite lipstick, face cream or foundation if you find a good sale. But will you use all of it before it expires? If not, it’s a waste of money, and the temptation to use the expired product will be too great. Instead, keep track of what you will probably use in a year, and compare that with the lifespan of the product. If you go through a lip gloss every other month, buying 4 on sale with a lifespan of a year is a good deal. But if you like to switch colors frequently and only use up one every six months, 4 is too many and not a good deal.
Fight the urge to keep old and expired products. It’s not frugal to keep using a 4 year old lipstick. It’s a risk to your skin.
Frequently take stock of your products. Smell it. If it’s supposed to have fragrance, does it still? Does it have a strange smell? Look at it closely. Is it separating or drying out? Is it lumpy? If you find products that have changes in smell or consistency, toss it, even if it’s not expired. Sometimes, improper storage will prematurely age or ruin a product. Don’t risk it. Just throw it out.
Keeping your makeup and beauty products clean and stored properly not only saves money on replacements, but also can help ward off breakouts and infections. Health is wealth.